Accumulate

On the File tab, in the Edit Data group: Select Fields | Accumulate to accumulate the numeric field values in a file. How records are accumulated will depend upon the number of key fields specified (if any).

If one or more key fields are specified, the file is sorted by key, or by a combination of keys. Numeric fields are then accumulated for each key, or set of keys, and written to the specified output file.

Key Fields

(Optional) Double-click (F3) in the Source Field boxes to select the fields that will be used to accumulate numeric values in the input file. The key fields you specify (and 'Character Fields Handling', see below) will determine what is written to the output file.

Output file

Select an output file Type and enter or double-click (F3) to select the Name of the output file.

If no key fields are specified, the output file will have only one record, i.e. numeric values will be accumulated for ALL records in the file.

If ONE key field is specified, the number of records in the output file will be equal to the number of unique values in that field.

If MULTIPLE key fields are specified, the number of records in the output file will be equal to the number of unique combinations of values in the key fields.

Numeric Exceptions

(Optionally) Use the Numeric Exceptions group to control the way that non-numeric values are handled. Non-numeric values include characters, blanks, and values preceded by a less than sign (<).

Character Fields Handling

Select an Action that will determine how character field values are represented for each record written to the output file.

the FIRST character value encountered is written to the file.
the LAST character value encountered is written to the file.
the DOMINANT (most frequently encountered) character value is written to the file.

DOMINANT will default to FIRST if there is no true dominant value (i.e. more than one value has the highest count). "(FIRST)" will be written after the value in the output file to indicate that this has been done.