11.8 VARIABLE LABELS

In addition to a variable’s name, each variable can have a label. Whereas the name is limited to certain constraints (see Attributes of Variables) a variable’s label has no such constraints. Typically, the names are concise, easy to type mnemonics for the variable and the labels are longer, more verbose descriptions.

VARIABLE LABELS
        var_list ’var_label’
        [ /var_list ’var_label’]
        .
        .
        .
        [ /var_list ’var_label’]

VARIABLE LABELS associates explanatory names with variables. This name, called a variable label, is displayed by statistical procedures.

To assign a variable label to a group of variables, specify a list of variable names and the variable label as a string. To assign different labels to different variables in the same command, precede the subsequent variable list with a slash (‘/’).