Split pspp.texi into one texi file per chapter

[pspp-builds.git] / doc / expressions.texi

@node Expressions, Data Input and Output, Language, Top
@chapter Mathematical Expressions
@cindex expressions, mathematical
@cindex mathematical expressions

Some PSPP commands use expressions, which share a common syntax
among all PSPP commands.  Expressions are made up of
@dfn{operands}, which can be numbers, strings, or variable names,
separated by @dfn{operators}.  There are five types of operators:
grouping, arithmetic, logical, relational, and functions.

Every operator takes one or more @dfn{arguments} as input and produces
or @dfn{returns} exactly one result as output.  Both strings and numeric
values can be used as arguments and are produced as results, but each
operator accepts only specific combinations of numeric and string values
as arguments.  With few exceptions, operator arguments may be
full-fledged expressions in themselves.

@menu
* Boolean Values::              Boolean values.
* Missing Values in Expressions::  Using missing values in expressions.
* Grouping Operators::          parentheses
* Arithmetic Operators::        add sub mul div pow
* Logical Operators::           AND NOT OR
* Relational Operators::        EQ GE GT LE LT NE
* Functions::                   More-sophisticated operators.
* Order of Operations::         Operator precedence.
@end menu

@node Boolean Values, Missing Values in Expressions, Expressions, Expressions
@section Boolean Values
@cindex Boolean
@cindex values, Boolean

Some PSPP operators and expressions work with Boolean values, which
represent true/false conditions.  Booleans have only three possible
values: 0 (false), 1 (true), and system-missing (unknown).
System-missing is neither true nor false and indicates that the true
value is unknown.

Boolean-typed operands or function arguments must take on one of these
three values.  Other values are considered false, but cause an error
when the expression is evaluated.

Strings and Booleans are not compatible, and neither may be used in
place of the other.

@node Missing Values in Expressions, Grouping Operators, Boolean Values, Expressions
@section Missing Values in Expressions

String missing values are not treated specially in expressions.  Most
numeric operators return system-missing when given system-missing
arguments.  Exceptions are listed under particular operator
descriptions.

User-missing values for numeric variables are always transformed into
the system-missing value, except inside the arguments  to the
@code{VALUE} and @code{SYSMIS} functions.

The missing-value functions can be used to precisely control how missing
values are treated in expressions.  @xref{Missing Value Functions}, for
more details.

@node Grouping Operators, Arithmetic Operators, Missing Values in Expressions, Expressions
@section Grouping Operators
@cindex parentheses
@cindex @samp{(  )}
@cindex grouping operators
@cindex operators, grouping

Parentheses (@samp{()}) are the grouping operators.  Surround an
expression with parentheses to force early evaluation.

Parentheses also surround the arguments to functions, but in that
situation they act as punctuators, not as operators.

@node Arithmetic Operators, Logical Operators, Grouping Operators, Expressions
@section Arithmetic Operators
@cindex operators, arithmetic
@cindex arithmetic operators

The arithmetic operators take numeric arguments and produce numeric
results.

@table @code
@cindex @samp{+}
@cindex addition
@item @var{a} + @var{b}
Adds @var{a} and @var{b}, returning the sum.

@cindex @samp{-}
@cindex subtraction
@item @var{a} - @var{b}
Subtracts @var{b} from @var{a}, returning the difference.

@cindex @samp{*}
@cindex multiplication
@item @var{a} * @var{b}
Multiplies @var{a} and @var{b}, returning the product.

@cindex @samp{/}
@cindex division
@item @var{a} / @var{b}
Divides @var{a} by @var{b}, returning the quotient.  If @var{b} is
zero, the result is system-missing.

@cindex @samp{**}
@cindex exponentiation
@item @var{a} ** @var{b}
Returns the result of raising @var{a} to the power @var{b}.  If
@var{a} is negative and @var{b} is not an integer, the result is
system-missing.  The result of @code{0**0} is system-missing as well.

@cindex @samp{-}
@cindex negation
@item - @var{a}
Reverses the sign of @var{a}.  
@end table

@node Logical Operators, Relational Operators, Arithmetic Operators, Expressions
@section Logical Operators
@cindex logical operators
@cindex operators, logical

@cindex true
@cindex false
@cindex Boolean
@cindex values, system-missing
@cindex system-missing
The logical operators take logical arguments and produce logical
results, meaning ``true or false''.  PSPP logical operators are
not true Boolean operators because they may also result in a
system-missing value.

@table @code
@cindex @code{AND}
@cindex @samp{&}
@cindex intersection, logical
@cindex logical intersection
@item @var{a} AND @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} & @var{b}
True if both @var{a} and @var{b} are true, false otherwise.  If one
argument is false, the result is false even if the other is missing.  If
both arguments are missing, the result is missing.

@cindex @code{OR}
@cindex @samp{|}
@cindex union, logical
@cindex logical union
@item @var{a} OR @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} | @var{b}
True if at least one of @var{a} and @var{b} is true.  If one argument is
true, the result is true even if the other argument is missing.  If both
arguments are missing, the result is missing.

@cindex @code{NOT}
@cindex @samp{~}
@cindex inversion, logical
@cindex logical inversion
@item NOT @var{a}
@itemx ~ @var{a}
True if @var{a} is false.  If the argument is missing, then the result
is missing.
@end table

@node Relational Operators, Functions, Logical Operators, Expressions
@section Relational Operators

The relational operators take numeric or string arguments and produce Boolean
results.

