User guide > Tables > Table names

Table names are always preceded by a hash character ("#"). This character is not regarded as part of the name, but rather as an indication that what follows is the name of a table. Table names follow similar rules to variable names except that a table name can be numeric. In fact tables are usually given a number as the name and therefore the table name is sometimes referred to as the "table number". You may choose any names desired for tables, except for the following:

Table names must not be longer than eight characters (not including #). The printed table name can be up to 20 characters using ID= on the T (tabulate) command.

Table names must consist entirely of alpha (A-Z) and numeric (0-9) characters unless enclosed in quotes.

Table names may contain certain special characters if they are enclosed in quotes. The quote characters do not count towards the limit of eight characters in a name. The # must be outside the quotes.

IMPORTANT: Each table defined must have a unique name, but the same table can be incremented more than once simply by using the same name again. Note this is different to defining the same variable twice where the contents of the variable are replaced by the new contents.

A cross reference list of all tables in each stage, and where they are mentioned in the CL script, can be produced by using Run Control Parameter XREF.

Examples of table names:

#23c

#totals

#56a

#'3.1'

#all004a1