Copying a variable
Creating a copy of a variable is useful when you want to have alternative ways of showing the variable in your tables. For example, banded and summarized views of a numeric variable.
Notes
Copying a variable does not copy its axis expression. For example, suppose you band a numeric variable and then use the Copy option to copy it. You will need to band or summarize the new variable before you can include it in a table, because it will not contain the banding you set up in the original variable. Similarly, suppose you insert some nets in a multiple response variable and delete some of the original categories. If you then copy the variable, the new variable will contain the original categories (including the deleted categories) but not the nets.
Copying a categorical variable that contains built-in special elements does not copy the built-in special elements. You are most likely to see this when you are working with Quanvert data, which typically contains built-in special elements. For example, if you copy a Quanvert variable that contains a built-in mean, the new variable will not contain the mean. Similarly, built-in bases are not copied and UNICOM Intelligence Reporter - Survey Tabulation will therefore insert an autobase into the new variable. This may mean that the base is different in tables created using the new variable compared to the original variable.
To copy an existing variable
1 In the main UNICOM Intelligence Reporter - Survey Tabulation window, select the Define tab.
2 In the Variable List, select the variable you want to copy. Make sure that this is not a derived variable.
If you are using the hierarchical view of the data, the position of the variable you select will define the level of the new variable. For example, if you select a top-level variable, the new variable will be at the top level. Whereas, if you select a variable in the Person loop, the new variable will be at the Person level.
3 From the Variables menu, choose Copy.
This opens the New Variable dialog box: see
New Variable dialog box.
4 Enter a
Name for the new variable. It is generally a good idea to base the new variable's name on the name of the variable you are copying. For example, if the existing variable is called
Pets, you might want to call the new one
Pets2, so that they will appear next to each other in the Variable List when it is sorted in name order. Make sure that the name is valid: see
Naming conventions for more information.
5 In the Label text box, enter a description for the new variable as you want it to appear on your tables.
When you copy a categorical variable, the new categorical variable will automatically have the categories of the categorical variable you are copying.
6 If necessary, use the features on the Edit tab (and the Banding tab if it is a numeric variable) to define how you want the new variable to appear in your tables.
7 Click OK.
See also