SPSS 16: Lost data problem

Bruce Weaver

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Mar 31, 2008, 8:59:54 AM3/31/08

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This was posted last week by the computing folks at my institution.

SPSS Proactive Notification

SPSS Technical Support has recently detected a problem in SPSS 16.0.x,
whereby modifications are made to an existing data file and the file
appears to save, yet the file is missing from the system. This problem
can occur if you exit the application without explicitly saving your
file first, and has been observed when working with larger sized data
files or saving to a slower device (such as the network). It is
strongly advised that you do not save your files in this manner until
this issue is addressed.

SPSS is evaluating the most appropriate solution, but until one
becomes available, remember to always save your file explicitly via
File->Save, or use the save button located on the tool bar prior to
exiting the application.

--
Bruce Weaver
bwe...@lakeheadu.ca
www.angelfire.com/wv/bwhomedir
"When all else fails, RTFM."

Mark Ebermann

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Mar 31, 2008, 9:05:36 AM3/31/08

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On Mon, 31 Mar 2008 05:59:54 -0700 (PDT), Bruce Weaver
<bwe...@lakeheadu.ca> wrote:

>This was posted last week by the computing folks at my institution.
>
>
>SPSS Proactive Notification
>
>SPSS Technical Support has recently detected a problem in SPSS 16.0.x,
>whereby modifications are made to an existing data file and the file
>appears to save, yet the file is missing from the system. This problem
>can occur if you exit the application without explicitly saving your
>file first, and has been observed when working with larger sized data
>files or saving to a slower device (such as the network). It is
>strongly advised that you do not save your files in this manner until
>this issue is addressed.
>
>SPSS is evaluating the most appropriate solution, but until one
>becomes available, remember to always save your file explicitly via
>File->Save, or use the save button located on the tool bar prior to
>exiting the application.

It's understandable that they missed this during the beta testing. Who
would have thought of trying to save a data file?

Bruce Weaver

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Mar 31, 2008, 9:25:50 AM3/31/08

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On Mar 31, 9:05 am, Mark Ebermann <cfisc...@aachener.de> wrote:

>
> It's understandable that they missed this during the beta testing. Who
> would have thought of trying to save a data file?

I understood that note to be saying that the problem occurs if you
exit without doing an explicit File/Save, and (attempt to) save the
data via the warning dialog that pops up (i.e., Do you want to save
file before exiting SPSS?). I've never seen the problem myself, but I
almost exclusively save data files via syntax (e.g., after importing
them from some other format).

Art Kendall

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Mar 31, 2008, 12:10:26 PM3/31/08

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During beta testing and since I never happened to try to exit without
first saving files explicitly. Over the next few days I'll try exiting
without saving first and see what happens.

In 1970, I burned myself a couple times by editing a text editor without
first saving the file. Since then it has become automatic for me to save
before exiting. I guess that many beta testers had ingrained habits of
saving before exiting.

Art