Desktop User Guides > Reporter > Using variables > Creating new variables > Copying a variable
 
Copying a variable
You can create a new variable by copying an existing one. This is useful when you want to define alternative ways of tabulating the same variable, if you have previously saved the variable. You can copy numeric, categorical, text, date, or Boolean variables.
To copy a variable
1 In the Variables pane, select the variable that you want to copy, and then click Variables > Copy.
The New Variable window opens. Because you are creating a new variable rather than editing an existing variable, the variable has an automatically generated name such as NewVar. The text Based on, followed by the name of the original variable, is displayed on the right of the window.
2 Select the default name and change it to a meaningful name for your variable. Base the new variable's name on the name of the variable you are copying. For example, if the existing variable is called visits, you might want to call the new one visitsbanded, so that they are next to each other in the Variables pane when it is in name order, and to identify the content of the new variable. The variable name must conform to the UNICOM Intelligence Reporter naming conventions.
3 A default description is displayed under the name. You can edit this.
4 Edit the variable as required.
5 Choose Save and Close from the toolbar.
You can now use the new variable in your tables.
See also
Creating new variables