PASW Site License for Windows
(formerly SPSS)
Overview
Products Included In License
PASW on the Macintosh
PASW on App2Go Server
Conditions Of License
System Requirements
How To Obtain Installation Media
Renewing Your License Each Year (so PASW/SPSS will continue to operate)
Patches and Hotfixes (updates)
Support For PASW
PASW Documentation
Handling Large Files
Compatibility and Differences Between Versions
Installing and Running Multiple Versions
Sign Up for the VCU PASW-L Mailing List
SPSS SOFTWARE CHANGES NAME TO "PASW" SPSS, Inc., has recently changed the name of many of its software products from SPSS to PASW. For example, the base product, SPSS Statistics 17, has been renamed PASW Statistics 17. "PASW" is an acronym for "Predictive Analytic Software." Please see Announcing Predictive Analytic Software for more information about these name changes. These name changes became effective with product version 17.0.2. Earlier versions of products still use the SPSS name. The company, itself, is still named SPSS, Inc.
On this web page below, for simplicity we will use the new PASW name to refer to all software products, unless a specific version earlier than 17.0.2 is being discussed.
SPSS 17 USERS NOTE: Patch 17.0.3 is also available. Please see the Patches and Hotfixes section below for information on applying these patches. |
Overview
VCU Technology Services has a site license agreement with SPSS, Inc., which allows VCU students, faculty, and staff to use several popular PASW products for Microsoft Windows at no cost. Use is restricted to VCU-related purposes only (see other conditions below).
Products Included In License
Versions of PASW that are available through the VCU site license for Windows are SPSS 16 and PASW Statistics 17.
The VCU site license for PASW for Windows includes the following PASW products:
PASW Base
PASW Advanced Statistics
PASW Custom Tables
PASW Forecasting (known as Trends prior to version 17)
PASW Missing Values
PASW Regression Models
VCU Technology Services has purchased a limited number of licenses from SPSS, Inc., to allow VCU faculty and staff to install and use several popular SPSS products for the Macintosh. Please see PASW on the Macintosh.
Instead of installing PASW on your PC, VCU facutly, staff, and students can obtain an account to access PASW on the App2Go Server. When you use PASW on this server, it appears to be running on your PC. You can open and save files on your own PC, and you can print on your own printer. There is no charge for App2Go accounts..
All of the PASW products licensed under the VCU Windows site license (listed above) are available on App2Go, PLUS the following products:
Amos
PASW Categories
PASW Complex Samples
PASW Exact Tests
Data Entry Builder
You can use PASW on App2Go from a Windows, Macintosh, or Linux PC. In addition to PASW, several other applications are available on App2Go.
For more information, please visit App2Go Server.
Use of the PASW products included in this VCU Windows site license is subject to all of the following conditions:
- All current VCU students, faculty, and staff are licensed to use the products at no cost.
- The products may be installed on VCU owned PC's and on PC's owned by current VCU students, faculty, and staff.
- The products may be used for VCU academic and administrative purposes ONLY. They may NOT be used for VCU Medical Center purposes.
- When you leave VCU you lose the right to use the products, and you must immediately uninstall them from all PCs on which you had installed them and on which you had authorized their installation.
- The installation media may be shared among licensed VCU PASW users. That is, one set of PASW installation media may be used to install PASW products on multiple PC's. However, licenses for such additional installs must be registered at the appropriate link below:
Register SPSS 16 installs
Register PASW Statistics 17 installs
To register an earlier version, please contact the Technology Services Help Desk.
- You may NOT resell this license and/or the products it covers.
System Requirements
SPSS 16 for Windows (workstation) minimum hardware and software requirements:
- Microsoft® Windows XP (32-bit versions) or Vista™ (32-bit or 64-bit versions)
- Intel® or AMD x86 processor running at 1GHz or higher
- RAM: 512MB RAM; 1GB recommended
- 450MB of available hard-disk space
- CD drive
- Super VGA (800x600) or a higher-resolution monitor
- Internet Explorer 6
PASW Statistics 17 for Windows (workstation) minimum hardware and software requirements:
- Microsoft Windows XP (32-bit) or Microsoft Vista (32 and 64 bit)
- Intel or AMD x86 at 1GHz or higher
- 512 MB RAM or more
- 650 MB Hard Drive space
- CD-ROM drive
- Super VGA or higher resolution monitor
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
How To Obtain PASW for Windows Installation Media
The installation media for the PASW products covered under this VCU Windows site license may be obtained in three ways:
- Download: You may download a CD "image file" at no charge from the VCU website. The downloaded image file can then be used to create an PASW installation CD.
To create the PASW installation CD from the downloaded image file, you will need a blank CD-R or CD-RW disk. The PC used for this must have ALL of the following:
- A CD burner.
