PROBLEM:

    How do I read a data file saved in the increasingly popular *.XML format?

    SOLUTION:

    SPSS can convert data stored in the *.xml data format if the SPSS Data Access Pack is installed and the Microsoft XML parser is current.

    The use of XML data files by SPSS is documented in the SPSS AnswerNet under Resolution Number 51203:

      support.spss.com/tech/

    (To use the SPSS AnswerNet if you don't have a login for that page, you may have to enter "guest" for both username and password to gain temporary access.)

    The option you will need in SPSS is File>Open Database>New Query. Before you can do that, you must do some setup outside of SPSS, as shown here:

    GENERAL SETUP:

    1. Install the SPSS Data Access Pack from the original SPSS CD. While doing this install, note the Version number on the "Welcome" screen.
    2. Visit the SPSS Driver Update page:

        www.spss.com/drivers/

      and click "Latest Drivers and Client Products" and then "Latest Drivers". If the "Connect for ODBC" Release number is higher than the Release (Version) number you noted in 1.) above, click the "Windows" link and download and install the setup.exe to insure you have the most recent driver.

    3. Install (or update) the Microsoft XML Parser. This software is available at the following Microsoft Web page:

        www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=3144b72b-b4f2-46da-b4b6-c5d7485f2b42&displaylang=en#filelist

        msxml.msi

        is the file you need to download, and then install on your local computer. The other downloads are irrelevant to this procedure and unnecessary for most users.

    OUTSIDE SPSS:

    1. Click Start>Settings>Control Panel
    2. Choose the "Administrative Tools" icon
    3. Choose the "Data Sources (ODBC)" icon
    4. Click the "User DSN" tab then click the "Add" button
    5. Scroll down to "SPSS OEM 5.0 XML, highlight it and click "Finish"
    6. Enter a nickname of your choice in "Data Source Name"
    7. Enter an optional "Description", then click "Add"
    8. Enter a nickname of your choice in "Location Name"
    9. Click the "XML Document" radio button and fill in the path and name of the XML data file in the "Location" field (you can use the browse button on the right)
    10. Click OK on each window until you exit this wizard

    INSIDE SPSS:

    1. Now, in SPSS, you can click File>Open Database>New Query, and proceed to import your data into the SPSS data window (Active File).
    2. Once inside the Database Wizard, find the name entered in Step 8. above, then click "Add Data Source"
    3. In the Database Wizard, choose the table you wish from the "Available Tables" listing and drag it to the right-hand side field, then click "Finish"

    At this point, your data should appear in the SPSS Data spreadsheet.