For multicard records only: To define cards which must be present in each record, type:

card_numbers is either a comma-separated list of card numbers, or a range of sequential card numbers in the form start:end or start/end.

Sometimes, some cards are optional and others mandatory. Define the cards which must appear in every record by using the keyword req= followed by the numbers of the cards that each respondent must have. For example:

means that cards 1 and 2 must be present in each record for that record to be accepted. Any other cards are optional. If a record is read without one of these cards, the error message ‘Card Missing in Set’ and a note of the record’s position in the file are printed and the record is ignored.

If you have ranges for required card types, you can type the numbers of the lowest and highest cards separated by a slash (/) or a colon (:) rather than listing each card type separately. For example, if cards 1 to 4 are all required, type:

or

or