Strings cannot be compared to numbers.  When strings of different
lengths are compared, the shorter string is right-padded with spaces
to match the length of the longer string.

The results of string comparisons, other than tests for equality or
inequality, are dependent on the character set in use.  String
comparisons are case-sensitive.

@table @code
@cindex equality, testing
@cindex testing for equality
@cindex @code{EQ}
@cindex @samp{=}
@item @var{a} EQ @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} = @var{b}
True if @var{a} is equal to @var{b}.

@cindex less than or equal to
@cindex @code{LE}
@cindex @code{<=}
@item @var{a} LE @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} <= @var{b}
True if @var{a} is less than or equal to @var{b}.

@cindex less than
@cindex @code{LT}
@cindex @code{<}
@item @var{a} LT @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} < @var{b}
True if @var{a} is less than @var{b}.

@cindex greater than or equal to
@cindex @code{GE}
@cindex @code{>=}
@item @var{a} GE @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} >= @var{b}
True if @var{a} is greater than or equal to @var{b}.

@cindex greater than
@cindex @code{GT}
@cindex @samp{>}
@item @var{a} GT @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} > @var{b}
True if @var{a} is greater than @var{b}.

@cindex inequality, testing
@cindex testing for inequality
@cindex @code{NE}
@cindex @code{~=}
@cindex @code{<>}
@item @var{a} NE @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} ~= @var{b}
@itemx @var{a} <> @var{b}
True is @var{a} is not equal to @var{b}.
@end table

@node Functions, Order of Operations, Relational Operators, Expressions
@section Functions
@cindex functions

@cindex mathematics
@cindex operators
@cindex parentheses
@cindex @code{(}
@cindex @code{)}
@cindex names, of functions
PSPP functions provide mathematical abilities above and beyond
those possible using simple operators.  Functions have a common
syntax: each is composed of a function name followed by a left
parenthesis, one or more arguments, and a right parenthesis.  Function
names are @strong{not} reserved; their names are specially treated
only when followed by a left parenthesis: @code{EXP(10)} refers to the
constant value @code{e} raised to the 10th power, but @code{EXP} by
itself refers to the value of variable EXP.

The sections below describe each function in detail.

@menu
* Advanced Mathematics::        EXP LG10 LN SQRT
* Miscellaneous Mathematics::   ABS MOD MOD10 RND TRUNC
* Trigonometry::                ACOS ARCOS ARSIN ARTAN ASIN ATAN COS SIN TAN
* Missing Value Functions::     MISSING NMISS NVALID SYSMIS VALUE
* Pseudo-Random Numbers::       NORMAL UNIFORM
* Set Membership::              ANY RANGE
* Statistical Functions::       CFVAR MAX MEAN MIN SD SUM VARIANCE
* String Functions::            CONCAT INDEX LENGTH LOWER LPAD LTRIM NUMBER 
                                RINDEX RPAD RTRIM STRING SUBSTR UPCASE
* Time & Date::                 CTIME.xxx DATE.xxx TIME.xxx XDATE.xxx
* Miscellaneous Functions::     LAG YRMODA
* Functions Not Implemented::   CDF.xxx CDFNORM IDF.xxx NCDF.xxx PROBIT RV.xxx
@end menu

@node Advanced Mathematics, Miscellaneous Mathematics, Functions, Functions
@subsection Advanced Mathematical Functions
@cindex mathematics, advanced

Advanced mathematical functions take numeric arguments and produce
numeric results.

@deftypefn {Function} {} EXP (@var{exponent})
Returns @i{e} (approximately 2.71828) raised to power @var{exponent}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex logarithms
@deftypefn {Function} {} LG10 (@var{number})
Takes the base-10 logarithm of @var{number}.  If @var{number} is
not positive, the result is system-missing.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} LN (@var{number})
Takes the base-@i{e} logarithm of @var{number}.  If @var{number} is
not positive, the result is system-missing.
@end deftypefn

@cindex square roots
@deftypefn {Function} {} SQRT (@var{number})
Takes the square root of @var{number}.  If @var{number} is negative,
the result is system-missing.
@end deftypefn

@node Miscellaneous Mathematics, Trigonometry, Advanced Mathematics, Functions
@subsection Miscellaneous Mathematical Functions
@cindex mathematics, miscellaneous

Miscellaneous mathematical functions take numeric arguments and produce
numeric results.

@cindex absolute value
@deftypefn {Function} {} ABS (@var{number})
Results in the absolute value of @var{number}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex modulus
@deftypefn {Function} {} MOD (@var{numerator}, @var{denominator})
Returns the remainder (modulus) of @var{numerator} divided by
@var{denominator}.  If @var{denominator} is 0, the result is
system-missing.  However, if @var{numerator} is 0 and
@var{denominator} is system-missing, the result is 0.
@end deftypefn

@cindex modulus, by 10
@deftypefn {Function} {} MOD10 (@var{number})
Returns the remainder when @var{number} is divided by 10.  If
@var{number} is negative, MOD10(@var{number}) is negative or zero.
@end deftypefn

@cindex rounding
@deftypefn {Function} {} RND (@var{number})
Takes the absolute value of @var{number} and rounds it to an integer.
Then, if @var{number} was negative originally, negates the result.
@end deftypefn

@cindex truncation
@deftypefn {Function} {} TRUNC (@var{number})
Discards the fractional part of @var{number}; that is, rounds
@var{number} towards zero.
@end deftypefn

@node Trigonometry, Missing Value Functions, Miscellaneous Mathematics, Functions
@subsection Trigonometric Functions
@cindex trigonometry

Trigonometric functions take numeric arguments and produce numeric
results.

