Survey Tabulation > The variable list > Variable List Options dialog box > Modify Variable Types To Display dialog box
 
Modify Variable Types To Display dialog box
Use the Modify Variable Types To Display dialog box to change the types of variables that are displayed in the Variable List. For example, in a data set that contains a very large number of variables, you may find it easier to find variables if you remove from the list any variable types that are not relevant to the work you are doing.
To open the Modify Variable Types To Display dialog box
1 From the Tools menu, choose Options.
2 In the Options dialog, click the Variable List button.
This opens the Variable List Options dialog box.
3 In the lower part of the List View Options section, select Modify.
This opens the Modify Variable Types To Display dialog box.
4 Select the variable types you want to display in the Available Variable Types list and click Add to move them to the Display These Variable Types list.
5 Click OK.
Available variable types
This lists any variable types that are currently not shown in the Variable List. To show any of these types of variables in the Variable List, select the item and click the Add button.
Display these variable types
Lists the variable types that are selected for inclusion in the Variable List. To remove a variable type, select the item and click the Remove button.
The following table shows the full list of variable types that you can choose to show or hide.
Type
Description
Boolean variables
A special type of integer variable that can contain values of True or False.
Blocks
Group one or more questions into blocks.
Categorical variables
Have a limited number of distinct values or categories, such as a variable based on a question that has a predefined set of answers. Categorical variables are either single response or multiple response.
Coding variables
Store the responses to open-ended questions after they have been sorted into categories. The process by which the responses to open-ended questions are sorted into categories is usually called coding.
Compounds
Contain a number of related questions that are presented as a group using a shared list. A compound question is not the same as a grid question, although a compound question may contain one or more grid questions.
Date variables
Store date and time information.
Filter variables
These are Boolean variables that have been specially designed for use as filters.
Grids
A special type of categorical loop in which all of the iterations are presented simultaneously to the respondent in a grid format. Grid questions often ask respondents to choose a rating on a predefined scale for a number of products in a list.
Hidden variables
These are variables of any type that have been defined as hidden variables. Choosing to display hidden variables in this dialog means that any variables you have hidden using the Hide Variables dialog box are displayed in the Variable List. For information about defining variables as hidden and removing the hidden status from hidden variables, see Hide Variables dialog box.
Loops
Define a set of questions that are to be asked more than once. In a categorical loop, the number of times the loop is to be iterated (and therefore the number of times that the set of questions in the loop are to be asked) is controlled by the categories in a category list. For example, the set of questions can be asked for each product in a product list. In a numeric loop, the number of times the loop is to be iterated is controlled by a numeric expression.
Numeric variables (Long)
Store an integer value for each case.
Other Specify variables
Store the open-ended responses to Other Specify categories. These are special categories that allow the respondent to enter an answer that is not on the category list. For example, in a question that asks which other museums the respondent has visited, there are categories specifying six major museums, and one category with the text "Other". When respondents select this category, they are asked to enter the name of another museum they have visited.
Source file variables
Store the name of a file that contains an image or recording of a question response (such as a .TIFF file containing a scanned image of a handwritten response or a sound file that contains a recording of an open-ended response in a CATI interview).
System variables
Store standard information, such as the respondent's serial number, the mode of data collection used, the version of the questionnaire used to collect the data, etc. Some data sets (such as Quanvert databases) do not have system variables. See System Variables for more information.
Table variables
Variables that have been set up from the top or side axis using the New Variable from Side/Top option.
Text variables
Store data that is text, such as names and addresses, or responses to open-ended questions
Weight variables
Special numeric variables that have been set up to weight the data. You use weighting when you want the figures in your table to reflect your target population more accurately than the actual figures do. For example, suppose your target population consists of 57% women and 43% men, but you interviewed 50% women and 50% men for your survey. By applying weighting, you can make the women's figures count for more than the men's figures, so that they more accurately reflect the gender distribution in the target population.
See also
Variable List Options dialog box