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How to read a VXREF (Variable Cross-Reference) File


At first glance it looks confusing but it's actually very straight forward. The VXREF is arranged in 7 columns.

 

Column 1: Variable Name

This column is a summary of the original deck, column and width. These 3 parts are identified under the "Variable Name" header. For the first variable; D1 = Deck 1. C01 = Column 01. W1 = Width of 1. Looking down to the 7th variable the alpha-numeric code is D1C07_1. The _ (underscore) means that this column contained multiple punches. More on this will be explained.

Columns 2, 3 and 4 are extensions of the Variable name label to the deck number.
Column 2: Deck In this example all variables originated from deck 1 from the binary data set.
Column 3: Input Column This is the input column variable which is the original column location from the binary data set.
Column 4: Width (Punch) The width identifies whether or not the variable located in the corresponding deck and column is a multiple response variable. In this example the variable in deck 1, column 7 is a multiple response variable. The 'P1' means "Punch" 1.
Column 5: Question The question number as noted in the questionnaire. Most, but not all VXREF files contain the question number column.
Column 6: Output Column The Output column displays the new column locations for the ASCII data set. There is always one card(record) per respondent in the new ASCII data set.
Column 7: Width The Width of the new variables will always be 1.

 

 

 

Variable Name
Deck
Input Column
Width (Punch)
Question
Output Column
Width

D1C01W1

1

1

1

 

1

1

D1C02W1

1

2

1

 

2

1

D1C03W1

1

3

1

 

3

1

D1C04W1

1

4

1

 

4

1

D1C05W1

1

5

1

 

5

1

D1C06W1

1

6

1

 

6

1

D1C07_1

1

7

P 1

 

7

1

D1C07_2

1

7

P 2

 

8

1

D1C07_3

1

7

P 3

 

9

1

D1C07_4

1

7

P 4

 

10

1

D1C07_5

1

7

P 5

 

11

1

D1C07_6

1

7

P 6

 

12

1

D1C07_7

1

7

P 7

 

13

1

D1C07_8

1

7

P 8

 

14

1

D1C07_9

1

7

P 9

 

15

1

D1C07_0

1

7

P 0

 

16

1

D1C08W1

1

8

1

 

17

1

D1C09W1

1

9

1

Q2A

18

1

D1C10W1

1

10

1

Q2B

19

1

D1C11W1

1

11

1

Q2C

20

1

D1C12W1

1

12

1

Q3

21

1

D1C13_1

1

13

P 1

Q4-1

22

1

D1C13_5

1

13

P 5

Q4-5

23

1

D1C13_0

1

13

P 0

Q4-0

24

1

D1C14_1

1

14

P 1

Q4-1

25

1

D1C14_2

1

14

P 2

Q4-2

26

1

D1C14_3

1

14

P 3

Q4-3

27

1

D1C14_4

1

14

P 4

Q4-4

28

1

D1C14_5

1

14

P 5

Q4-5

29

1

D1C14_6

1

14

P 6

Q4-6

30

1

D1C14_7

1

14

P 7

Q4-7

31

1

D1C14_0

1

14

P 0

Q4-0

32

1

D1C14_11

1

14

P11

Q4-X

33

1

D1C14_12

1

14

P12

Q4-Y

34

1

D1C16_1

1

16

P 1

Q5-1

35

1

D1C16_2

1

16

P 2

Q5-2

36

1

D1C16_3

1

16

P 3

Q5-3

37

1

D1C16_4

1

16

P 4

Q5-4

38

1

D1C16_5

1

16

P 5

Q5-5

39

1

D1C16_6

1

16

P 6

Q5-6

40

1

D1C16_0

1

16

P 0

Q5-0

41

1

D1C16_11

1

16

P11

Q5-X

42

1

D1C16_12

1

16

P12

Q5-Y

43

1

D1C17W1

1

17

1

Q6A

44

1

D1C18W1

1

18

1

Q6B

45

1

D1C19W1

1

19

1

Q7A

46

1

D1C20W1

1

20

1

Q7B

47

1

D1C21W1

1

21

1

Q8

48

1

D1C22W1

1

22

1

Q9

49

1

D1C23W1

1

23

1

Q10

50

1

D1C24W1

1

24

1

Q11

51

1

 

 

 

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