Variable Specifications

Use the options in the Variable dialog box to enter specifications for the first selected variable. Note that any formatting changes made here (other than font size) is also displayed in variable specification dialog boxes and the Variable Specifications Editor (All Specs dialog box). Thus, these formatting options make it easier to quickly identify variables in the spreadsheet itself and when selecting variables for analyses and graphs.

Several formatting tools, which apply to both the variable name and the long name, are available at the top of the dialog box:

Tool	Function
	Click the Font button to display the Format Characters dialog box, which offers a choice of fonts and font sizes, styles/effects, and text and background colors, as well as a preview of the selected font options.
	Use the Font drop-down list to choose a font to apply to text in the selected cell.
	Use the Font Size drop-down list to choose a font size to apply to text in the selected cell.
	Click the Bold button to apply bold formatting to text in the selected cell.
	Click the Italic button to apply italic formatting to text in the selected cell.
	Click the Underline button to apply underlining formatting to text in the selected cell.
	Click the arrow on the Font Color button to display a standard color palette of available colors from which to choose a font color to apply to the text in the selected cell.

Option	Description
Name	The Name box contains the variable name, which is displayed in the column header in the spreadsheet. The name can be changed by typing a new name in the Name box.
Type	The Type box contains the variable data type. You can change the selection to Double, Text, Integer, or Byte (see Data Types).
Measurement Type	The Measurement Type drop-down list contains the measurement type of the variable. You can change the selection to Auto, Unspecified, Continuous, Categorical, or Ordinal.
Length	Type a number in the Length box (which is only available if you have selected Text as the data type for the variable) to specify the maximum number of characters allowed for the variable.
Excluded	Select the Excluded check box to exclude the variable from analyses/graphs.
Label	Select the Label check box to use the value of the selected variable as a text label identifying points within appropriate graphs.
Case State	Select the Case State check box to specify that an integer variable is a case state variable. You can copy active case states to/from a Case State variable.
MD code	This MD code box is used to specify a missing data code for blank cells or specific values that you intend to ignore in calculations. Note that the missing data code for a text data type is always an empty string.
Display format	The Display format box shows which display format accompanies the variable (see Display Formats). The box to the right lists additional formats that are compatible with the selected display format. For example, if Time is selected as the display format, the box to the right will show possible time formats (such as date and time combinations, military time options, etc.).
Decimal places	Type a number in the Decimal places box (which is only active when Number, Scientific, Currency, and Percentage display formats are chosen) to specify the number of decimal places to be displayed.
Long name (label, or formula with Functions)	Use the Long name box to type a more detailed name or a formula as part of the variable's definition. Begin the Long name box with an equal sign to signify if you are entering a formula instead of a name. In the event that a conflict arises between a variable name and another variable's text values (e.g., a data set has one variable named "Cats" and another variable that has a text value of "Cats"), the variable name will take precedence over the text value. To specify the text value in selection conditions, append a $ to the end of the text value (e.g., "Cats"$). See also, Functions, Formulas Overview.
Functions	Click the Functions button to display the Function Browser, which is used to enter predefined functions into the formula.
Function Guide	Select the Function Guide check box for guidance when you are entering a formula into the Long name box. When you begin the Long name box with an equal sign (to signify that you are entering a formula), then every time you type a letter to begin a new word (i.e. type a letter after the equal sign or after a space), the list of available STATISTICA functions that start with that letter will be displayed. You can select from this list (by double-clicking on the function name) to enter the selected function into the Long name box.
	Click the arrow buttons to browse the list of variables in the active spreadsheet; hence, you can switch between variables in the spreadsheet without closing this dialog box.
All Specs	Click the All Specs button to close this dialog box and display the Variable Specifications Editor.
Text Labels	Click the Text Labels button to display the Text Labels Editor dialog box (see Using the Text Labels Editor).
Values/Stats	Click the Values/Stats button to display the Values/Stats dialog box, which shows more detailed information about the selected variable, including all values in the variable and descriptive statistics.
Properties	Click the Properties button to display the Properties dialog box, where you can enter custom meta data in your spreadsheet.
Bundles	Click this button to display the Variable Bundles Manager. Using the options in this dialog box, you can create, edit, delete, and rename variable bundles as well as generate a spreadsheet containing bundle information. Bundles can be used to organize large sets of variables and to facilitate the repeated selection of the same set of variables. By creating bundles, you make it possible to quickly and easily locate a subset of data in a large data file.