# NEPS SC6 - Merging spell datasets and pTarget + CohortProfile

**URL:** <https://forum.lifbi.de/t/neps-sc6-merging-spell-datasets-and-ptarget-cohortprofile/5452>\
**Category:** NEPS\
**Tags:** fdz\_lifbi, ptarget, mergen, cohortprofile, neps\
**Created:** [22. April 2026 um 13:29 UTC](https://forum.lifbi.de/t/neps-sc6-merging-spell-datasets-and-ptarget-cohortprofile/5452 "2026-04-22T13:29:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Beatrice](https://forum.lifbi.de/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/b/e9c0ed/32.png) [@Beatrice](https://forum.lifbi.de/u/Beatrice)\
**Post date:** [22. April 2026 um 13:29 UTC](https://forum.lifbi.de/t/neps-sc6-merging-spell-datasets-and-ptarget-cohortprofile/5452/1 "2026-04-22T13:29:32Z")

</div>

Hi all,

I have just started using NEPS (Cohort 6) data. Sorry in advance for my questions, which might sound trivial.  
I am trying to combine information on childbirth and parental leave, included in _spChild_ and _spParLeave_, with sociodemographics and skill-related variables in _pTarget_ and _CohortProfile_. On the NEPS website, I have found the dofile „Episodensplit\_SP\_XXII“, which at first sight appeared as the solution. The problem is that I cannot find the variables inty and intm (corresponding to interview year and month) in the _Methods_ dataset.

Do you have suggestions on how to proceed with the merging? I was thinking of creating a calendar dataset - long format, by month - and fill it with time-constant and time-varying information from the spell-type datasets as well as the _pTarget_ and _CohortProfile_.

Thank you very much in advance!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![benno.schoenberger](https://forum.lifbi.de/user_avatar/forum.lifbi.de/benno.schoenberger/32/181_2.png) [@benno.schoenberger](https://forum.lifbi.de/u/benno.schoenberger)\
**Post date:** [23. April 2026 um 08:50 UTC](https://forum.lifbi.de/t/neps-sc6-merging-spell-datasets-and-ptarget-cohortprofile/5452/2 "2026-04-23T08:50:51Z")

</div>

Dear Beatrice,

thank you for contributing to this forum and sharing your questions with us.

It’s admirable that you tackled what is probably the most difficult task of all right from the start of working with NEPS data. You can likely use the syntax you found in its basic structure for your research question. However, this syntax was written 10 years ago, and the NEPS datasets have evolved somewhat since then without the do-file being updated accordingly. It is therefore very likely that you will not find other variables besides the ones you mentioned, because they are included in the current data versions under a different name or are now located in a different dataset. In the current data version, you will no longer find the interview dates in the Methods dataset named intm and inty, but in the CohortProfiledataset named tx8601m and tx8601y.

If you are having trouble finding other variables as well, try using the[variable search function](https://variablesearch.lifbi.de) at the lifbi homepage 😉

Before you continue working with the do-file, I would strongly recommend that you first thoroughly familiarize yourself with the structure of the spellfiles using the [DataManual](https://www.neps-data.de/Portals/0/NEPS/Datenzentrum/Forschungsdaten/SC6/16-0-0/NEPS_SC6_DataManual_16-0-0_en.pdf) (e.g., especially chapters 4.4 and 5.1-5.3) so that you really know how to work with them.

If you have further questions dont hesitate to contact us 😉

Good luck,

Benno Schönberger