MRSETS not read

[jttaggart]

When I read a .sav file with MRSETS

print(self.meta.mr_sets) returns {}

Reproducs
Save a file with MRSETS and read.

File example

data500-mrsets.zip

Expected behavior
Expected meta.mr_sets would not be empty.

Setup Information:
How did you install pyreadstat? (pip, conda, directly from repo)
pip

Platform (windows, macOS, linux, 32 or 64 bit)
Windows 11 64 bit

Python Version
3.12

Python Distribution (System, plain python, Anaconda)
plain yhthon

Using Virtualenv or condaenv?
Virtualenv

[ofajardo]

I can reproduce the issue. @slobodan-ilic would you have any suggestion? In any case I guess this needs to be fixed in Readstat first?

[ofajardo]

@jttaggart an interesting thing: I opened the file in PSPP and running the command

MRSETS /DISPLAY NAME=ALL.

gives

Untitled.sps:1.22-1.24: note: MRSETS: The active dataset dictionary does not contain any multiple response sets.
    1 | MRSETS /DISPLAY NAME=ALL.
      |                      ^~~

I am not familiar with mr sets, but it looks like either there is no mr set on this file or pspp cannot not read it either. Is it possible to read the mr sets in SPSS?

[ofajardo]

Right, in SPSS I do see the MR sets when running the same command.

[jttaggart]

Yes, you are correct… PSPP does not read. I had to get fiend who has SPSS to test for me. He generated the MRSETS and I read with pyreadstat to check MRSETS dictionary. Regards, John From: Otto Fajardo ***@***.***> Sent: Monday, January 5, 2026 9:06 AM To: Roche/pyreadstat ***@***.***> Cc: jttaggart ***@***.***>; Mention ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [Roche/pyreadstat] MRSETS (Issue #315) <https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/17498727?s=20&v=4> ofajardo left a comment (Roche/pyreadstat#315) <#315 (comment)> @jttaggart <https://github.com/jttaggart> an interesting thing: I opened the file in PSPP and running the command MRSETS /DISPLAY NAME=ALL. gives Untitled.sps:1.22-1.24: note: MRSETS: The active dataset dictionary does not contain any multiple response sets. 1 | MRSETS /DISPLAY NAME=ALL. | ^~~ I am not familiar with mr sets, but it looks like either there is no mr set on this file or pspp cannot not read it either — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub <#315 (comment)> , or unsubscribe <https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AOZ5G5HG6BZITN5Z2VUWF4D4FKKYZAVCNFSM6AAAAACMXHHJ6GVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTOMJRGMYTIMBUHE> . You are receiving this because you were mentioned. <https://github.com/notifications/beacon/AOZ5G5HL7VS5MVHKYJPWUW34FKKYZA5CNFSM6AAAAACMXHHJ6GWGG33NNVSW45C7OR4XAZNMJFZXG5LFINXW23LFNZ2KUY3PNVWWK3TUL5UWJTW5GYUIC.gif> Message ID: ***@***.*** ***@***.***> >

[ofajardo]

reported in Readstat here