Syntax Editor Auto‑Completion – Missing Support for User‑Defined Functions

Auto‑Completion Behavior

The SPSS Syntax Editor’s auto‑completion feature lists only built‑in commands and ignores user‑defined functions or macros declared in the current session. After a function is defined, the completion list remains unchanged until the editor is closed and reopened.

Current documentation in the SPSS User Guide’s “Editor and Syntax” section does not mention any mechanism to extend auto‑completion to custom syntax elements. Users report that a manual editor restart is the only way to see newly defined functions appear.

Unresolved Decision

It is unclear whether IBM plans to expose an API or configuration setting that would allow the auto‑completion engine to refresh and incorporate user‑defined functions in future SPSS releases.

Questions

• Is there an API or command that can be invoked to refresh the auto‑completion list after defining a new function?
• Will forthcoming SPSS versions provide a configuration option to include user‑defined functions in the auto‑completion suggestions?
• Is there a documented, non‑restart workaround to trigger a refresh of the auto‑completion list?