SPSS custom dialogs are extensions of SPSS’ point-click menu, officially known as the GUI (“graphical user interface”).
SPSS Custom Dialogs in MenuCustom dialogs are kept in files with the .spd file extension. After installing a custom dialog file, it will appear in the menu just like an SPSS' built-in command. The difference, however, is that SPSS users can build and share custom dialogs themselves, which isn't as difficult as it may seem.
SPSS Tutorials offers freely downloadable custom dialogs under Tools. Custom dialogs were introduced to SPSS in version 17.
Installing SPSS Custom Dialogs
Option 1: the easiest way to install a custom dialog is simply double clicking the .spd file. A dialog window will pop up and ask you whether you'd like to install or edit the custom dialog. SPSS Custom Dialog Installation
Option 2: If you have more than one SPSS version installed on your computer, right-click the .spd file and select the version in which you'd like to install it. Again, the installation window will pop up after doing so. SPSS Custom Dialogs in Menu
Option 3: alternatively, select SPSS Custom Dialogs in Menu Navigate to the .spd file. Clicking will launch the installer window.
.In some cases, SPSS may throw an Chi-Square Goodness-of-Fit Test - Simple Tutorial when you first install a custom dialog. Don't let this put you off. Troubleshooting this common error is not hard and needs to be done only once; subsequent custom dialogs will install more smoothly.
Uninstalling SPSS Custom Dialogs
Unfortunately, uninstalling SPSS custom dialogs is not straightforward and we strongly dislike the way this has been implemented in SPSS.
Option 1: open an .spd file as if you'd like to install it. This doesn't have to be the custom dialog you'd like to uninstall; any .spd file will do. Now, select
as if you'd like to modify the custom dialog.This will open an SPSS custom dialog builder window. You're probably not familiar with this window but don't panic, everything will be OK. Navigate to
as shown below.SPSS Custom Dialog Builder WindowYou now get a list of all custom dialogs installed (which is unrelated to the particular .spd file you used in order to arrive here). Select any custom dialog you'd like to uninstall. Clicking
will uninstall it after asking whether you'd like to save the contents to a new .spd file. Close the custom dialog builder window without saving it when you're done.Option 2: (re)install any custom dialog. After doing so successfully, a window pops up that tells you where it was installed. Navigate to this folder and delete it entirely. Note: by default, some of these folders may be hidden in MS Windows.
SPSS Custom Dialogs - What are They?
Technically, a custom dialogs (.spd) files are archive files: zipped folders holding several smaller files. If you're curious, unzip one with 7 Zip to see what's inside.
A custom dialog's main element is the dialog window as the end user will see it. It may contain various elements such as plain text, variable selectors, text input and tick boxes.
SPSS Custom Dialog Window
SPSS Custom Dialogs - How do they Work?
Underlying a custom dialog is syntax written by the author. It may contain placeholders that are replaced by whatever the end user specifies in the dialog window elements. This syntax, with the placeholders filled in, is run or pasted when or is clicked.
Note that many custom dialogs require the SPSS Python Essentials to be properly installed. If so, this should be clearly indicated on the dialog window itself and preferably in its user instructions as well.
Optionally, a Custom Dialog may contain a help file in HTML. If this is omitted, will be greyed out in the dialog window.
Clicking in one of our Tools will point your (default) web browser to the tutorial in which it was presented.
THIS TUTORIAL HAS 24 COMMENTS:
By Joachim Åberg on January 31st, 2018
Hey Ruben!
Let me first say, great website! It's been a lot of help for me during the years.
So now, a question about these Custom Dialogs. I have built a few of these now and they are pretty great. Makes all the macros and syntaxes user friendly so that everyone in the organisation to can use them. However there is one thing I can't get to work. I would like to use the functionality from Custom Tables where you drag and drop the variables onto the table canvas, specifically I would like to be able to put the column variables "on" each other (">" in syntax). Do you know a way in which this is possible?
Best, Joachim
By Ruben Geert van den Berg on February 1st, 2018
Hi Joachim!
Thanks for the compliment. However, I don't see the problem. A custom dialog has a syntax template, usually containing some wildcards that are filled in by the dialog fields. Can't you simply add the ">" to the syntax template? What happens when you do so? Are your custom dialogs Python based?
By Joachim Åberg on March 26th, 2018
Thanks for the reply (and sorry for my late one now...)!
I think that I was not very clear in my question. By "functionality" i meant the actual drag and drop feature. The syntax itself is not a problem at the moment, I just want it to be as simple as possible for the user to create a table. The "drag and drop" feature in Custom Tables is very intuitive when you instantly can see how your table will look in the output.
This is the table canvas i would like to use, with columns and rows:
https://goo.gl/images/HH1gAH
I can't find a template for this in Custom Dialogs. I hope this was more clear.
Thanks!
//Joachim
By Ruben Geert van den Berg on March 27th, 2018
Hi Joachim!
I use the SPSS 22 interface and it's quite restrictive regarding entering variables. I therefore often use text fields where users can type in variable names, usually with the TO and ALL keywords. Otherwise, I think you can use only 2 variable list elements in 1 dialog.
SPSS 24 has a much expanded interface for building extension bundles but I haven't explored it yet. However, I don't expect it to generate a table preview. But perhaps it'll have more variable lists. Do keep in mind that these are not always handy for large data: with 1000 variables, you may end up with endless scrolling -one of the reasons I prefer text fields. And people who find even that too difficult perhaps shouldn't use SPSS in the first place or learn some basics first.
HTH!
By Joachim Åberg on March 28th, 2018
I see your point and I agree, in general. The purpose of this Dialog is to help the user to quickly create smaller tables with the correct format (we have a macro library that works with a specific table format). Otherwise they do it in "their own" way, which will then not be compatible later.
Dunno if above made any sense but thanks for your input Ruben :)