@cindex arccosine
@cindex inverse cosine
@deftypefn {Function} {} ARCOS (@var{number})
Takes the arccosine, in radians, of @var{number}.  Results in
system-missing if @var{number} is not between -1 and 1.
@end deftypefn

@cindex arcsine
@cindex inverse sine
@deftypefn {Function} {} ARSIN (@var{number})
Takes the arcsine, in radians, of @var{number}.  Results in
system-missing if @var{number} is not between -1 and 1 inclusive.
@end deftypefn

@cindex arctangent
@cindex inverse tangent
@deftypefn {Function} {} ARTAN (@var{number})
Takes the arctangent, in radians, of @var{number}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex cosine
@deftypefn {Function} {} COS (@var{angle})
Takes the cosine of @var{angle} which should be in radians.
@end deftypefn

@cindex sine
@deftypefn {Function} {} SIN (@var{angle})
Takes the sine of @var{angle} which should be in radians.
@end deftypefn

@cindex tangent
@deftypefn {Function} {} TAN (@var{angle})
Takes the tangent of @var{angle} which should be in radians.
Results in system-missing at values
of @var{angle} that are too close to odd multiples of pi/2.
Portability: none.
@end deftypefn

@node Missing Value Functions, Pseudo-Random Numbers, Trigonometry, Functions
@subsection Missing-Value Functions
@cindex missing values
@cindex values, missing
@cindex functions, missing-value

Missing-value functions take various numeric arguments and yield
various types of results.  Note that the normal rules of evaluation
apply within expression arguments to these functions.  In particular,
user-missing values for numeric variables are converted to
system-missing values.

@deftypefn {Function} {} MISSING (@var{expr})
Returns 1 if @var{expr} has the system-missing value, 0 otherwise.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} NMISS (@var{expr} [, @var{expr}]@dots{})
Each argument must be a numeric expression.  Returns the number of
system-missing values in the list.  As a special extension,
the syntax @code{@var{var1} TO @var{var2}} may be used to refer to a
range of variables; see @ref{Sets of Variables}, for more details.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} NVALID (@var{expr} [, @var{expr}]@dots{})
Each argument must be a numeric expression.  Returns the number of
values in the list that are not system-missing.  As a special extension,
the syntax @code{@var{var1} TO @var{var2}} may be used to refer to a
range of variables; see @ref{Sets of Variables}, for more details.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} SYSMIS (@var{expr})
When @var{expr} is simply the name of a numeric variable, returns 1 if
the variable has the system-missing value, 0 if it is user-missing or
not missing.  If given @var{expr} takes another form, results in 1 if
the value is system-missing, 0 otherwise.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} VALUE (@var{variable})
Prevents the user-missing values of @var{variable} from being
transformed into system-missing values, and always results in the
actual value of @var{variable}, whether it is user-missing,
system-missing or not missing at all.
@end deftypefn

@node Pseudo-Random Numbers, Set Membership, Missing Value Functions, Functions
@subsection Pseudo-Random Number Generation Functions
@cindex random numbers
@cindex pseudo-random numbers (see random numbers)

Pseudo-random number generation functions take numeric arguments and
produce numeric results.

PSPP uses the alleged RC4 cipher as a pseudo-random number generator
(PRNG).  The bytes output by this PRNG are system-independent for a
given random seed, but differences in endianness and floating-point
formats will make PRNG results differ from system to system.  RC4
should produce high-quality random numbers for simulation purposes.
(If you're concerned about the quality of the random number generator,
well, you're using a statistical processing package---analyze it!)

PSPP's implementation of RC4 has not undergone any security auditing.
Furthermore, various precautions that would be necessary for secure
operation, such as secure seeding and discarding the first several
bytes of output, have not been taken.  Therefore, PSPP's
implementation of RC4 should not be used for security purposes.

@cindex random numbers, normally-distributed
@deftypefn {Function} {} NORMAL (@var{number})
Results in a random number.  Results from @code{NORMAL} are normally
distributed with a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of @var{number}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex random numbers, uniformly-distributed
@deftypefn {Function} {} UNIFORM (@var{number})
Results in a random number between 0 and @var{number}.  Results from
@code{UNIFORM} are evenly distributed across its entire range.  There
may be a maximum on the largest random number ever generated---this is
often 
@ifinfo 
2**31-1 
@end ifinfo
@tex
$2^{31}-1$
@end tex
(2,147,483,647), but it may be orders of magnitude
higher or lower.
@end deftypefn

@node Set Membership, Statistical Functions, Pseudo-Random Numbers, Functions
@subsection Set-Membership Functions
@cindex set membership
@cindex membership, of set

Set membership functions determine whether a value is a member of a set.
They take a set of numeric arguments or a set of string arguments, and
produce Boolean results.

