POR File – What is .por file and how to open it?

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POR File Extension

SPSS Portable File – file format by SPSS

POR is a file extension for SPSS Portable File, a file format created by SPSS for saving statistical data and metadata in a portable format. It is a compressed format that is smaller than the native SPSS dataset file (.sav) format, making it easier to share and store data.

What is a POR File?
A POR file is a portable SPSS data file developed by IBM SPSS software. It serves as a standardized format for storing and exchanging statistical data between different platforms and versions of SPSS. The POR file extension stands for “SPSS Portable File” and is specifically designed to facilitate interoperability by creating a common file type recognized by multiple versions of the software.

Key Features:
Unlike regular SPSS data files (.SAV), which are specific to a particular version of the software, POR files are compatible with multiple versions. This enables seamless data exchange and analysis across different platforms and reduces compatibility issues when sharing data between users who may be using different versions of SPSS. POR files retain the original data structure and metadata, ensuring that the integrity and accuracy of the data are preserved during file transfers.

Using SPSS Software

To open a POR file using SPSS software, follow these steps:

  1. Launch SPSS and select “File” > “Open” from the menu bar.
  2. In the file explorer window, navigate to the location where the POR file is saved.
  3. Select the POR file and click the “Open” button.
  4. The data from the POR file will now be imported into SPSS and displayed in a dataset viewer.

Using Other Software

Some third-party software programs can also open POR files, including:

  • OpenRefine: A free and open-source data wrangling tool that can import and export POR files.
  • Excel: Microsoft Excel can open POR files by using the “Import from Other Sources” option and selecting the “Custom File Format” option.
  • R: The R programming language can be used to open and read POR files using the read_por() function from the readr package.

Definition and Usage of .POR Files

SPSS Portable File (.POR) is a file extension associated with SPSS, a statistical software package used for data analysis. It is a proprietary file format used to store data in a compressed and portable form. .POR files are primarily used to transport data between different SPSS versions and systems, facilitating collaboration and data sharing.

Unlike other SPSS data formats, such as .sav or .spv, .POR files do not contain any syntax or metadata. They exclusively store the raw data in a compressed binary format, making them smaller in size compared to other formats. This compression allows for faster data transfer and storage, particularly when dealing with large datasets. Additionally, .POR files retain the original data types and variable names, ensuring compatibility across different platforms and software versions.

Other Extensions