I have a very large (about 3 million rows and about 50 variables) uncorrupted file created in SPSS (Version 24). I am trying to convert it to Stata but when I try to save it as a .dta file I get the message: "The file does not record <strls> where expected. Either the file was written incorrectly in the first place or the file has become corrupted."

Although the data editor shows no data when I try to open the file, the corrupted file is taking up several megabytes of memory, so the data is in there somewhere!

The file works fine in SPSS so I don't understand why I am getting this message. All I can think of is that of the various "Save As" options offered by SPSS go only up to Version 13 I/C (which I selected), whereas I am running Stata Version 14 I/C. However, I would not have thought it was a problem to be running a newer version of Stata.

Any advice gratefully received. Thank you.