Gal, what is sec data? what is your variable/s type that you want to convert into a new variable? Numeric or string/character? Are you trying to change one numeric variable to another (e.g. income 10000 thru 14999 = 1 etc.) or trying to change string variable into numeric (e.g. grades A, B, C, ... can be recoded into 1, 2, 3, ... or whatever the score you want to recode)? Or may be you are trying to combine two or more numeric variables and compute one (e.g. COMPUTE MONEYINPOCKET=WAGE+TIPS-TAX)? Possibly you are trying to define a new variable based on the characteristics of two or more variables (e.g. IF INCOME=5 AND GENDER=2 AND JOB=10 THEN NEWVARIABLE=1). (the long variable names are just for example :)) Sorry, I still don't know what you want. You must ask exactly what you want to do. If you don't know what you want to do, then only there is a problem.