Improve VECTOR implementation.

[pspp-builds.git] / doc / variables.texi

diff --git a/doc/variables.texi b/doc/variables.texi
index c2952fbd531d59fd8ad3ab03701580aa687c191b..1436158ec83b7dc9c3136ad297fe127974580aa8 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/variables.texi
+++ b/doc/variables.texi
@@ -447,25 +447,26 @@ Currently, this has no effect except for certain third party software.
 @display
 Two possible syntaxes:
         VECTOR vec_name=var_list.
-        VECTOR vec_name_list(count).
+        VECTOR vec_name_list(count [format]).
 @end display
 
 @cmd{VECTOR} allows a group of variables to be accessed as if they
 were consecutive members of an array with a vector(index) notation.
 
-To make a vector out of a set of existing variables, specify a name for
-the vector followed by an equals sign (@samp{=}) and the variables that
-belong in the vector.
+To make a vector out of a set of existing variables, specify a name
+for the vector followed by an equals sign (@samp{=}) and the variables
+to put in the vector.  All the variables in the vector must be the same
+type.  String variables in a vector must all have the same width.
 
 To make a vector and create variables at the same time, specify one or
 more vector names followed by a count in parentheses.  This will cause
 variables named @code{@var{vec}1} through @code{@var{vec}@var{count}}
-to be created as numeric variables with print and write format F8.2.
-Variable names including numeric suffixes may not exceed 64 characters
-in length, and none of the variables may exist prior to @cmd{VECTOR}.
-
-All the variables in a vector must be the same type.  String variables
-in a vector must all have the same width.
+to be created as numeric variables.  By default, the new variables
+have print and write format F8.2, but an alternate format may be
+specified inside the parentheses before or after the count and
+separated from it by white space or a comma.  Variable names including
+numeric suffixes may not exceed 64 characters in length, and none of
+the variables may exist prior to @cmd{VECTOR}.
 
 Vectors created with @cmd{VECTOR} disappear after any procedure or
 procedure-like command is executed.  The variables contained in the
@@ -475,9 +476,6 @@ Variables}).
 Variables within a vector may be referenced in expressions using
 @code{vector(index)} syntax.
 
-
-
-
 @node WRITE FORMATS,  , VECTOR, Variable Attributes
 @section WRITE FORMATS
 @vindex WRITE FORMATS