Sometimes, a Quantum program contains a set of statements which are similar but not identical. Quantum allows the set to be filed with symbolic parameters for the varying parts. You can then define the actual values of these parameters each time the include file is called.

Symbolic parameters are frequently used when you have a series of questions all having the same response list, with the only difference being the columns or codes with which the answers are coded. You can either write out the axes specifications separately with a different column number each time, or you can put the axis into an include file and replace the column number and/or code with symbolic parameters. You can then call up the file as many times as necessary, defining a new value for the symbolic parameter each time.

When parameters are defined for files included in this way, the parameter value refers only to statements within that file. Statements in the main file need their own symbolic parameters and definitions. Global definitions can be assigned to parameters using the #def statement. For more information about the #def statement, see Assigning global values to symbolic parameters.