The notes that follow explain how Quantum applies small percentage suppression. They use column percentages as an example, but the same rules apply to row percentages. Just substitute the word row wherever you see references to columns, and vice versa.

When Quantum creates a table where small percentage suppression is possible, it looks at each cell separately and checks which output types have been requested for that cell. If the cell belongs to a row that is not a statistic Quantum then compares the most recent base for the current column with the smbase value. If the column base is less than the smbase value Quantum switches off all percentage output types for the current cell. If the cell is part of a statistical row, Quantum compares the total number of respondents contributing to the statistic (the sum-of-n) with the smbase value and switches off all percentage output types if it is less than the smbase value.

Next, Quantum checks whether the current cell is a base cell and, if so, switches absolutes (op=1) back on. If the current cell is a mean Quantum switches absolutes off.

If these tests result in no output types being set for the cell, Quantum prints a blank in the table when it reaches that cell. Otherwise it prints the remaining output types specified for the cell (absolutes or ranks, for example).

The final check that Quantum makes is on the base or sum-of-n itself. If the base for a column is less than the smbase value, Quantum prints two asterisks to the right of that base value. If the sum-of-n for a statistic is less than the smbase value, Quantum prints two asterisks to the right of the sum-of-n (or the blank if absolutes are switched off). If there is insufficient room to print the asterisks at the side of the column, Quantum prints them in the column instead.

If there are any rows before the first base row, these tests are not applied since the information required by the tests is not available.

Quantum prints footnotes on tables with small percentage suppression, explaining the meaning of the double asterisks:

If the table also contains T statistics and these cause the footnote:

to be printed, Quantum suppresses the footnote about percentages.