User guide > Tables

This term always appears in parentheses, denoting a block, row, column or cell of an already-defined table. It usually follows directly after the table name as in:

#56(r2)

A row position is denoted by the letter R, a column position by the letter C, and a cell position by the letter E (for element). The letter is followed by a number, range of numbers, or the character '$' (meaning 'last'), or an ivar, meaning the number is to be computed at execution time. If a row position and a column position are specified, they may appear in either order and must be separated by a comma.

If a number is used, it must be greater than or equal to zero and less than or equal to the number of rows/columns/cells in the table. Cells are numbered as columns within rows. The number 0 means 'total': R0 is the total row, C0 the total column and E0 the total cell (equivalent to R0,C0).

The '$' syntax may be used to denote a position relative to the last row, column, or cell: so R$-1 means the last row but one, C$-2 the last column but two, etc.

Note that ivars cannot be used in specifying blocks of cells, so (r$iv1-$iv2) is not allowed.

If a table has been weighted (SELECT WR) then:

The unweighted cells only can be referred to by using WU as the first part of the cell reference.

The weighted cells only can be referred to by using WW as the first part of the cell reference.

Examples of part-ids:

(r3)

(r1-5)

(c17)

(wu,r5,c5)

(ww,r5,c5)

(r4-6,c7)

(r7-8,c1-9)

(e17-24)

(wu,r0)

(e$-1)

(c$)

(e$i1)

(ww,r1-$,c1-$)

Examples of usage of part-ids:

mt #1(r1)=#1(r2)/(r3),

mt #3a(ww,c1)=#3b(ww,c1)/100.0,

mt #5(r1,c1-5)=#6(r1,c1-5)*#7(r3,c1-5),