Because Quantum enables you to manipulate tables from previous runs, you can to create new tables without having a proper data file for the run. For example, you might have a monthly survey which asks a panel of respondents the same set of questions each month, and you want to produce a set of tables showing summary figures for the first three months of the year.

You could merge the three data files and rerun the Quantum program against this data, but it would be more efficient to write a short manipulation program to merge corresponding tables from each of the three runs into the summary tables that you want. If you decide to use manipulation, the first thing to do is set up a run definitions file naming the runs containing the monthly information. Next, take a copy of the program used to produce the monthly tables and after each tab statement you write an ex statement which adds together the figures from this table in each of the three previous months. For example:

These statements produce one table of ‘age by progs’ which is the sum of table 1 for January, February and March. This process is repeated for each table required.

Finally, create a dummy data file to be used for this run. You need a file containing one record with a serial number and card type in the appropriate columns. If the record contains codes in any other column, you run the risk of it being accepted by the tables, and thus making your three month summary table incorrect.

When you run the job, Quantum reads in the dummy record and creates each table according to the ex statements in the program.