![]()
This program takes input files from the old PsWin software package (now retired!) as well as from SPSS, in order to perform hyperplane-maximised direct oblimin oblique rotation of factor vectors (as well as Varimax if required). Basically, it sweeps the value of delta in the direct oblimin procedure (which can be set one value at a time in SPSS) from a value which will constrain solutions to maximal orthogonality through to maximal obliquity. It monitors the hyperplane count for each solution and chooses the one with the maximal count (i.e. maximises simple structure in the Thurstone/Cattellian tradition- although as Suitbert Ertl notes, this may not be such a good idea anymore!).
You can install this program as a standalone entity
- using the installation file below. Make sure you also download and install the
pfe text editor - so that you can
see the output files you are creating (although you could use Word or Notepad).
The Rotate program uses the pfe editor as it's default "Look at the files"
routine - so you might as well have it! I apologise for the old Windows
interface. but I can't touch the old VB code as I only have VB.NET - and the code
and components used in the old Rotate software require too much modernisation
and changes. In reality, it needs a proper Delphi interface. But, I'm also
thinking about using the new Gradient Projection Algorithms from Bernaards, C.A.
and Jennrich, R.J. (2005) Gradient projection algorithms and software for
arbitrary rotation criteria in factor analysis. Educational and Psychological
Measurement, 65, 5, 676-696 - so I may redo the whole caboodle in Delphi.
But not yet!
Download and Installation Information
The installation
program may be downloaded here
(6.6Mb) as a zipped archive. I've repackaged the installation files in a modern InstallShield setup. The rotate program is installed and is fixed to run in c:\rotate
(to maintain compatibility with the old PsWin software).
This new version
installation is REQUIRED for the SPSS-to-ROTATE
utility software below. An
old v.2.1 Word document "how to" file is also installed in this directory.
You must also download the pfe text editor here
(640k)
... just run the .exe file and it will install itself into c:\pfe ... which is
where the Rotate program expects to find it! This free text editor is used to
view the output files from Rotate.
SPSS-to-Rotate Utility.
This program allows a user to create "Rotate-ready" input files from SPSS
results tables (exported as Excel files) or from standard Excel tables. The
utility comes with a "how to" online program help file which contains detailed
step-by-step instructions on how to extract files from SPSS, create them
manually in Excel, and then use the program to convert these into "Rotate-ready"
files. I've tested it as best I can and it seems pretty well OK. I found a small
formatting error in the SPSS-to-Orthosim
routine (which uses similar code) and so have corrected that software as well as
ensured this software is also free of that error. If you had downloaded the
SPSS-to-Orthosim software prior to 1st
November, 2005, I suggest you whiz over to the page to download just the updated
executable file (you don't need to re-install everything). The SPSS-to-Rotate
utility installation software is available for download
here (5.5Mb) as a
zipped archive - just run the file and
follow the usual instructions. The software may be installed in any directory of
your choice.
Note: The STATISTICA routines for creating "Rotate-ready" unrotated factor-loading files directly from STATISTICA results workbook spreadsheets are available for download from my software page.
![]()