VARIABLES Subcommand (MATRIX DATA command)

VARIABLES specifies the names of the variables in the raw data and the order in which they occur.

  • VARIABLES is required.
  • There is no limit to the number of variables that can be specified.
  • If ROWTYPE_ is specified on VARIABLES, the continuous variables must be the last variables specified on the subcommand and must be last in the data.
  • If split-file variables are present, they must also be specified on SPLIT.
  • If factor variables are present, they must also be specified on FACTORS.

When either of the following is true, the only variables that must be specified on VARIABLES are the continuous variables:

  1. The data contain only correlation coefficients. There can be no additional information, such as the mean and standard deviation, and no factor information or split-file variables. MATRIX DATA assigns the record type CORR to all records.
  2. CONTENTS is used to define all record types. The data can then contain information such as the mean and standard deviation, but no factor, split-file, or ROWTYPE_ variables. MATRIX DATA assigns the record types defined on the CONTENTS subcommand.