If an item used as a row or column variable is defined as having two or more occurrences, the following conditions apply:
• If the parent item [i.e., the one described as occurring n times] is dragged to the table as a row or column variable, the variable name will be shown without parentheses.
• If one of the occurrences of an item is dragged to the table as a row or column variable, the variable name will be shown with a number in parentheses.
For example, MyItem contains two occurrences, MyItem(1) and MyItem(2). If MyItem (the parent item) is dragged from the dictionary tree to the table as a row or column variable, no parentheses will appear with the name MyItem in the table heading because no specific occurrence of MyItem was requested. However, if MyItem(1) is dragged from the dictionary tree to the table, then the item name MyItem will be shown with the identifying number in parentheses—MyItem(1)—because the user selected a specific instance [occurrence] of the variable.
If you choose an item with occurrences as a row or column variable, all occurrences of that item will be tabulated across all corresponding records in the data file. For example, if you choose MyItem, both MyItem(1) and MyItem(2) would be tabulated across all records.
If you choose a specific occurrence of an item as a row or column variable (e.g., MyItem(2)), only that occurrence will be tabulated across all corresponding records.
You may also use items with occurrences as the value or weight item. Note that when the unit of tabulation is not the repeating item, you will get errors when running your table unless you specify the occurrence number to use (e.g., MyItem(2)) or change the unit (e.g., to MyItem).
See Also: Create a Table