* Subsets.
* Selecting variables.

* GET FILE options .
get file='Y:\SPSS\Data\Cars.sav'
  /keep=mpg weight.
dataset name DataSet1 window=front.

get file='Y:\SPSS\Data\Cars.sav'
  /drop=engine horse weight.
dataset name DataSet1 window=front.

* SAVE OUTFILE options .
get file='y:\spss\data\Employee data.sav'.
dataset name DataSet1 window=front.

save outfile="u:\employees1.sav"
  /keep=id gender salary salbegin.
* note the working data set is not changed 
    and you continue working with the full data set.
frequencies variables=gender.

save outfile="u:\employees2.sav"
  /drop=bdate salary jobcat minority.

* DELETE VARIABLES .
get file='y:\spss\data\1991 U.S. General Social Survey.sav'.
dataset name DataSet1.

delete variables race sex.

/*error, DELETE cannot be processed while transformations are pending */.
get file='y:\spss\data\1991 U.S. General Social Survey.sav'.
dataset name DataSet1.

compute black=(race=2).
delete variables race.
frequencies variables=black.

/* This works because EXECUTE clears pending transformations */.
get file='y:\spss\data\1991 U.S. General Social Survey.sav'.
dataset name DataSet1 WINDOW=FRONT.

compute black=(race=2).
execute.
delete variables race sex.
frequencies variables=black.

/* This works because FREQUENCIES clears pending transformations */.
get file='y:\spss\data\1991 U.S. General Social Survey.sav'.
dataset name DataSet1 WINDOW=FRONT.

compute black=(race=2).
frequencies variables=black.
delete variables race.

/* This works because DATASET ACTIVATE clears pending transformations */.
get file='y:\spss\data\1991 U.S. General Social Survey.sav'.
dataset name DataSet1 WINDOW=FRONT.

compute black=(race=2).
dataset activate DataSet1.
delete variables race sex.
frequencies variables=black.