@cindex data reduction
@display
-FACTOR VARIABLES=@var{var_list}
+FACTOR @{
+ VARIABLES=@var{var_list},
+ MATRIX IN (@{CORR,COV@}=@{*,@var{file_spec}@})
+ @}
[ /METHOD = @{CORRELATION, COVARIANCE@} ]
The @cmd{FACTOR} command performs Factor Analysis or Principal Axis Factoring on a dataset. It may be used to find
common factors in the data or for data reduction purposes.
-The @subcmd{VARIABLES} subcommand is required. It lists the variables
-which are to partake in the analysis. (The @subcmd{ANALYSIS}
+The @subcmd{VARIABLES} subcommand is required (unless the @subcmd{MATRIX IN}
+subcommand is used).
+It lists the variables which are to partake in the analysis. (The @subcmd{ANALYSIS}
subcommand may optionally further limit the variables that
-participate; it is not useful and implemented only for compatibility.)
+participate; it is useful primarily in conjunction with @subcmd{MATRIX IN}.)
+
+If @subcmd{MATRIX IN} instead of @subcmd{VARIABLES} is specified, then the analysis
+is performed on a pre-prepared correlation or covariance matrix file instead of on
+individual data cases. Typically the matrix file will have been generated by
+@cmd{MATRIX DATA} (@pxref{MATRIX DATA}) or provided by a third party.
+If specified, @subcmd{MATRIX IN} must be followed by @samp{COV} or @samp{CORR},
+then by @samp{=} and @var{file_spec} all in parentheses.
+@var{file_spec} may either be an asterisk, which indicates the currently loaded
+dataset, or it may be a filename to be loaded. @xref{MATRIX DATA} for the expected
+format of the file.
The @subcmd{/EXTRACTION} subcommand is used to specify the way in which factors (components) are extracted from the data.
If @subcmd{PC} is specified, then Principal Components Analysis is used.