Text Wizard: Step 2

This step provides information about variables. A variable is similar to a field in a database. For example, each item in a questionnaire is a variable.

How are your variables arranged?

The arrangement of variables defines the method that is used to differentiate one variable from the next.

Delimited

Spaces, commas, tabs, or other characters are used to separate variables. The variables are recorded in the same order for each case but not necessarily in the same column locations.

Fixed width

Each variable is recorded in the same column location on the same record (line) for each case in the data file. No delimiter is required between variables. The column location determines which variable is being read.

Note: The Text Wizard cannot read fixed-width Unicode text files. You can use the DATA LIST command to read fixed-width Unicode files.

Are variable names included at the top of your file?

The values on the specified line number are used to create variable names. Values that don't conform to variable naming rules are converted to valid variable names.

What is the decimal symbol?

The character that indicates decimal values can be either a period or a comma.