String comparisons are performed according to the rules given in
@ref{Relational Operators}.

@deftypefn {Function} {} ANY (@var{value}, @var{set} [, @var{set}]@dots{})
Results in true if @var{value} is equal to any of the @var{set}
values.  Otherwise, results in false.  If @var{value} is
system-missing, returns system-missing.  System-missing values in
@var{set} do not cause ANY to return system-missing.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} RANGE (@var{value}, @var{low}, @var{high} [, @var{low}, @var{high}]@dots{})
Results in true if @var{value} is in any of the intervals bounded by
@var{low} and @var{high} inclusive.  Otherwise, results in false.
Each @var{low} must be less than or equal to its corresponding
@var{high} value.  @var{low} and @var{high} must be given in pairs.
If @var{value} is system-missing, returns system-missing.
System-missing values in @var{set} do not cause RANGE to return
system-missing.
@end deftypefn

@node Statistical Functions, String Functions, Set Membership, Functions
@subsection Statistical Functions
@cindex functions, statistical
@cindex statistics

Statistical functions compute descriptive statistics on a list of
values.  Some statistics can be computed on numeric or string values;
other can only be computed on numeric values.  Their results have the
same type as their arguments.  The current case's weighting factor
(@pxref{WEIGHT}) has no effect on statistical functions.

@cindex arguments, minimum valid
@cindex minimum valid number of arguments
With statistical functions it is possible to specify a minimum number of
non-missing arguments for the function to be evaluated.  To do so,
append a dot and the number to the function name.  For instance, to
specify a minimum of three valid arguments to the MEAN function, use the
name @code{MEAN.3}.

@cindex coefficient of variation
@cindex variation, coefficient of
@deftypefn {Function} {} CFVAR (@var{number}, @var{number}[, @dots{}])
Results in the coefficient of variation of the values of @var{number}.
This function requires at least two valid arguments to give a
non-missing result.  (The coefficient of variation is the standard
deviation divided by the mean.)
@end deftypefn

@cindex maximum
@deftypefn {Function} {} MAX (@var{value}, @var{value}[, @dots{}])
Results in the value of the greatest @var{value}.  The @var{value}s may
be numeric or string.  Although at least two arguments must be given,
only one need be valid for MAX to give a non-missing result.
@end deftypefn

@cindex mean
@deftypefn {Function} {} MEAN (@var{number}, @var{number}[, @dots{}])
Results in the mean of the values of @var{number}.  Although at least
two arguments must be given, only one need be valid for MEAN to give a
non-missing result.
@end deftypefn

@cindex minimum
@deftypefn {Function} {} MIN (@var{number}, @var{number}[, @dots{}])
Results in the value of the least @var{value}.  The @var{value}s may
be numeric or string.  Although at least two arguments must be given,
only one need be valid for MAX to give a non-missing result.
@end deftypefn

@cindex standard deviation
@cindex deviation, standard
@deftypefn {Function} {} SD (@var{number}, @var{number}[, @dots{}])
Results in the standard deviation of the values of @var{number}.
This function requires at least two valid arguments to give a
non-missing result.
@end deftypefn

@cindex sum
@deftypefn {Function} {} SUM (@var{number}, @var{number}[, @dots{}])
Results in the sum of the values of @var{number}.  Although at least two
arguments must be given, only one need by valid for SUM to give a
non-missing result.
@end deftypefn

@cindex variance
@deftypefn {Function} {} VARIANCE (@var{number}, @var{number}[, @dots{}])
Results in the variance of the values of @var{number}.  This function
requires at least two valid arguments to give a non-missing result.
@end deftypefn

@node String Functions, Time & Date, Statistical Functions, Functions
@subsection String Functions
@cindex functions, string
@cindex string functions

String functions take various arguments and return various results.

@cindex concatenation
@cindex strings, concatenation of
@deftypefn {Function} {} CONCAT (@var{string}, @var{string}[, @dots{}])
Returns a string consisting of each @var{string} in sequence.
@code{CONCAT("abc", "def", "ghi")} has a value of @code{"abcdefghi"}.
The resultant string is truncated to a maximum of 255 characters.
@end deftypefn

