Metadata attributes associated with a data file -- variable and value labels, missing value definitions, etc. -- are saved with the data file in the data dictionary.

Normally, you have to recreate this dictionary information every time you start work on a new data file. To save time, you can import variable settings from any saved SPSS data file. This process works by applying the dictionary information from one file to identically named variables in the currently open data file.

From the menus choose:

File
Open
Data

Select smalldemo.sav and click Open.

Currently, the five variables in this file have the default properties.

From the menus choose:

File
Apply Data Dictionary

Select demo.sav in the sample files folder and click Open.

The variables that have exact matches in demo.sav are updated with the imported styles. Variables that don't have an exact match are not changed.

The data dictionary contains variable definition information for the current data file, including:

- Variable Names
- Variable Labels
- Measurement Level
- Value Labels
- Missing Values

To display the data dictionary, from the menus choose:

Utilities
File Info

Each variable is listed, along with its properties. You can save this information as an output file, or print it if you prefer a hard copy.