Column properties

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About

Allows you to configure the properties of one or more columns.

Shortcut key

⌘I

Name

Allows you to define the name for the variable. The name labels the column and is used to refer to them in lists and formulae.

Variable

Column Properties

Type

Choose from the following options:

Formula

When checked the data in the Column is calculated using the formula entered into the accompanying box. See Formulas for full details.

Format

Sets the format for the selected column.

Use scientific notation for small numbers

Available when Custom is selected for Format.

For Date or Time variables the following display is provided

Column Properties

You may choose Default, which is defined in the Settings dialog, or one of the following standard layout options from the popup menu:

These options adapt dynamically based on your computer's system region and language settings.

Alignment

Choose from Left, Centre, Right or Natural

A column defined with Natural alignment will align the contents based upon the script used within it. For languages that run right-to-left, such as Arabic or Hebrew, right alignment will be used. For languages that display left-to-right left alignment will be used. It is also possible to mix languages within the single column and each row will display with the appropriate alignment based on it's contents. For example:

Natural Alignment

Width

Enter the width of the column in pixels. Click the button to automatically calculate the width based upon the current data.

Filters

Any number of filters can be defined for each column in a dataset. Filters work with any type of data column.

Column Properties

Filter list

Filter Definition

Each filter can compare the value of each observation for a particular variable with a constant. Once defined, these filters may be applied, as required, when performing analyses. Filters allow you to select observations when performing analyses. For step-by-step instructions and advanced examples, see Using filters to further select data.


Filter preview

Clicking on a filter in the Filters list will update the Filters preview panel to show only rows that match the filter being defined.

Code List

This tab is shown when the column type is Code List, it is shown instead of the Filters tab. It allows you to define labels for values in the column. For example 1 = Male, 2 = Female.

Column Properties

Code lists

Each entry consists of a Code and a Label

Filter preview

Clicking on a code list entry in the Code List panel will update the Filters preview panel to show only rows that match the item being defined.

Graphs

Column Properties

Label

Allows you to define the axis label for the variable when used in a graph. If left blank the Variable name will be used.

Axis Mode

Allows configuration of the axis for this column when used in any type of plot. Choose from:

Values outside of a manual axis will not be included in the plot.

Minimum

Sets the minimum value for the axis

Maximum

Sets the maximum value for the axis

Step Size

Sets the fixed interval between each gridline or tick mark (e.g., counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s).

Buttons

?

Open the help system for this dialog.

<

Saves the configuration for the current column and moves to the previous column.

>

Saves the configuration for the current column and moves to the next column.

Cancel

Closes the Column Properties dialog and abandons the changes to the current column

OK

Saves the configuration for the current column and closes the dialog box.

warnings

Warnings and errors are shown in the bottom left side of the dialog box. They are displayed in red. You must correct the issue before you can save any changes to the column.