@cindex searching strings
@deftypefn {Function} {} INDEX (@var{haystack}, @var{needle})
Returns a positive integer indicating the position of the first
occurrence @var{needle} in @var{haystack}.  Returns 0 if @var{haystack}
does not contain @var{needle}.  Returns system-missing if @var{needle}
is an empty string.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} INDEX (@var{haystack}, @var{needle}, @var{divisor})
Divides @var{needle} into parts, each with length @var{divisor}.
Searches @var{haystack} for the first occurrence of each part, and
returns the smallest value.  Returns 0 if @var{haystack} does not
contain any part in @var{needle}.  It is an error if @var{divisor}
cannot be evenly divided into the length of @var{needle}.  Returns
system-missing if @var{needle} is an empty string.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, finding length of
@deftypefn {Function} {} LENGTH (@var{string})
Returns the number of characters in @var{string}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, case of
@deftypefn {Function} {} LOWER (@var{string})
Returns a string identical to @var{string} except that all uppercase
letters are changed to lowercase letters.  The definitions of
``uppercase'' and ``lowercase'' are system-dependent.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, padding
@deftypefn {Function} {} LPAD (@var{string}, @var{length})
If @var{string} is at least @var{length} characters in length, returns
@var{string} unchanged.  Otherwise, returns @var{string} padded with
spaces on the left side to length @var{length}.  Returns an empty string
if @var{length} is system-missing, negative, or greater than 255.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} LPAD (@var{string}, @var{length}, @var{padding})
If @var{string} is at least @var{length} characters in length, returns
@var{string} unchanged.  Otherwise, returns @var{string} padded with
@var{padding} on the left side to length @var{length}.  Returns an empty
string if @var{length} is system-missing, negative, or greater than 255, or
if @var{padding} does not contain exactly one character.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, trimming
@cindex whitespace, trimming
@deftypefn {Function} {} LTRIM (@var{string})
Returns @var{string}, after removing leading spaces.  Other whitespace,
such as tabs, carriage returns, line feeds, and vertical tabs, is not
removed.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} LTRIM (@var{string}, @var{padding})
Returns @var{string}, after removing leading @var{padding} characters.
If @var{padding} does not contain exactly one character, returns an
empty string.
@end deftypefn

@cindex numbers, converting from strings
@cindex strings, converting to numbers
@deftypefn {Function} {} NUMBER (@var{string}, @var{format})
Returns the number produced when @var{string} is interpreted according
to format specifier @var{format}.  If the format width @var{w} is less
than the length of @var{string}, then only the first @var{w}
characters in @var{string} are used, e.g.@: @code{NUMBER("123", F3.0)}
and @code{NUMBER("1234", F3.0)} both have value 123.  If @var{w} is
greater than @var{string}'s length, then it is treated as if it were
right-padded with spaces.  If @var{string} is not in the correct
format for @var{format}, system-missing is returned.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, searching backwards
@deftypefn {Function} {} RINDEX (@var{string}, @var{format})
Returns a positive integer indicating the position of the last
occurrence of @var{needle} in @var{haystack}.  Returns 0 if
@var{haystack} does not contain @var{needle}.  Returns system-missing if
@var{needle} is an empty string.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} RINDEX (@var{haystack}, @var{needle}, @var{divisor})
Divides @var{needle} into parts, each with length @var{divisor}.
Searches @var{haystack} for the last occurrence of each part, and
returns the largest value.  Returns 0 if @var{haystack} does not contain
any part in @var{needle}.  It is an error if @var{divisor} cannot be
evenly divided into the length of @var{needle}.  Returns system-missing
if @var{needle} is an empty string.
@end deftypefn

@cindex padding strings
@cindex strings, padding
@deftypefn {Function} {} RPAD (@var{string}, @var{length})
If @var{string} is at least @var{length} characters in length, returns
@var{string} unchanged.  Otherwise, returns @var{string} padded with
spaces on the right to length @var{length}.  Returns an empty string if
@var{length} is system-missing, negative, or greater than 255.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} RPAD (@var{string}, @var{length}, @var{padding})
If @var{string} is at least @var{length} characters in length, returns
@var{string} unchanged.  Otherwise, returns @var{string} padded with
@var{padding} on the right to length @var{length}.  Returns an empty
string if @var{length} is system-missing, negative, or greater than 255,
or if @var{padding} does not contain exactly one character.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, trimming
@cindex whitespace, trimming
@deftypefn {Function} {} RTRIM (@var{string})
Returns @var{string}, after removing trailing spaces.  Other types of
whitespace are not removed.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} RTRIM (@var{string}, @var{padding})
Returns @var{string}, after removing trailing @var{padding} characters.
If @var{padding} does not contain exactly one character, returns an
empty string.
@end deftypefn

@cindex strings, converting from numbers
@cindex numbers, converting to strings
@deftypefn {Function} {} STRING (@var{number}, @var{format})
Returns a string corresponding to @var{number} in the format given by
format specifier @var{format}.  For example, @code{STRING(123.56, F5.1)}
has the value @code{"123.6"}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex substrings
@cindex strings, taking substrings of
@deftypefn {Function} {} SUBSTR (@var{string}, @var{start})
Returns a string consisting of the value of @var{string} from position
@var{start} onward.  Returns an empty string if @var{start} is system-missing
or has a value less than 1 or greater than the number of characters in
@var{string}.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} SUBSTR (@var{string}, @var{start}, @var{count})
Returns a string consisting of the first @var{count} characters from
@var{string} beginning at position @var{start}.  Returns an empty string
if @var{start} or @var{count} is system-missing, if @var{start} is less
than 1 or greater than the number of characters in @var{string}, or if
@var{count} is less than 1.  Returns a string shorter than @var{count}
characters if @var{start} + @var{count} - 1 is greater than the number
of characters in @var{string}.  Examples: @code{SUBSTR("abcdefg", 3, 2)}
has value @code{"cd"}; @code{SUBSTR("Ben Pfaff", 5, 10)} has the value
@code{"Pfaff"}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex case conversion
@cindex strings, case of
@deftypefn {Function} {} UPCASE (@var{string})
Returns @var{string}, changing lowercase letters to uppercase letters.
@end deftypefn

@node Time & Date, Miscellaneous Functions, String Functions, Functions
@subsection Time & Date Functions
@cindex functions, time & date
@cindex times
@cindex dates

@cindex dates, legal range of
The legal range of dates for use in PSPP is 15 Oct 1582
through 31 Dec 19999.

