Desktop User Guides > Reporter > Using variables > Simple categorization
 
Simple categorization
Use the Simple Categorization dialog to perform simple, non-linguistic categorization of variables by converting Text, Date or Numeric variables, which cannot be directly used in table tabulation, to Categorical variables. This allows data to be analyzed for reporting purposes.
To open the Simple Categorization dialog
1 Select the variables, and then choose Variables > Categorize > Simple from the menu.
The Simple Categorization Filter dialog opens.
Categorize all text variables. Selects all text, date and numeric variables for categorization, regardless of which variables are currently selected. This is the default setting.
Categorize selected variables. Categorized only selected variables. Variables that are not text, date, or numeric are filtered out.
Categorize all (text/date/numeric) variables. Selects all text variables for categorization, regardless of which variables are currently selected.
Update existing variables. Opens the Simple Categorization dialog, and lists all existing, categorized variables.
Create new variables. Opens the Simple Categorization dialog opens with no defined categorized variables. You are required to create new variables.
2 Select a categorization filter, and then click OK.
The Simple Categorization dialog opens.
3 Set the properties, and then click OK.
The new categorical variables appear in the variable list based on the defined New variable name.
Fields on the Simple Categorization dialog
Selected variables
Displays the name of original variables coupled with the new variable names, such as OldVarName > NewVarName. By default, the first variable in the list is selected and the name of its generated variable is shown in the New variable name field.
You can select multiple variables by using CTRL+click. When multiple variables are selected:
The New variable name field is not available.
The Category description format field is available.
The full value, Maximum number of categories, and Generate the “Other” category for any uncategorized data options are not available when more than one variable type is selected.
The Custom categorization expression field is not available.
New variable name
Displays the derived variable name for the selected variable. You can enter an appropriate variable name, or choose to accept the default name. This option is only enabled when you select Create new variables on the Simple Categorization Filter dialog.
Category description format (optional)
Specify the format of the coded category description, where {Value} is the placeholder for the coded category. For example:
This is text before - <b>{Value}</b> - and this is text after
Maximum number of categories
Sets a limit on the number of categories that are generated for each variable.
Generate the “Other” category for any other uncategorized data
Creates an “Other” directory to include any data that is not included in the generated categories. This option is not limited by the value defined for Maximum number of categories.
Treat empty values as
Not asked (NULL). Ignores empty and null values from base.
User-missing category. Creates a category for empty and null values, allowing users to set a category label.
Categorization based on
The full value. Each unique, full value of case data will be a category. This is the default setting.
The first characters. Trims the user-defined number of characters from the left side of each text value, and each unique substring becomes a category.
The last characters. Trims the user-defined number of characters from the right side of each text value, and each unique substring becomes a category.
Ignore case. Ignores data case. For example, the two data entries “ABC” and “abc” become one category. This option is enabled by default.
Custom categorization expression. Enables you to edit the variable expression manually. This field is not available when multiple variables are selected.
More
Displays the advanced Categorization based on options.
Less
Hides the advanced Categorization based on options.
Reset
Resets all variables in the Selected variables list back to their default settings.
Preview
Previews the generated categorical variables, one-by-one, in the UNICOM Intelligence Reporter preview dialog.
See also
Using variables