Starting PSPP
*************

There are two separate user interfaces for PSPP. There is the command line interface, which responds to commands typed by the user. The command line interface is generally available on more platforms than the graphic user interface and since it doesn't require a graphics device it can be used from a remote terminal. Platforms which have a windowing system may also be able to support the graphic user interface. The graphic user interface can perform all functionality of the command line interface. In addition it gives an instantaneous view of the data, variables and statistical output.

Whichever interface you choose, a basic understanding of the concepts used by PSPP is necessary before effective use of the system can be achieved.

The command line user interface
===============================

     pspp [ -B DIR | --config-dir=DIR ] [ -o DEVICE | --device=DEVICE ]
            [ -a {compatible|enhanced} | --algorithm={compatible|enhanced}]
            [ -x {compatible|enhanced} | --syntax={compatible|enhanced}]
            [ -I- | --no-include ]
            [ -I DIR | --include=DIR ] [ -i | --interactive ]
            [ -r | --no-statrc ] [ -h | --help ] [ -l | --list ]
            [ -s | --safer ]
            [ --testing-mode ] [ -V | --version ]
            [ KEY=VALUE ] FILE...

Non-option Arguments
--------------------

Syntax files and output device substitutions can be specified on PSPP's command line:

FILE

     A file by itself on the command line will be executed as a syntax file. If multiple files are specified, they are executed in order, as if their contents had been given in a single file. PSPP terminates after the syntax files run, unless the -i or --interactive option is given (see Language control options).

KEY=VALUE

     Defines an output device macro KEY to expand to VALUE, overriding any macro having the same KEY defined in the device configuration file.  See Macro definitions.

There is one other way to specify a syntax file, if your operating system supports it.  If you have a syntax file foobar.stat, put the notation

     #! /usr/local/bin/pspp

at the top, and mark the file as executable with chmod +x foobar.stat.  (If PSPP is not installed in /usr/local/bin, then insert its actual installation directory into the syntax file instead.)  Now you should be able to invoke the syntax file just by typing its name.  You can include any options on the command line as usual.  PSPP entirely ignores any lines beginning with #!.

Configuration Options
---------------------

Configuration options are used to change PSPP's configuration for the current run.  The configuration options are:

-a {compatible|enhanced}
--algorithm={compatible|enhanced}

     If you chose compatible, then PSPP will use the same  algorithms as used by some proprietary statistical analysis packages. This is not recommended, as  these algorithms are inferior and in some cases compeletely broken. The default setting is enhanced. Certain commands have subcommands which allow you to override this setting on a per command basis.

-B DIR
--config-dir=DIR

     Sets the configuration directory to DIR.  See File locations.

-o DEVICE
--device=DEVICE

     Selects the output device with name DEVICE.  If this option is given more than once, then all devices mentioned are selected.  This option disables all devices besides those mentioned on the command line.

Input and output options
------------------------

Input and output options affect how PSPP reads input and writes output.  These are the input and output options:

-I-
--no-include

     Clears all directories from the include path.  This includes all directories put in the include path by default.  See Miscellaneous configuring.

-I DIR
--include=DIR

     Appends directory DIR to the path that is searched for include files in PSPP syntax files.

--testing-mode

     Invoke heuristics to assist with testing PSPP.  For use by make check and similar scripts.

Language control options
------------------------

Language control options control how PSPP syntax files are parsed and interpreted.  The available language control options are:

-i
--interactive

     When a syntax file is specified on the command line, PSPP normally terminates after processing it.  Giving this option will cause PSPP to bring up a command prompt after processing the syntax file.

     In addition, this forces syntax files to be interpreted in interactive mode, rather than the default batch mode.  See Tokenizing lines, for information on the differences between batch mode and interactive mode command interpretation.

-r
--no-statrc

     Prevents the execution of the PSPP startup syntax file.

-s
--safer

     Disables certain unsafe operations.  This includes the ERASE and HOST commands, as well as use of pipes as input and output files.

Informational options
---------------------

Informational options cause information about PSPP to be written to the terminal.  Here are the available options:

-h

--help

     Prints a message describing PSPP command-line syntax and the available device driver classes, then terminates.

-l

--list

     Lists the available device driver classes, then terminates.

-x {compatible|enhanced}
--syntax={compatible|enhanced}

     If you chose compatible, then PSPP will only accept command syntax that is compatible with the proprietary program SPSS. If you choose enhanced then additional syntax will be available. The default is enhanced.

-V

--version

     Prints a brief message listing PSPP's version, warranties you don't have, copying conditions and copyright, and e-mail address for bug reports, then terminates.

The graphic user interface
==========================

The graphic user interface can be started by typing psppire at a command prompt. Alternatively many systems have a system of interactive menus or buttons from which psppire can be started by a series of mouse clicks.

Once the principles of the PSPP system are understood, the graphic user interface is designed to be largely intuitive, and for this reason is covered only very briefly by this manual.