NUM is most likely the order of the variable in the table. NAME is the variable name. This is the value you use in your programs to reference variable. TYPE tells if the variable is a fixed length character string or floating point number. LENGTH is really only useful for character variables as it sets the maximum length. FORMAT is how the data is displayed. The first variable is using the Z4. format so values will be displayed with 4 digits with leading zeros.  The $2. format attached to the character variable is not really needed as it does not change the default behavior. The other variables have custom or user formats attached.  You will need to find separate documentation for how those are defined. INFORMAT is how input is converted, does not normally matter for existing data since you will not be reading in new data from a raw text file. LABEL is just with is says. It is a label that is applied to the variable. It is normally displayed in reports and to help the user understand what the variable means.  Your guess is probably better than ours what the labels mean in the context of the data you are being provided. ... View more