Disabling Nodes in IBM SPSS Modeler

To improve your experience using IBM SPSS Modeler, the Version 1 SPSS experts have created various Tech Tips. This Tech Tip shows disabling nodes in IBM SPSS Modeler. 

IBM SPSS Modeler is an extensive predictive analytics platform designed to bring predictive intelligence to decisions made by individuals, groups, systems, and the enterprise. Modeler has an easy-to-use drag-and-drop user interface with a complete set of tools for accessing data, data examination, preparation, modelling, evaluation, and deployment.  

IBM SPSS Modeler users have a complete toolset to build predictive models from start to finish. Modeler uses node-based, visual programming. Users pick nodes from palettes and place them on the stream canvas. Once nodes have been placed on the stream canvas and edited, they can be linked to form a stream. A stream represents a flow of data through several operations (nodes) to a destination that can be in the form of output (either text or chart), a model, or the export of data to another format (e.g., a database).  

During model building, disabling nodes in Modeler may become necessary. For example, when the data is balanced, the node can be turned on and off as needed. The Balance node is used to balance the data and equalise distributions of categorical fields. This node is used in models where the category of interest is small. The data is balanced to build the model. However, Model testing is run on the actual data, not balanced. This means that the balance node is used to create the model and disabled during testing.  

When a node is disabled, it is ignored when the stream is run. Users can disable and enable nodes as needed. To disable a node, right-click on it and select Disable Node. The node will appear grey in the stream. When the stream is run, this node will be ignored. The node can be enabled again by right-clicking on it and selecting Enable Node.