User Guide

77
Data Editor
The Variable view contains descriptions of the attributes of each variable in the
data file. In the Variable view:
 Rows are variables.
 Columns are variable attributes.
You can add or delete variables and modify attributes of variables, including:
 Var ia bl e n am e
 Data type
 Number of digits or characters
 Number of decimal places
 Descriptive variable and value labels
 User-defined missing values
 Column width
 Measurement level
All of these a
ttributes are saved when you save the data file.
In addition t
o defining variable properties in the Variable view, there are two other
methods for defining variable properties:
 The Copy Data Properties Wizard provides the ability to use an external SPSS
data file as a
template for defining file and variable properties in the working data
file. You can also use variables in the working data file as templates for other
variables in the working data file. Copy Data Properties is available on the
Data menu in
theDataEditorwindow.
 Define Var
iable Properties (also available on the Data menu in the Data Editor
window) scans your data and lists all unique data values for any selected
variables, identifies unlabeled values, and provides an auto-label feature. This is
particula
rly useful for categorical variables that use numeric codes to represent
categories—for example, 0 = Male,1=Female.
To Display or Define Variable Attributes
E Make the Data Editor the active window.