Quantum’s tabulation section consists of a series of levels, beginning with the lowest level, the line, and progressing upwards to the entire run. Within each of these hierarchical levels, conditions and characteristics can be specified for the current (and sometimes lower) level.

In many instances, characteristics specified at a higher level can be overridden by characteristics specified at a lower level. For example, the cells in a line can consist of absolute figures, column percentages or row percentages, to name but a few. An option on the first run control statement (the a statement) can cause all cells in all tables in the run to contain absolute figures.

The same option placed at the next level down (the tab statement) might state that the cells in this particular table only will show, say, column percentages. This option overrides the option on the a statement for this table only.

At the lowest level, the option on the a or tab statement can be overridden by an option on the statement creating a single line (that is, an n, col, val, bit or fld statement). The option might specify that the line created by this statement will display absolute figures only rather than absolutes and column percentages.

These hierarchies greatly increase the flexibility of the tabulation program. However, they do mean that you must pay attention to what level you are on otherwise you might not get the results you expect.