1 @node Invoking pspp-convert
2 @chapter Invoking @command{pspp-convert}
4 @cindex @command{pspp-convert}
6 @command{pspp-convert} is a command-line utility accompanying
7 @pspp{}. It reads an SPSS system or portable file @var{input} and
8 writes a copy of it to another @var{output} in a different format.
12 @t{pspp-convert} [@var{options}] @var{input} @var{output}
14 @t{pspp-convert -@w{-}help}
16 @t{pspp-convert -@w{-}version}
19 The format of @var{input} is automatically detected, when possible.
20 The character encoding of old SPSS system files cannot always be
21 guessed correctly, and SPSS/PC+ system files do not include any
22 indication of their encoding. Use @code{-e @var{encoding}} to specify
23 the encoding in this case.
25 By default, the intended format for @var{output} is inferred based on its
31 Comma-separated value. Each value is formatted according to its
32 variable's print format. The first line in the file contains variable
43 As a special case of format conversion, @command{pspp-convert} can
44 decrypt an encrypted SPSS system file. Specify the encrypted file as
45 @var{input}. The output will be the equivalent plaintext SPSS system
46 file. You will be prompted for the password (or use @option{-p},
49 Use @code{-O @var{extension}} to override the inferred format or to
50 specify the format for unrecognized extensions.
52 The following options are accepted:
56 @itemx --output-format=@var{format}
57 Specifies the desired output format. @var{format} must be one of the
58 extensions listed above, e.g. @code{-O csv} requests comma-separated
61 @item -c @var{maxcases}
62 @itemx --cases=@var{maxcases}
63 By default, all cases are copied from @var{input} to @var{output}.
64 Specifying this option to limit the number of cases written to
65 @var{output} to @var{maxcases}.
67 @item -e @var{charset}
68 @itemx --encoding=@var{charset}
69 Overrides the encoding in which character strings in @var{input} are
70 interpreted. This option is necessary because old SPSS system files,
71 and SPSS/PC+ system files, do not self-identify their encoding.
73 @item -p @var{password}
74 @item --password=@var{password}
75 Specifies the password to use to decrypt an encrypted SPSS system
76 file. If this option is not specified, @command{pspp-convert} will
77 prompt interactively for the password as necessary.
79 Be aware that command-line options, including passwords, may be
80 visible to other users on multiuser systems.
84 Prints a usage message on stdout and exits.
88 Prints version information on stdout and exits.