Codebook.
Generically, any information on the structure, contents, and layout of a
data file. Typically, a codebook includes: column
locations and widths for each variable ; definitions
of different record types ;
response codes for each variable; codes use to indicate non-response and
missing data; exact questions and skip patterns used in
a survey; and other indications of the content of each variable. Many
codebooks also include frequencies of response.
Codebooks vary widely in quality and amount of information included. They
may be machine-readable or paper copy or microfiche.
Dictionary File