To analyze the population within nonoverlapping generations, you must specify the variable that identifies generations in a CLASS statement. Values of the generation variable, called generation numbers, must be integers, but generations are assumed to occur in the order of their input in the input data set rather than in numerical order of the generation numbers. The name of an individual needs to be unique only within its generation.

When the MATRIXL option or the INDL option is specified, each generation requires a unique generation number in order for the specified option to work correctly. If generation numbers are not unique, all the generations with a generation number that is the same as the last generation’s are output.