The PC-Axis file format consists of a number of keywords. These can be either mandatory or optional.
A PC-Axis file can also contain information in more than one language. The keywords that are language dependent are repeated for each language. For example CONTENTS="Population"; CONTENTS[sv]="Befolkning";
Information about the contents of the table, which makes up the first part of a table heading created when retrieving tables from PC-AXIS.
All data cells for the table. The key word DATA must be placed at the end of the file.
The number of decimals in the table cells.
At least one of the keywords STUB or HEADING must be included. Together they give information about which variables (dimensions) the table has. Usually both are included, as you choose one or several variables for the stub and the heading, respectively. The keywords are followed by a list with the chosen variables. The variables are within quotation marks and separated by commas. Each variable name can be up to 256 characters. If the list with the variables has to be divided up into several lines, this should be done after a comma and not within the variable name.
The name of the matrix. Is suggested as file name when the file is fetched. (Max 8 characters in older versions of PC-Axis).
At least one of the keywords STUB or HEADING must be included. Usually both are included, as you choose one or several variables for the stub and the heading, respectively.
The name of the subject area in plain text as shown in the menu "Select subject area".
Subject area code. Needed for backward compatibility. (Max 5 characters in older versions of PC-Axis).
The title of the table, reflecting its contents and variables. Is not needed if the file contains DESCRIPTION, in that case the text belonging to description is used. How the heading of a table will look depends on which variables the user chooses; the heading thus created will then be saved as TITLE. (Compare also Descriptiondefault)
When fetching from a disk only the first line will be presented if the title on the disk is divided up into several lines. If the file contains DESCRIPTION the text for this key word will be used.
The unit for the datacells. Information about the unit for the datacells, UNITS="kg";
When there is a CONTVARIABLE the keyword UNITS takes an index and is repeated for every value for the contents variable. UNITS("value")="tons".
The keyword VALUES must occur once for each variable in the table, to identify the data. It is followed by the variable name in parentheses, within quotation marks. The values will be in the same order as in the stub and heading, respectively. They are within quotation marks and separated by commas. Each value name must not exceed 256 characters (before 2002 only 100 chars). If the values has to be divided up into several lines, this should be done after a comma and not within the value name. See also the key word TIMEVAL.
The old description from 2008
Complete description of PC-Axis file format (2008) (pdf)