ARCHIVED: In SPSS, how do I create binary or dummy variables from an existing string variable?

When you have an existing string variable and want to create binary, or dummy, variables from it, use the COMPUTE command or RECODE with ELSE. Suppose a string variable internet has three values, Email, WWW, and SFTP:

COMPUTE email = (internet='Email').
COMPUTE www = (internet='WWW').
COMPUTE sftp = (internet='SFTP').
EXECUTE.

SPSS sets 1 to a new variable email if the value of internet is Email, and 0 otherwise. The other dummy variables www and sftp are generated in a similar manner. Also, you may use RECODE as follows:

RECODE internet ('Email'=1) (ELSE=0) INTO email.
RECODE internet ('WWW'=1) (ELSE=0) INTO www.
RECODE internet ('SFTP'=1) (ELSE=0) INTO sftp.
EXECUTE.