Using the Data Table

The data table operates somewhat like a spreadsheet. You can type in data, sort columns, insert and delete columns, and create basic plots.

The first two columns in the data table are the row headings. The first column contains the observation number (or some other label variable). The label is used to identify observation markers in plots. The second column indicates whether each observation is included in plots () and analyses (). If an observation is included in plots, the color and shape of the marker for that observation is indicated in the row heading.

Subsequent columns in the data table display variables.

The first two rows of the data table are column headings. The first row displays the variable's name or label. The second row indicates the variable's measure level (interval or nominal), the default roles the variable plays, and, if the variable is selected, in what order it was selected. Subsequent rows contain observations.

Interval variables are indicated by 'Int' and nominal variables by 'Nom'. By default, nominal variables are ordered alphanumerically by their internal values. If you specify the order of a nominal variable, the variable becomes ordinal ('Ord').

The effect of selecting a cell of the data table depends on the location of the cell.

Column headings

Selecting either row of the column heading results in selecting the entire column.

Row headings

Selecting either column of the row heading results in selecting the entire row.

You can display a context menu by right-clicking when the mouse pointer is positioned over a column or row heading. A context menu means that you will see different menus depending upon where the mouse pointer is at the time you right-click. For the data table, the Variables menu differs from the Observations menu.

When you right-click in a column or row heading, that column or row is selected. If you want to display the context menu for the current selection without changing it, right-click in the upper-left corner cell.

Clicking in any of the four cells in the upper-left corner of the data table does the following:

• Right-clicking in a cell brings up the Observations menu. Consequently, this is a safe place to right-click when you want to change properties of the selected observations, but no selected observations are currently visible.
• Click in the upper-left or lower-right cell to deselect all observations and variables.
• Click in the upper-right cell to deselect all observations and select all variables.
• Click in the lower-left cell to deselect all variables and select all observations.