The Problem;

When working with SPSS syntax, you would like to create a new datafile, i.e. one that does not have any records/data. If you try the normal compute,string or Var1 (f1.0), you will get an error;

Error # 100.  Command name: COMPUTE
This command is not permitted before the beginning of file definition
commands.
This command not executed”

The workaround for this is;

NEW FILE. 
INPUT PROGRAM. 
NUMERIC v1 (f2) v2 (f2) v3 (f2). 
STRING str1 (a8). 
NUMERIC v4 (f3) v5 (f5). 
END FILE. 
END INPUT PROGRAM. 
EXECUTE.

or

DATA LIST FREE /VAR1 to VAR100.
FORMATS VAR1 TO VAR100 (F1.0).
BEGIN DATA.
END DATA.
EXECUTE.