+@cmd{RENAME VARIABLES} may not be specified following @cmd{TEMPORARY}
+(@pxref{TEMPORARY}).
+
+@node SORT VARIABLES
+@section SORT VARIABLES
+@vindex SORT VARIABLES
+
+@cmd{SORT VARIABLES} reorders the variables in the active dataset's dictionary
+according to a chosen sort key.
+
+@display
+SORT VARIABLES [BY]
+ (NAME | TYPE | FORMAT | LABEL | VALUES | MISSING | MEASURE
+ | ROLE | COLUMNS | ALIGNMENT | ATTRIBUTE @var{name})
+ [(D)].
+@end display
+
+The main specification is one of the following identifiers, which
+determines how the variables are sorted:
+
+@table @asis
+@item NAME
+Sorts the variables according to their names, in a case-insensitive
+fashion. However, when variable names differ only in a number at the
+end, they are sorted numerically. For example, @code{VAR5} is sorted
+before @code{VAR400} even though @samp{4} precedes @samp{5}.
+
+@item TYPE
+Sorts numeric variables before string variables, and shorter string
+variables before longer ones.
+
+@item FORMAT
+Groups variables by print format; within a format, sorts narrower
+formats before wider ones; with the same format and width, sorts fewer
+decimal places before more decimal places.
+@xref{FORMATS}.
+
+@item LABEL
+Sorts variables without a variable label before those with one.
+@xref{VARIABLE LABELS}.
+
+@item VALUES
+Sorts variables without value labels before those with some.
+@xref{VALUE LABELS}.
+
+@item MISSING
+Sorts variables without missing values before those with some.
+@xref{MISSING VALUES}.
+
+@item MEASURE
+Sorts nominal variables first, followed by ordinal variables, followed
+by scale variables. @xref{VARIABLE LEVEL}.
+
+@item ROLE
+Groups variables according to their role. @xref{VARIABLE ROLE}.
+
+@item COLUMNS
+Sorts variables in ascending display width. @xref{VARIABLE WIDTH}.
+
+@item ALIGNMENT
+Sorts variables according to their alignment, first left-aligned, then
+right-aligned, then centered. @xref{VARIABLE ALIGNMENT}.
+
+@item ATTRIBUTE @var{name}
+Sorts variables according to the first value of their @var{name}
+attribute. Variables without attribute are sorted first.
+@xref{VARIABLE ATTRIBUTE}.
+@end table
+
+Only one sort criterion can be specified. The sort is ``stable,'' so
+to sort on multiple criteria one may perform multiple sorts. For
+example, the following will sort primarily based on alignment, with
+variables that have the same alignment ordered based on display width:
+
+@example
+SORT VARIABLES BY COLUMNS.
+SORT VARIABLES BY ALIGNMENT.
+@end example
+
+Specify @code{(D)} to reverse the sort order.
+
+@node DELETE VARIABLES
+@section DELETE VARIABLES
+@vindex DELETE VARIABLES
+
+@cmd{DELETE VARIABLES} deletes the specified variables from the dictionary.
+
+@display
+DELETE VARIABLES @var{var_list}.
+@end display
+
+@cmd{DELETE VARIABLES} should not be used after defining transformations
+but before executing a procedure. If it is used in such a context, it
+causes the data to be read. If it is used while @cmd{TEMPORARY} is in
+effect, it causes the temporary transformations to become permanent.
+
+@cmd{DELETE VARIABLES} may not be used to delete all variables from the
+dictionary; use @cmd{NEW FILE} to do that (@pxref{NEW FILE}).
+
+@node VARIABLE LABELS
+@section VARIABLE LABELS
+@vindex VARIABLE LABELS
+
+In addition to a variable's name, each variable can have a @dfn{label}.
+Whereas the name is limited to certain constraints (@pxref{Attributes}) a variable's
+label has no such constraints.
+Typically, the names are concise, easy to type mnemonics for the variable
+and the labels are longer, more verbose descriptions.
+
+@display
+VARIABLE LABELS
+ @var{var_list} '@var{var_label}'
+ [ /@var{var_list} '@var{var_label}']
+ .
+ .
+ .
+ [ /@var{var_list} '@var{var_label}']
+@end display
+
+@cmd{VARIABLE LABELS} associates explanatory names
+with variables. This name, called a @dfn{variable label}, is displayed by
+statistical procedures.
+
+To assign a variable label to a group of variables, specify a
+list of variable names and the variable label as a string.
+To assign different labels to different variables in the same command,
+precede the subsequent variable list with a slash (@samp{/}).