fileformat (dataspec)

The format for the data file. The default is "*", which corresponds to list-directed input. If the value is not the asterisk "*", then the format is in the standard form for a Fortran 2003 format. The order of reading is examinee identification, item responses for j from 1 to J, multiple-choice categories for j from 1 to J, predictors , , weight , external variables , , stratum number, and number of the primary sampling unit within the stratum. Note that not all variables need be present. For example, with the default weighting, the weight variable is the constant 1 and is not read. The examinee identification is a character variable, the item responses are integers, the predictors, weights, and external variables are floating-point numbers, the numbers for the stratum and primary sampling unit are integers. In listening.txt, 34 item responses are read, and they are located from columns 22 to 55. If the data cannot be read by using fileformat, then the program terminates with an error message. It is important to note that tab coding often permits variables to be read out of order. For example, in listeningp.txt, the sequence 'T4,i2' permits reading of a PSU code in columns 4 and 5 of the input record after the 34 Listening items have been read.