How many variables and cases can SPSS for windows handle?
Up to version 10, the regular window version has a maximum of 2^15 – 1 = 32,767 variables and a maximum of 2^31 – 1= 2.15 billion cases. The student version is limited to 50 variables and 1,500 cases. Starting with version 10, the limit on the number of variables has been removed, the only “hard coded” limit is 2.15 billion variables. This does not mean that it would make sense to work with millions of variables. It is always more efficient to load only the variables you currently need. Here are additional points made by Jon Peck in his 06/05/233 posting to the SPSSX-L list: In calculating these limits, count one for each 8 bytes or part >thereof of a string variable. An a10 variable counts as two >variables, for example. >Approaching the theoretical limit on the number of variables, >however, is a very bad idea in practice for several reasons. >1. These are the theoretical limits in that you absolutely cannot go >beyond them. But there are other environmentally imposed limits >that yo
