Create New Variable Based On dialog box
The Create New Variable Based On dialog box is an advanced feature that you can use to define the formula for a new variable. You enter the formula in the form of an expression. This expression also defines the base for the new variable when you use it in a table. For example, if you define the expression as the name of another variable, the new variable has the same base as the other variable. If you leave the definition blank, UNICOM Intelligence Reporter automatically uses an expression of {}, which means that all respondents are included in the base for the variable.
To open the Create New Variable Based On dialog box, click
Select in the top right corner of the
New Variable dialog box.
Existing variables
The left of the dialog box displays all the variables in the current table document (.mtd) file. Double-click a variable from this list or select the variable and click the >> button to add it to the expression for the new variable.
New variable syntax
Use this area to define the formula for the new variable. You can add variables by dragging them from the Existing variables list, or by typing the variable names. You can use any expression that is supported by the UNICOM Intelligence Data Model, including the functions in the UNICOM Intelligence Function Library: see the
Function list. See also
Expressions and
UNICOM Intelligence Function Library.
How you specify variables in the expression depends on whether you are using the hierarchical or flat view of the data:
▪When using the flat view, you cannot use any lower level variables or slices of variables.
▪When using the hierarchical view, the
level of the new variable and the expression is defined by the position of the new variable in the Variable List. Specify the names relative to the level of the new variable. (However, the names of variables inside a block should generally be preceded by the block name followed by a period (.). For example, to specify the
Serial variable inside the
Respondent block, specify the name as
Respondent.Serial.) If you include in the expression any variables from other levels, you need to up-lev or down-lev them to the level of the new variable. See
Filtering hierarchical data for more information.
See also