@cindex arguments, invalid
@cindex invalid arguments
@quotation
@strong{Please note:} Most time & date extraction functions will accept
invalid arguments:

@itemize @bullet
@item
Negative numbers in PSPP time format.
@item
Numbers less than 86,400 in PSPP date format.
@end itemize

However, sensible results are not guaranteed for these invalid values.
The given equivalents for these functions are definitely not guaranteed
for invalid values.
@end quotation

@quotation
@strong{Please note also:} The time & date construction
functions @strong{do} produce reasonable and useful results for
out-of-range values; these are not considered invalid.
@end quotation

@menu
* Time & Date Concepts::        How times & dates are defined and represented
* Time Construction::           TIME.@{DAYS HMS@}
* Time Extraction::             CTIME.@{DAYS HOURS MINUTES SECONDS@}
* Date Construction::           DATE.@{DMY MDY MOYR QYR WKYR YRDAY@}
* Date Extraction::             XDATE.@{DATE HOUR JDAY MDAY MINUTE MONTH
                                       QUARTER SECOND TDAY TIME WEEK
                                       WKDAY YEAR@}
@end menu

@node Time & Date Concepts, Time Construction, Time & Date, Time & Date
@subsubsection How times & dates are defined and represented

@cindex time, concepts
@cindex time, intervals
Times and dates are handled by PSPP as single numbers.  A
@dfn{time} is an interval.  PSPP measures times in seconds.
Thus, the following intervals correspond with the numeric values given:
                
@example
          10 minutes                        600
          1 hour                          3,600
          1 day, 3 hours, 10 seconds     97,210
          40 days                     3,456,000
          10010 d, 14 min, 24 s     864,864,864
@end example

@cindex dates, concepts
@cindex time, instants of
A @dfn{date}, on the other hand, is a particular instant in the past or
the future.  PSPP represents a date as a number of seconds after the
midnight that separated 8 Oct 1582 and 9 Oct 1582.  (Please note that 15
Oct 1582 immediately followed 9 Oct 1582.)  Thus, the midnights before
the dates given below correspond with the numeric PSPP dates given:

@example
              15 Oct 1582                86,400
               4 Jul 1776         6,113,318,400
               1 Jan 1900        10,010,390,400
               1 Oct 1978        12,495,427,200
              24 Aug 1995        13,028,601,600
@end example

@cindex time, mathematical properties of
@cindex mathematics, applied to times & dates
@cindex dates, mathematical properties of
@noindent
Please note: 

@itemize @bullet
@item
A time may be added to, or subtracted from, a date, resulting in a date.

@item
The difference of two dates may be taken, resulting in a time.  

@item 
Two times may be added to, or subtracted from, each other, resulting in
a time.
@end itemize

(Adding two dates does not produce a useful result.)

Since times and dates are merely numbers, the ordinary addition and
subtraction operators are employed for these purposes.

@quotation
@strong{Please note:} Many dates and times have extremely large
values---just look at the values above.  Thus, it is not a good idea to
take powers of these values; also, the accuracy of some procedures may
be affected.  If necessary, convert times or dates in seconds to some
other unit, like days or years, before performing analysis.
@end quotation

@node Time Construction, Time Extraction, Time & Date Concepts, Time & Date
@subsubsection Functions that Produce Times
@cindex times, constructing
@cindex constructing times

These functions take numeric arguments and produce numeric results in
PSPP time format.

@cindex days
@cindex time, in days
@deftypefn {Function} {} TIME.DAYS (@var{ndays})
Results in a time value corresponding to @var{ndays} days.
(@code{TIME.DAYS(@var{x})} is equivalent to @code{@var{x} * 60 * 60 *
24}.)
@end deftypefn

@cindex hours-minutes-seconds
@cindex time, in hours-minutes-seconds
@deftypefn {Function} {} TIME.HMS (@var{nhours}, @var{nmins}, @var{nsecs})
Results in a time value corresponding to @var{nhours} hours, @var{nmins}
minutes, and @var{nsecs} seconds.  (@code{TIME.HMS(@var{h}, @var{m},
@var{s})} is equivalent to @code{@var{h}*60*60 + @var{m}*60 +
@var{s}}.)
@end deftypefn

@node Time Extraction, Date Construction, Time Construction, Time & Date
@subsubsection Functions that Examine Times
@cindex extraction, of time
@cindex time examination
@cindex examination, of times
@cindex time, lengths of

These functions take numeric arguments in PSPP time format and
give numeric results.

