Your data can include character variables as well as numeric. Character data are especially useful as grouping variables. And you have great flexibility in defining the choices. Any choice table can have up to 128 entries so state tables or even larger tables can be used. And once you've created choice tables you like to use, it's easy to incorporate them into future surveys because you can create your own master file of choice tables and easily copy choice tables from one file to another.
Most surveys end up on a piece of paper which gets distributed to potential respondents.
They fill in the blanks, check the boxes, or otherwise complete your questionnaire which is returned to you. You then enter the data into the ABstat file which either describes the paper survey or was in fact the source of the paper questionnaire to begin with. ABstat is designed to make the data entry as efficient and reliable as possible. But not all surveys require paper. This is great for in-store, trade show, shopping mall, or employee surveys.