Line Tables and the VAR Instruction

Note: A banner must be defined using the VAR or LOC instruction when you are using the Dependent Paired/Overlap T-Test (LOC+/VAR+) and/or the Dependent Paired/Overlap Z-Test (LOC+/VAR+) statistical tests.

You can use the VAR instruction to create Line tables. Line tables let you display output on one table that might normally be shown on multiple tables. For example, you might create a Line table for a two-product test, where each product is a banner and the rows represent the same series of questions that were asked for each product. Rather than having to run a set of tables for product A and another for product B, both products could be put in the banner; the common set of questions would need to run only once. Another example of a Line table is a series of rating scales, where the scale points are the rows and each of the ratings is a banner point.

The VAR instruction offers a fast and simple way to reference a starting variable and then add a number that increments that variable for the next row or banner.

The syntax of the VAR instruction is:

VAR + number

For example: VAR+5

means, ‘Add 5 to the starting point.’ The ‘starting point’ is the variable in the first row of the table logic or the first column of the banner logic (excluding any ‘Total’ row or column). If the starting variable is in the banner, the row's logic is used as the starting point and each banner column uses the row logic plus the VAR number. If the starting variable is in the row, the banner logic is used as the starting point and each row uses the banner logic plus the VAR number.

Variables do not have to be in sequential order. For example, a row or banner can have a VAR+3 instruction and the next row or banner can have a VAR+20 instruction.

For specifying a ‘Total’ row or column, variables can be separated by commas or hyphens to refer to non-contiguous variables. Let's say our starting point is Q1A. Then:

VAR+1-3,5-6

represents variables Q1A, Q1B, Q1C, Q1E and Q1F.

You can use AND logic with the VAR instruction, to further define the 'Total' row or column.

Table 65 and Banner 3 of the EXAMPLE-VARIABLE.job file (installed with WinCross) are examples of the use of the VAR instruction in row and banner logic.