Used to read text or binary data, DATA LIST is the most
fundamental data-reading command. Even the more sophisticated input
methods use DATA LIST commands as a building block.
Understanding DATA LIST is important to understanding how to use
PSPP to read your data files.
There are two major variants of DATA LIST, which are fixed
format and free format. In addition, free format has a minor variant,
list format, which is discussed in terms of its differences from vanilla
free format.
Each form of DATA LIST is described in detail below.
See GET DATA, for a command that offers a few enhancements over DATA LIST and that may be substituted for DATA LIST in many situations.