This box is located at the top of the Self Managed (Full Variable/Parameter Selection) Display. Through this box you can access all of the variables and parameters in IFs for display. There are some organizing principles. The list is ordered alphabetically. Each variable or parameter in the box shows its name, a brief description and the unit of the measurement. Some variables that are grouped around common display items are labeled similarly. For example, population measures are labeled POP such as POP (total population), POP15TO65 (population aged 15 to 65) and POPRURAL (population in rural areas). Finally, variables are distinguished from parameters by their abbreviated label being typed in capital letters while parameters are represented in lower case letters. If you are unable to find the variable or parameter that you are looking for, you may want to open the Variable Search option.

When you have found what you are looking for, click on it. For those variables and parameters dimensioned geographically, you will then be asked to choose a country/region, the default setting in IFs. There are four radio buttons above the selection box that allow you to change the geography of displays from Countries/Regions to Groups, Decomposed Groups or G-Lists (geographical lists of countries/regions and/or groups). Some variables or parameters may have other or additional dimensions. For example, if you choose Agricultural Demand (AGDEM), you will have to select geographic units and then whether you would like agricultural demand for Crop, Meat, Fish, Total or ALL to be displayed. The Total dimension shows one aggregated value of all three components (Crop, Meat and Fish) while the ALL selection displays all three components individually. After making your selection, your variable/parameter will be displayed in the Status Box for Display, which is located above the buttons at the bottom of the form and becomes active after your first selection.

You can use the Type Name Box in two ways:

Slider Bar use: Note that there is a slider bar on the right-hand side of the "Type Name" list box. The slider bar has an upward pointing arrow at its top and a downward pointing arrow at its bottom. Click with your mouse on the bottom arrow and see the list in the box move down by one variable name. Or click between the arrows to see it move down faster. Do experiment, including simply dragging the slider. Keep clicking between the arrows until you see the variable name "POP" in the list box. Click on that name. Click on Mexico for your geographical unit for display and see your selection of the variable POP for Mexico appear in the Status Box.

Input Line use: Now use your mouse to position the cursor inside the Input Line at the top of the list box (it is probably already there). Once the cursor is in the box you can simply type the letters "POP" and you will see an additional small gray list box appear and the list move to that variable name as you type. Touch the Enter key on your keyboard and you will again be asked to select a country/region. This time select a different country/region. You should now see population for both selections in the Status Box.