Desktop User Guides > Reporter > Using variables > Variable type overview
 
Variable type overview
Variables fall into a number of different groups based on the type of data the variable stores, the type of question the variable is based on, and the way the variable is used.
Variable type
Description
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Single response variable
See Categorical variables.
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Multiple response variable
See Categorical variables.
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Numeric variable
See Numeric variables.
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Text variable
See Text variables.
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Date variable
A variable that stores date and time information.
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Loop
See Loops and grids.
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Expanded Loop
See Loops and grids.
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Categorical grid
Grids can be categorical or numeric.
See Loops and grids.
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Numeric grid
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Boolean variable
See Boolean variables.
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Compound
See Blocks and compounds.
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Block
See Blocks and compounds.
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Weighting variable
See Applying weighting.
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Block system variable
System variables can be of different variable types including blocks, categorical, numeric, grids, and so on.
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Categorical system variable
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Numeric system variable
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Edited multiple response variable
This can be an existing variable that has been edited or a new variable that has been created from other variables. For example, you can edit a categorical variable by combining categories, or you can create a numeric variable to show the sum of the values stored in two or more other numeric variables. In some cases the edits to the variable might have been made outside UNICOM Intelligence Reporter, so the variable has an edit symbol when you first open the survey data.
Edited variables can be based on variable types such as categorical, numeric, text, date, and boolean variables.
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Edited numeric variable
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Filter variable
This is a variable that has been created by saving a filter as a variable.
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Table variable
This is a variable that has been created from all the variables on the top or side of the table using the New Variable from Side/Top option.
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Information variable
This contains instruction text for use when filling in the questionnaire. It cannot be included in analyses.
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Database simple variable
This renders as a single response categorical variable. The categories are not defined in a list but are instead stored in a database. Categories are generated in derived variables when performing database categorization. The derived variable is generated as a helper field.
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Database multiple variable
This renders as a multiple response variable. The categories are not defined in a list but are instead stored in a database. Categories are generated in derived variables when performing database categorization. The derived variable is generated as a helper field.
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Database array variable
This renders as a loop/grid. Iterations are not defined in a list but are instead stored in a database. Iterations are retrieved from a database. The derived variable is generated under the Array.Fields collection and stores the iterations when performing database categorization.
See also
Using variables