*(Q) I want to clean up a data file by deleting columns that have been >added by previous syntax commands. I know all the possible column >names that need to be deleted, but cannot be certain if they actually >exist in the file or not. > >By using the SYNTAX, > >ADD FILES FILE=* /DROP acol01 acol2 bcol1 bcol2 (full list of all >potential col names) > >I get an error if any column included in the command is not present in >the file. >As a result, no columns are deleted. > >Can anyone please point me in the right direction of how I can achieve >what I want to do. >I guess I could put each column in a new command > > >ADD FILES FILE=* /DROP acol01 >ADD FILES FILE=* /DROP acol02 >ADD FILES FILE=* /DROP bcol01 >ADD FILES FILE=* /DROP bcol02 > >But is this the only way? *(A) Posted to SPSSX-L list by Raynald Levesque on 2003/01/21. * http://pages.infinit.net/rlevesqu/index.htm. DEFINE !delete(!POS=!CMDEND) !DO !var !IN(!1) ADD FILES FILE=* /DROP=!var. !DOEND !ENDDEFINE. set mprint=yes. !delete acol01 acol02 bcol01 bcol02.