This dialog allows you to specify cells within the spreadsheet to act as missing
values in calculations whilst still maintaining the original data. This provides
an alternative way to temporarily remove values for an analysis as compared to
restricting/filtering where the complete row of values are removed from the analysis. For
example, in an Analysis of Variance you may want to try running the analysis removing
an outlier. If you restricted the data this may make the balanced design unbalanced.
However, if you set the value temporarily missing it would retain the balanced design.
Cells that are temporarily missing prefix the original value with a *, and displays the cell
background in a different colour. You can customize the colour of the background and text using
the Disabled Background and Disabled Text items within the
Spreadsheet settings on the Options - Fonts and Colours
dialog.
The current cell can be toggled to be temporarily missing, or to back to normal
if it is already temporarily missing with the Alt+F8 short cut key.
Temporary missing values can also be set in the Bookmark Spreadsheet by Value dialog.
Note: A Temporary missing value is just a special bookmark with a note starting with first line starting
with the text '*Missing'. As such you may add extra text to the end of this note to explain why you have excluded it from your
statistical calculations.
Column
This drop down list selects the columns for which the cell missing state is to be set.
Row Number
Provides a space to enter the row number of the cell whose missing state is to be set.
State
The current state of the selected cell, either Normal or Missing.
Switch
Switch the selected cell from normal state to be a temporary missing value or vice-versa.
Missing
Set the selected cell to be a temporary missing value.
Normal
Set the selected cell to be a normal value (i.e. not a temporary missing value).
Close
Close this dialog, making no further changes.
Clear All
Clear all temporary missing values in the spreadsheet.
Find Next
Find the next cell containing a temporary missing value.
See Also