- Software installed for burning CDs from an image file. (The Windows built-in software will NOT suffice.)
- A fast network connection (it is a large file).
If you do not have a such a PC, you may use the facilities in the computer lab in Cabell Library, Room B-8 (Monroe Park Campus) or in Sanger Hall, Room B3-012 (MCV campus).
To download the image file, select the desired link below, follow the directions presented, and provide the information requested:
SPSS 16 download
PASW Statistics 17 download
Instructions for creating an installation CD from the downloaded image file are found on the SPSS 16 installation and the PASW Statistics 17 installation web pages.
- CD Exchange: You may obtain a pre-copied SPSS 16 or PASW Statistics 17 installation CD from the Technology Services Help Desk in Cabell B-30 or Sanger B1-018k during walk-in hours, at no charge. You must bring a blank CD-R disk (16X speed or higher, no CD-RWs or DVDs) to exchange for the installation CD. If no pre-copied stock is on hand at the time of your request, you can leave your contact information, and you will be advised when you can return with the blank CD-R disk to pickup the pre-copied installation CD.
- You may borrow the installation media from a VCU colleague.
You must then register a license for each PC on which you will
install PASW. To register, visit the appropriate link below and specify the number of licenses
(installations) you wish to register, their usage (Academic/Research
or Admin), and the PC location(s). Then click Continue. You may ignore
the subsequent page about downloading the software.
Register SPSS 16 installs
Register PASW Statistics 17 installs
To register an earlier version, please contact the Technology Services Help Desk.
Renewing Your License Each Year
The SPSS 16 and PASW Statistics 17 software will expire on May 31st each year unless you annually obtain and apply a new PASW authorization code.
Applying the new code will allow your software to run for another year beyond the current expiration date (through the subsequent May 31st).
Several weeks prior to the expiration date, Technology Services will email all registered users with instructions for obtaining (at no cost) and installing the new code. Anyone who obtained PASW or SPSS from Technology Services (via download or CD exchange) or from Online@VCU was automaticaly registered and added to the PASW-L mailing list for these email notifications.
To renew SPSS 16 or PASW Statistics 17, please visit:
Installation Instructions
Below are links to instructions for installing PASW/SPSS for Windows (includes Base, Advanced Statistics, Custom Tables, Forecasting/Trends, Missing Values, and Regression Models).
After installing PASW/SPSS, you are strongly advised to install any patches that are available for your version of PASW or SPSS, as discussed in the next section.
Patches and Hotfixes (updates)
CURRENT PATCHES The following patches (software updates) are currently available for SPSS versions 16 and 17. They correct many problems that have been identified since the software was released, and you are strongly advised to obtain and apply them: For SPSS 16 -- Patch 16.0.2:
Patch 16.0.2 will correct over 100 most commonly requested customer issues, including a problem whereby, in certain situations, modifications are made to an existing data file and the file appears to save, yet the file is missing from the system. For SPSS Statistics 17 -- Patch 17.0.2:
For SPSS Statistics 17: Patch 17.0.3
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As with all software, PASW will usually contain a few "bugs" (problems) that were not known when the software was shipped. Over time, as these problems are identified, SPSS Inc. will release patches and hotfixes that will fix these problems.
A patch usually addresses several problems, whereas a hotfix usually addresses a single problem. In general, you should install any patches that become available for your version of PASW. Hotfixes usually need only be applied if you experience the particular problem which the hotfix addresses.
SPSS Inc. Technical Support provides patches and hotfixes at no charge on their PASW Statistics for Windows Patches website. At that site, you will see a listing of the patches and hotfixes that are available for various versions of PASW and SPSS, along with links to information describing what problems they correct, how to download them, and how to install them. For each patch, you may see both an “Interactive” version and an “Unattended/Silent” version – you will want the “Interactive” version.
Patches and hotfixes are numbered. Those having numbers beginning with 17 are for version 17, those beginning with 16 are for version 16, etc. Do not apply a patch or hotfix unless it is for your particular version of PASW or SPSS.
To determine if you need a particular patch, launch PASW or SPSS on your PC and display the Help menu, then select About. In the window that opens, you should see a release number. For example, for SPSS 16 you may see Release 16.0.1. On the PASW Statistics for Windows Patches website, if you see a patch for your version of PASW or SPSS that has a higher number (such as 16.0.2) than your displayed release number, you should apply that patch.Use a similar procedure to identify appropriate hotfixes, but remember that a hotfix usually need only be applied if you have encountered the particular problem that the hotfix corrects, as described on the above website.
Support For PASW
For local assistance with installing or using PASW, please contact the Technology Services Help Desk.
