You can define quotas whose characteristics are of almost unlimited complexity using the Expression Definition language. This is based on VBScript and supports all of the VBScript functions. It also includes additional functions that have been designed to meet the needs of the market research industry. For detailed information about the many functions that are available, refer to the Function Library documentation in the UNICOM Intelligence Developer Documentation Library.

When you create a simple expression, UNICOM Intelligence Quota Setup converts the expression into the Expression Definition language automatically. When you create an advanced expression, you write the expression yourself in the Advanced Filter Specification window, which is designed to make creating expressions easy. The Advanced Filter Specification window has buttons for the operators and functions that you are most likely to use, as well as lists of all of the variables and functions that are available. You can build an expression by choosing variables and clicking operator buttons, by entering the expression directly, or by using a combination of the two approaches.

At its most basic, an expression is:

When a quota statement for an expression quota is executed during an interview, the expression is evaluated and returns a value of true for a respondent who has the quota characteristics and false for a respondent who does not have the required characteristics.