ARCHIVED: How do I import SPSS, Stata, or SAS data files in R?

This content has been archived, and is no longer maintained by Indiana University. Information here may no longer be accurate, and links may no longer be available or reliable.

To import SPSS, Stata, or SAS data files in R, first install and load the package foreign. The functions read.spss(), read.dta(), and read.xport() of the package foreign import SPSS, Stata, and SAS Transport data files, respectively.

Use the following syntax to import the three types of data files:

  > spssdata <- read.spss("C:/temp/spssfile.sav")
  > statadata <- read.dta("C:/temp/statafile.dta")
  > sasdata <- read.xport("C:/temp/sasfile.xpt")

The three data files are saved as R objects, called spssdata, statadata, and sasdata. The data sets are stored in R's memory and can be called for statistical analysis during the current R session.

Note: R cannot import SAS permanent data set (.ssd or .sas7bdat) files. Use Stat/Transfer to convert SAS permanent data set files to other file formats and then import them to R. At Indiana University, the Stat/Transfer software is available on Quarry and the Windows Student Technology Center (STC) computers.

If you have questions about using statistical and mathematical software at Indiana University, contact the UITS Research Applications and Deep Learning team.