Technical support is also available from SPSS Inc. on their SPSS Technical Support website. To be able to use this site, you must have a username and password for the site. If you already have these, click the sign in link on that site. If not, you may obtain them by clicking the registration link and providing the requested information. After you sign in, various support links will be available.
Technology Services provides statistical and programming consultation for using this product. To request a consultation appointment, contact statconsult@vcu.edu or see the statistical onsultating web site.
PASW Documentation
PASW documentation is available from several sources, including the following:
- Documentation is available within the Help menu of the PASW program.
- PASW tutorials and reference manuals (in PDF format).
- Printed PASW reference manuals (available from the SPSS Inc. web store).
Handling Large Files
Very large data files may be impractical to process on your PC, depending on your PC's speed, disk space, and memory.
An alternate way to process such data is available. It makes use of PASW's ability to "connect" to a VCU UNIX server that also runs PASW. You store your data on the server and then use PASW on your PC to access the data. All the processing is done on the server, but the PASW session on your PC looks just as if the data were on your own PC.
For more information about this, please see the PASW Client-Server website.
Compatibility and Differences Between Versions
Added features: To see features that have been added in the latest versions of PASW, visit the SPSS Software Version Comparison web page. Select a version of SPSS Base from the drop-down list, then click the New features in PASW Statistics button to see features that have been added since that version.
Removed features: Features that have been removed or replaced in PASW Statistics 17
File compatibility:
PASW and SPSS data files: Data files (.sav files) are generally forward and backward compatible among all versions 7.5 through 17. For example, if you save a data file with SPSS 13, you will be able to read it with PASW 17, and vice-versa. Note, however, that SPSS 11 and earlier require variable names to be no longer than 8 characters, whereas SPSS 12 and later allow up to 64 characters. If a data file is created in a later version of PASW or SPSS and contains variable names longer than 8 characters, those variable names will be truncated if the file is opened in SPSS 11 or earlier.
PASW and SPSS output files:
- Backward compatibility: Output files (.spo and .spv files created when you save your Viewer window) are generally NOT backward compatible. That is, if you save the contents of your Viewer window into a file, you will NOT be able to open that file in an earlier version of SPSS.
- Forward compatibility: Output files are generally forward compatible among versions 7.5 through 15 and among versions 16 and 17. For example, an output file created with SPSS 13 can be opened with SPSS 15, and an output file created with SPSS 16 can be opened with PASW 17. HOWEVER, output files created with version 15 or earlier cannot be opened with version 16 or later. If you use version 16 or later and need to open an earlier version output file, SPSS Technical Support has provided a free Legacy Viewer program which you may download and install. This Legacy Viewer will allow you to open and display output files that were created in versions 15 and earlier.
PASW and SPSS syntax files: Syntax files (.sps files) are generally forward and backward compatible, except that some syntax commands have been updated or removed in later versions. Such commands may not work as expected in different versions; check the command documentation to be sure.
For additional details about file compatibility between versions, please see:
(To view the above two links, you will be prompted for a username and password for the PASW Technical Support website. To obtain a username and password, visit the SPSS Technical Support website, click the registration link, and provide the information requested.)
Installing and Running Multiple Versions
You can install different versions of PASW and/or SPSS on the same computer (for versions 7.5.2 and later), as long as each version is installed in a separate folder.
Although you can simultaneously run different versions of PASW and/or SPSS (e.g., SPSS 16 and PASW Statistics 17) on the same computer, it is not recommended, since only one version will be considered primary. See SPSS Technical Resolution 33167 for more details. (At this link, you will be prompted for a username and password for the SPSS Technical Support website. To obtain a username and password, visit the SPSS Technical Support website, click the registration link, and provide the information requested.)
You can also simultaneously run multiple sessions of the same version of PASW or SPSS. However, there is really no longer a need to do so, since, beginning with SPSS 14, you may open multiple data files in separate Data Editor windows within a single session.
Sign Up for the VCU PASW-L Mailing List (listserv)
Listserv subscribers receive notifications of PASW and SPSS upgrades and maintenance fixes, training opportunities, and other related news.
If you obtained PASW or SPSS from Technology Services (via download or exchange) or from Online@VCU, you should have been automatically subscribed to the PASW-L listserv.
To manually subscribe, send an email message from your VCU email account addressed to:
The Subject: field may be left blank. In the body of the email message, type only the following single line:
subscribe PASW-L firstname lastname
Example for Jane Doe:
subscribe PASW-L Jane Doe
If you have configured your email program to automatically include signature text at the bottom of your emails, you should (temporarily) turn off that feature when sending this subscription request.
Requests submitted from non-VCU email addresses will be ignored.
