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The independent variable is defined on the Input File tab by its name or column position. These controls will automatically be set if you load a SEER*Stat Export Dictionary. If you created your data file with software other than SEER*Stat you must set these controls.
The data file must be sorted first by all by-variables and then the independent variable, unless you want Joinpoint to calculate age-adjusted rates -- in which the data file would also be sorted by the adjustment variable. For a detailed description of how age-adjusted rates are calculated and what the required variable order, please go to the How to Compute Age-Adjusted Rates help section.
The independent variable or covariate is typically the year of diagnosis or year of death. You are limited to a 40-character label for the independent variable name.