+participate; it is useful primarily in conjunction with @subcmd{MATRIX IN}.)
+
+If @subcmd{MATRIX IN} instead of @subcmd{VARIABLES} is specified, then the analysis
+is performed on a pre-prepared correlation or covariance matrix file instead of on
+individual data cases. Typically the matrix file will have been generated by
+@cmd{MATRIX DATA} (@pxref{MATRIX DATA}) or provided by a third party.
+If specified, @subcmd{MATRIX IN} must be followed by @samp{COV} or @samp{CORR},
+then by @samp{=} and @var{file_spec} all in parentheses.
+@var{file_spec} may either be an asterisk, which indicates the currently loaded
+dataset, or it may be a filename to be loaded. @xref{MATRIX DATA}, for the expected
+format of the file.