Joining variables with keyvariable in spss

Question

I want to join two Datasets with one overlapping key variable. I just want the data of persons in dataset 1 whose ID is also mentioned in dataset one. Here is my code:

STAR JOIN 
  /SELECT  t0.var1, t0.var2, t1.lfdn, t1.var4, 
    t1.tester, t1.dispcode, t1.lastpage, t1.quality, t1.duration, t1.E1 
  /FROM * AS t0 
  /JOIN 'dataset2.sav' AS t1 
    ON t0.p_0001=t1.p_0001 
  /OUTFILE FILE=*.

When I merge them I get the variable names added to the file, but not the data in the variables.

Answer 1

Try using match files instead of star join.

your command should go approximately like this:

*first make sure both files are sorted by `p_0001`.
match files /file=* /tab='dataset2.sav'/by p_0001/keep var1 var2 var3.

Use the keep (or drop) subcommand to select the variables you need in your final dataset.