SmartPLS
Importing data files

Supported file types

SmartPLS can extract data sets from these file types:

  • comma separated value files (.csv)
  • text files (.txt), which, for example, use a tab to separate the data points per row
  • SPSS files (.sav)
  • Excel files (.xls, .xlsx)

To import a data set, select a project and then in the context menu (right mouse button) select > Import data file. Then locate the datafile and hit Open. The dialog that opens allows you to describe your data correctly. Pay attention to the selection of the correct scale types, min/max values and marking of missing values.

You can also call this setup dialog again on the imported file to adjust settings, e.g. to rename indicators or to remove them completely from the dataset.

Import data file

Data file format requirements

To ensure that your datafile is properly formatted, please refer to the Excel sample that includes all accepted formats. Depending on whether your datafile contains raw data or covariance/correlation matrices, specific formatting requirements and additional columns may be necessary.

Raw Data

SmartPLS uses the information in the 1st line as indicator names. It is important to select indicator names in the first line that are both distinctive and appropriate. This is because SmartPLS utilizes the information in the first line as indicator names.

Raw data

Covariance matrix files

See the sample below. Additional columns are needed to provide the arithmetic means (#mean) and number of cases (#cases).

Covariances

Covariance matrix files (like in AMOS)

See the official AMOS format description. This format is also accepted by SmartPLS 4.

Covariances (AMOS)

Correlation matrix files

See the sample below. Additional columns are needed to provide the arithmetic means (#mean), standard deviations(#stddev), and number of cases (#cases).

Correlations

Correlation matrix files (like in AMOS)

See the official AMOS format description. This format is also accepted by SmartPLS 4.

Correlations (AMOS)