@cindex days
@cindex time, in days
@deftypefn {Function} {} CTIME.DAYS (@var{time})
Results in the number of days and fractional days in @var{time}.
(@code{CTIME.DAYS(@var{x})} is equivalent to @code{@var{x}/60/60/24}.)
@end deftypefn

@cindex hours
@cindex time, in hours
@deftypefn {Function} {} CTIME.HOURS (@var{time})
Results in the number of hours and fractional hours in @var{time}.
(@code{CTIME.HOURS(@var{x})} is equivalent to @code{@var{x}/60/60}.)
@end deftypefn

@cindex minutes
@cindex time, in minutes
@deftypefn {Function} {} CTIME.MINUTES (@var{time})
Results in the number of minutes and fractional minutes in @var{time}.
(@code{CTIME.MINUTES(@var{x})} is equivalent to @code{@var{x}/60}.)
@end deftypefn

@cindex seconds
@cindex time, in seconds
@deftypefn {Function} {} CTIME.SECONDS (@var{time})
Results in the number of seconds and fractional seconds in @var{time}.
(@code{CTIME.SECONDS} does nothing; @code{CTIME.SECONDS(@var{x})} is
equivalent to @code{@var{x}}.)
@end deftypefn

@node Date Construction, Date Extraction, Time Extraction, Time & Date
@subsubsection Functions that Produce Dates
@cindex dates, constructing
@cindex constructing dates

@cindex arguments, of date construction functions
These functions take numeric arguments and give numeric results in the
PSPP date format.  Arguments taken by these functions are:

@table @var
@item day
Refers to a day of the month between 1 and 31.

@item month
Refers to a month of the year between 1 and 12.

@item quarter
Refers to a quarter of the year between 1 and 4.  The quarters of the
year begin on the first days of months 1, 4, 7, and 10.

@item week
Refers to a week of the year between 1 and 53.

@item yday
Refers to a day of the year between 1 and 366.

@item year
Refers to a year between 1582 and 19999.
@end table

@cindex arguments, invalid
If these functions' arguments are out-of-range, they are correctly
normalized before conversion to date format.  Non-integers are rounded
toward zero.

@cindex day-month-year
@cindex dates, day-month-year
@deftypefn {Function} {} DATE.DMY (@var{day}, @var{month}, @var{year})
@deftypefnx {Function} {} DATE.MDY (@var{month}, @var{day}, @var{year})
Results in a date value corresponding to the midnight before day
@var{day} of month @var{month} of year @var{year}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex month-year
@cindex dates, month-year
@deftypefn {Function} {} DATE.MOYR (@var{month}, @var{year})
Results in a date value corresponding to the midnight before the first
day of month @var{month} of year @var{year}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex quarter-year
@cindex dates, quarter-year
@deftypefn {Function} {} DATE.QYR (@var{quarter}, @var{year})
Results in a date value corresponding to the midnight before the first
day of quarter @var{quarter} of year @var{year}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex week-year
@cindex dates, week-year
@deftypefn {Function} {} DATE.WKYR (@var{week}, @var{year})
Results in a date value corresponding to the midnight before the first
day of week @var{week} of year @var{year}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex year-day
@cindex dates, year-day
@deftypefn {Function} {} DATE.YRDAY (@var{year}, @var{yday})
Results in a date value corresponding to the midnight before day
@var{yday} of year @var{year}.
@end deftypefn

@node Date Extraction,  , Date Construction, Time & Date
@subsubsection Functions that Examine Dates
@cindex extraction, of dates
@cindex date examination

@cindex arguments, of date extraction functions
These functions take numeric arguments in PSPP date or time
format and give numeric results.  These names are used for arguments:

@table @var
@item date
A numeric value in PSPP date format.

@item time
A numeric value in PSPP time format.

@item time-or-date
A numeric value in PSPP time or date format.
@end table

@cindex days
@cindex dates, in days
@cindex time, in days
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.DATE (@var{time-or-date})
For a time, results in the time corresponding to the number of whole
days @var{date-or-time} includes.  For a date, results in the date
corresponding to the latest midnight at or before @var{date-or-time};
that is, gives the date that @var{date-or-time} is in.
(XDATE.DATE(@var{x}) is equivalent to TRUNC(@var{x}/86400)*86400.)
Applying this function to a time is a non-portable feature.
@end deftypefn

@cindex hours
@cindex dates, in hours
@cindex time, in hours
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.HOUR (@var{time-or-date})
For a time, results in the number of whole hours beyond the number of
whole days represented by @var{date-or-time}.  For a date, results in
the hour (as an integer between 0 and 23) corresponding to
@var{date-or-time}.  (XDATE.HOUR(@var{x}) is equivalent to
MOD(TRUNC(@var{x}/3600),24))  Applying this function to a time is a
non-portable feature.
@end deftypefn

@cindex day of the year
@cindex dates, day of the year
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.JDAY (@var{date})
Results in the day of the year (as an integer between 1 and 366)
corresponding to @var{date}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex day of the month
@cindex dates, day of the month
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.MDAY (@var{date})
Results in the day of the month (as an integer between 1 and 31)
corresponding to @var{date}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex minutes
@cindex dates, in minutes
@cindex time, in minutes
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.MINUTE (@var{time-or-date})
Results in the number of minutes (as an integer between 0 and 59) after
the last hour in @var{time-or-date}.  (XDATE.MINUTE(@var{x}) is
equivalent to MOD(TRUNC(@var{x}/60),60)) Applying this function to a
time is a non-portable feature.
@end deftypefn

@cindex months
@cindex dates, in months
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.MONTH (@var{date})
Results in the month of the year (as an integer between 1 and 12)
corresponding to @var{date}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex quarters
@cindex dates, in quarters
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.QUARTER (@var{date})
Results in the quarter of the year (as an integer between 1 and 4)
corresponding to @var{date}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex seconds
@cindex dates, in seconds
@cindex time, in seconds
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.SECOND (@var{time-or-date})
Results in the number of whole seconds after the last whole minute (as
an integer between 0 and 59) in @var{time-or-date}.
(XDATE.SECOND(@var{x}) is equivalent to MOD(@var{x}, 60).)  Applying
this function to a time is a non-portable feature.
@end deftypefn

