Suppressing Variable Labels

Another solution to redundant variable labels in nested tables is simply to suppress the display of variable names or labels. Since the value labels for both Gender and Age category are probably sufficiently descriptive without the variable labels, we can eliminate the labels for both variables.

  1. Open the table builder (Analyze menu, Tables, Custom Tables).
  2. Right-click Age category on the canvas pane and deselect Show Variable Label on the pop-up menu.
  3. Do the same for Gender.

    The variable labels are still displayed in the table preview, but they won't be included in the table.

  4. Click OK to create the table.
    Figure 1. Nested table without variable labels
    Nested table without variable labels

    If you want the variable labels included with the table somewhere--without displaying them multiple times in the body of the table--you can include them in the table title or corner label.

  5. Open the table builder (Analyze menu, Tables, Custom Tables).
  6. Click the Titles tab.
  7. Click anywhere in the Title text box.
  8. Click Table Expression. The text &[Table Expression] is displayed in the Title text box. This will generate a table title that includes the variable labels for the variables used in the table.
  9. Click OK to create the table.
Figure 2. Variable labels in table title
Variable labels in table title

The greater than sign (>) in the title indicates that Age category is nested within Gender.