Variable Specifications Editor

When a spreadsheet is displayed:
  • Ribbon bar. Select the Data tab. In the Variables group, click All Specs.
  • Classic menus. On the Data menu, select All Variable Specs.
This displays the Variable Specifications Editor. Use the Editor, which is organized in spreadsheet format, to view and edit the properties of the variables in the active spreadsheet. You can resize the Editor (to allow greater viewing of the various columns) by dragging its corners or sides.
Click the Print button to print a copy of the information displayed in the Variable Specifications Editor.
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 apply a specific font to text in the selected cell(s).
Use the Font Size drop-down list to choose a font size to apply to text in the selected cell(s).
Click the Bold button to apply bold formatting to text in the selected cell(s).
Click the Italic button to apply italic formatting to text in the selected cell(s).
Click the Underline button to apply underlining formatting to text in the selected cell(s).
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(s).
Click the Cut button to cut the selected cell(s) in the Editor to the Clipboard.
Click the Copy button to copy the selected cell(s) in the Editor to the Clipboard.
Click the Paste button to paste the contents of the Clipboard to the selected cells.
Click the Vars drop-down list button to Add or Delete variables or to Fill / Copy Down.
Option Description
Name The Name column lists the variable name as it is displayed in the variable header cells of the spreadsheet.
Type The Type column displays the data type for each variable. Use the list boxes to select a different data type for the selected variable. See Data Types.
MD Code The MD Code column shows the missing data code for each variable.
Length The Length column (which only contains values if you have selected Text as the data type for the variable) displays the maximum number of characters allowed for the variable.
Long Name (label or formula) The Long Name column provides additional information about the variables.
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.
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.
Output to Spreadsheet Click this button to create and display a spreadsheet containing the information displayed in the Variable Specifications Editor.