@cindex days
@cindex times, in days
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.TDAY (@var{time})
Results in the number of whole days (as an integer) in @var{time}.
(XDATE.TDAY(@var{x}) is equivalent to TRUNC(@var{x}/86400).)
@end deftypefn

@cindex time
@cindex dates, time of day
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.TIME (@var{date})
Results in the time of day at the instant corresponding to @var{date},
in PSPP time format.  This is the number of seconds since
midnight on the day corresponding to @var{date}.  (XDATE.TIME(@var{x}) is
equivalent to TRUNC(@var{x}/86400)*86400.)
@end deftypefn

@cindex week
@cindex dates, in weeks
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.WEEK (@var{date})
Results in the week of the year (as an integer between 1 and 53)
corresponding to @var{date}.
@end deftypefn

@cindex day of the week
@cindex weekday
@cindex dates, day of the week
@cindex dates, in weekdays
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.WKDAY (@var{date})
Results in the day of week (as an integer between 1 and 7) corresponding
to @var{date}.  The days of the week are:

@table @asis
@item 1
Sunday
@item 2
Monday
@item 3
Tuesday
@item 4
Wednesday
@item 5
Thursday
@item 6
Friday
@item 7
Saturday
@end table
@end deftypefn

@cindex years
@cindex dates, in years
@deftypefn {Function} {} XDATE.YEAR (@var{date})
Returns the year (as an integer between 1582 and 19999) corresponding to
@var{date}.
@end deftypefn

@node Miscellaneous Functions, Functions Not Implemented, Time & Date, Functions
@subsection Miscellaneous Functions
@cindex functions, miscellaneous

Miscellaneous functions take various arguments and produce various
results.

@cindex cross-case function
@cindex function, cross-case
@deftypefn {Function} {} LAG (@var{variable})
@anchor{LAG}
@var{variable} must be a numeric or string variable name.  @code{LAG}
results in the value of that variable for the case before the current
one.  In case-selection procedures, @code{LAG} results in the value of
the variable for the last case selected.  Results in system-missing (for
numeric variables) or blanks (for string variables) for the first case
or before any cases are selected.
@end deftypefn

@deftypefn {Function} {} LAG (@var{variable}, @var{ncases})
@var{variable} must be a numeric or string variable name.  @var{ncases}
must be a small positive constant integer, although there is no explicit
limit.  (Use of a large value for @var{ncases} will increase memory
consumption, since PSPP must keep @var{ncases} cases in memory.)
@code{LAG (@var{variable}, @var{ncases}} results in the value of
@var{variable} that is @var{ncases} before the case currently being
processed.  See @code{LAG (@var{variable})} above for more details.
@end deftypefn

@cindex date, Julian
@cindex Julian date
@deftypefn {Function} {} YRMODA (@var{year}, @var{month}, @var{day})
@var{year} is a year between 0 and 199 or 1582 and 19999.  @var{month} is
a month between 1 and 12.  @var{day} is a day between 1 and 31.  If
@var{month} or @var{day} is out-of-range, it changes the next higher
unit.  For instance, a @var{day} of 0 refers to the last day of the
previous month, and a @var{month} of 13 refers to the first month of the
next year.  @var{year} must be in range.  If @var{year} is between 0 and
199, 1900 is added.  @var{year}, @var{month}, and @var{day} must all be
integers.

@code{YRMODA} results in the number of days between 15 Oct 1582 and
the date specified, plus one.  The date passed to @code{YRMODA} must be
on or after 15 Oct 1582.  15 Oct 1582 has a value of 1.
@end deftypefn

@node Functions Not Implemented,  , Miscellaneous Functions, Functions
@subsection Functions Not Implemented
@cindex functions, not implemented
@cindex not implemented
@cindex features, not implemented

These functions are not yet implemented and thus not yet documented,
since it's a hassle.

@findex CDF.xxx
@findex CDFNORM
@findex IDF.xxx
@findex NCDF.xxx
@findex PROBIT
@findex RV.xxx

@itemize @bullet
@item
@code{CDF.xxx}
@item
@code{CDFNORM}
@item
@code{IDF.xxx}
@item
@code{NCDF.xxx}
@item
@code{PROBIT}
@item
@code{RV.xxx}
@end itemize

@node Order of Operations,  , Functions, Expressions
@section Operator Precedence
@cindex operator precedence
@cindex precedence, operator
@cindex order of operations
@cindex operations, order of

The following table describes operator precedence.  Smaller-numbered
levels in the table have higher precedence.  Within a level, operations
are performed from left to right, except for level 2 (exponentiation),
where operations are performed from right to left.  If an operator
appears in the table in two places (@code{-}), the first occurrence is
unary, the second is binary.

@enumerate
@item
@code{(  )}
@item
@code{**}
@item
@code{-}
@item
@code{*  /}
@item
@code{+  -}
@item
@code{EQ  GE  GT  LE  LT  NE}
@item
@code{AND  NOT  OR}
@end enumerate
@setfilename ignored