.TH pspp\-convert 1 "October 2013" "PSPP" "PSPP Manual"
.
.SH NAME
-pspp\-convert \- convert SPSS system and portable files to other formats
+pspp\-convert \- convert SPSS files to other formats
.
.SH SYNOPSIS
\fBpspp\-convert\fR [\fIoptions\fR] \fIinput\fR \fIoutput\fR
\fBpspp\-convert \-\-version\fR | \fB\-v\fR
.
.SH DESCRIPTION
-The \fBpspp\-convert\fR program reads SPSS system or portable file
-\fIinput\fR and writes it to \fIoutput\fR, performing format
-conversion as necessary.
+The \fBpspp\-convert\fR program reads \fIinput\fR, which may be an
+SPSS system file, an SPSS/PC+ system file, an SPSS portable file,
+or an encrypted SPSS syntax file,
+and writes it to \fIoutput\fR, performing format conversion as
+necessary.
.PP
-The format of \fIinput\fR is automatically detected, except that the
-character encoding of old system files cannot always be guessed
-correctly. Use \fB\-e \fIencoding\fR to specify the encoding in this
-case.
+The format of \fIinput\fR is automatically detected, when possible.
+The character encoding of old SPSS system files cannot always be
+guessed correctly, and SPSS/PC+ system files do not include any
+indication of their encoding. Use \fB\-e \fIencoding\fR to specify
+the encoding in this case.
.PP
By default, the intended format for \fIoutput\fR is inferred from its
extension:
.IP \fBpor\fR
SPSS portable file.
.
+.IP \fBsps\fR
+SPSS syntax file. (Only encrypted syntax files may be converted to
+this format.)
+.
.PP
Use \fB\-O \fIextension\fR to override the inferred format or to
specify the format for unrecognized extensions.
.
+.PP
+\fBpspp\-convert\fR can convert most input formats to most output
+formats. Encrypted system file and syntax files are exceptions: if
+the input file is in an encrypted format, then the output file must
+be the same format (decrypted).
+.
.SH "OPTIONS"
.
.IP "\fB\-O format\fR"
interpreted. This option is necessary because old SPSS system files
do not self-identify their encoding.
.
+.IP "\fB\-p \fIpassword\fR"
+.IQ "\fB\-\-password=\fIpassword\fR"
+Specifies the password to use to decrypt encrypted SPSS system file
+or syntax file
+\fIinput\fR. If this option is not specified, \fBpspp\-convert\fR
+prompts for the password.
+.
+.IP
+On multiuser systems, this option may not be safe because other users
+may be able to see the password in process listings.
+.
.IP "\fB\-h\fR"
.IQ "\fB\-\-help\fR"
Prints a usage message on stdout and exits.