# Variable values, formats and other properties

Variable label

In the Label field enter the name of the variable. The name must be unique.

Names cannot be longer than 64 characters. The characters you use, must be Unicode characters in the Basic Multilingual Plane range. Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plane_(Unicode)#Basic_Multilingual_Plane.

Variable description

In the Description field you can enter a short text or any other background information about the variable.

The description is limited to 255 characters. The characters you use, must be Unicode characters in the Basic Multilingual Plane range. Variable type

Click the Type field and from the drop-down list choose one of the following options:

▪Text. A text variable is denoted by alphanumeric characters, composed of letters, numbers or both. For example, the name of the treatment.

▪Numerical. A variable represented by numbers only, for example, the dose of the drug that you apply.

▪Time stamp. A variable represented by a time stamp, for example, the start date and time of the trial.

▪Duration. A variable represented by a duration, for example the duration of the treatment.

▪Boolean. A variable that is either 'False' or 'True'. For example, the presence of a novel object in the arena.

Variable format

▪For Text variables you do not need to specify a format.

▪For Numerical variables, double-click in the Format field. In the Format window:

Select No. of decimals and enter the number of decimals (1 to 9). If you work with integer values, leave the check box unselected.

Select Scientific notation if you want to write, for example, 1485 as 1.485e+0.03

In the Unit field, enter the unit of your variable, for instance, µg/g for the dose of the drug. Then click OK. Tip: To enter Greek symbols, use the Windows Characters map.

▪For Time stamp variables, click in the Format field. In the Format string window, and enter your preferred format in the field at the top.

▪For Duration variables, click in the Format field. In the Format string window, enter your preferred format in the field at the top.

▪For Boolean variables you do not need to specify a format.

Predefined Values

▪For Text variables, double-click in the Predefined Values field. In the Predefined Values window:

Under Predefined Value enter one of the possible values of the independent variable, then click Add. Repeat this step for all values.

example Your independent variable is the treatment you apply, with possible values drug and saline, enter drug, then click Add. Repeat this step for saline.

Keep the Allow other values check box selected if you are not sure whether the values that you defined are exhaustive. This allows you to add new values if needed. Clear this option if the values under Predefined values are exhaustive.

The characters you use, must be Unicode characters in the Basic Multilingual Plane range.

To delete a predefined value, select it in the Predefined Values field and click Remove.

See also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plane_(Unicode)#Basic_Multilingual_Plane.

▪For Numerical variables, double-click in the Predefined Values field. In the Predefine Numerical Values window, select one of the following options:

▪Allow any value. Select this option if you do not want to predefine a range of values or individual values.

▪Define a range. Define a minimum and maximum value. For instance, when the age of the rats in your experiment ranges from 6-18 months, enter '6' as the minimum value and '18' as the maximum.

▪Define individual values. Select this option when you are, for instance, testing a drug in three dosages: 0.05; 0.1 and 0.5 mg/g. Enter '0.05' in the Predefined Value field and click Add. The value moves to the Predefined Values field. Repeat this procedure for the other two values. Keep the Allow other values check box selected if you are not sure whether the values that you defined are exhaustive. This allows you to add new values if needed. Clear the check box if you are sure that you do not want to add new independent variable values. To delete a predefined value, select it in the Predefined Values field and click Remove.

▪For Time stamp and Duration variables you cannot specify any predefined values.

▪For Boolean variables, double-click in the Predefined Values field. In the Predefine Boolean window, enter values for True and False. For instance, if your independent variable is Presence of novel object, define the values Yes (True) and No (False).

Variable scope

For the scope of an independent variable you can choose between the following three options: Trial, Arena and Subject.

example The scope of the variable Bedding type is Trial if all the arenas in a trial have the same kind of bedding material. Select Arena if the bedding material differs for different arenas during the same trial.

For variables whose values may differ between subjects in the same arena and trial, select Subject. For instance, in two-subject interaction tests, the variable sex (with subject 1 being male, and subject 2 female) or Status (subject 1 being resident, and subject 2 intruder).