Overview
The Variable Update window defines a variable through four tabs: Attributes, Pick List, Missing Values, Layout.
Content
The Attributes tab is required to be completed and contains the following fields:
- Name*: The name of the variable. When the name is entered, the Data Entry Prompt and Code pre-fill with the same data
In SPSS the Variable Name is called Variable Label
- Description: An optional description for the variable
- Data Entry Prompt: The text that is shown for the question during data entry
- Answer Suffix: Optional text that will be placed after the answer
The Answer Suffix is typically used for units
- Code* An identifier for the variable that must be unique within the project. The Code is used to identify a variable in Numeric Calculations and Dependencies.
In SPSS the Variable code is called Variable Name
- Variable Type*: There are 10 distinct variable types. Each variable type will either add or subtract additional attributes unique to them, as well as enable/disable variable update tabs.
- Checkbox: Value is stored as either 0 (or) 1
- Date: Date is stored as mm/dd/yyyy
In Version 3.1 or later, the date format can be set as dd/mm/yyyy from the Customer Administration page
- Document: Open storage variable type for any documents or file
- Memo: An unaudited field that can store either numeric or alphanumeric information. The variable can store an unlimited number of characters or numbers
- Numeric: Stored as a number value only. Can include a decimal and any number of 10th part fractions
- Numeric Calculation: Value is stored as a result of one or more numeric variables being utilized in the expression (and/or) user defined functions
For more information regarding writing expressions and user defined functions please refer to xxxxxxx
- Pick List: Utilized to store a list of Pick List Elements as a drop down list. These elements are added in the Pick List tab. Resultant Value is stored as any number, including 10th part fraction(if necessary)
- Radio Button (Horizontal): Utilized to store a list of Pick List Elements as a horizontal list. These elements are added in the Pick List tab. Resultant Value is stored as any number, including 10th part fraction(if necessary)
- Radio Button (Vertical): Utilized to store a list of Pick List Elements as a vertical list. These elements are added in the Pick List tab. Resultant Value is stored as any number, including 10th part fraction(if necessary)
- Text: Stored as a text value only. Default length of set for 10, but can be defined as a number of maximum characters
- Default*: When available, a default numeric or text value can be entered as the default value for the variable
- Minimum/Maximum*: Available for Date and Numeric variables - allows a lower and upper limit to to be set for the variable. During data entry, a warning is highlighted in the field to alert that the limits have been exceeded
- Number of Lines*: Available for Memo and Text variables - designates how many vertical lines of space is VISIBLE ON THE FORM for this variable
Does NOT determine the length of characters available to the variable. (See Length below)
- Length*: Available only for text variables - Determines the number of characters available to the variable. The max characters allowed is 255
- Required*: Defines whether a variable required for data completion status. Options are (1) No (2) Yes, Can be null (3) Yes, Can NOT be null
- No: Data completion status is NOT dependent on this variable being populated with a value (or) null
- Yes, Can be null: Data completion status is dependent on this variable being populated. A Null value would allow for completion
- Yes, Can NOT be null: Data completion status is dependent on this variable being populated. A Null value would NOT be acceptable for completion
- Active*: When unchecked, the variable is not available for data entry.
- Exportable*: When unchecked, the variable is not available for data export via Data Sets.