Microcal Origin Help Index

Use the Tab key to select a Help topic, then press Enter. With the mouse, point to an underlined topic, then press the mouse button. Use the scroll bar to view more Help topics.

How to Use Origin

Using the Worksheet

Worksheet Data Analysis

Plotting Data and Error Bars

Text Annotations

Adjusting the Axes

Page Layout; Layers

Managing Windows

Managing Files; Templates

Active Graphic Objects™

Setting Start-up Preferences

Printing

Reference

Plot Window Command Menus

Worksheet Command Menus

Functions

Glossary


Index - Using the Worksheet
Using the Worksheet

Entering, Manipulating, and Saving Worksheet Data

Change Default X Values for a Worksheet

Clear Worksheet Values

Copy and Paste Worksheet Data

Delete Worksheet Values

Delete a Data Set

Enter Data from the Keyboard

Import Data from a File

Missing Values

Position the Active Cell

Save Worksheet Data

Select Cells and Ranges

Adjusting Worksheet Rows and Columns

Add a Column

Change Column Width

Delete Rows and Columns

Disregard a Column's Values

Insert Rows and Columns

Rename a Column (data set)

Set Column Format (numeric, text, date)

Set Column Display Range

Specify Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar


Index - Worksheet Data Analysis
Worksheet Data Analysis

Worksheet Calculations

Extract Worksheet Data

Mathematical Expressions

Script Execution

Set Column Values

Sorting

Statistics

Frequency Count (for plotting histogram)

Statistics on Columns and Rows

Student's t-Test (independent)


Index - Plotting Data and Error Bars
Plotting Data and Error Bars

Plotting Data

Add a Data Plot to a Graph

Change Plot Type

Create a New Graph

Edit a Data Plot

Increment Grouped Data

Live Link to Worksheet

Plot Data as a Group

Plot Data From an ASCII File

Plot User-Defined Functions

Manipulating Plotted Data

Clip Plotted Data

Copy and Paste Plotted Data

Determine the X, Y Values of any Point

Enlarge a Data Plot

Remove Plotted Data From a Layer

Select a Segment of Plotted Data

Select the Active Data Plot

Specify the Plot Display Range

View Worksheet Values for Plotted Data

Error Bars

Format Error Bars

Plot Error Bars


Index - Text Annotations
Text Annotations

Add and Edit Labels

Add and Edit Data Labels

Align Labels to Grid

Create a Legend

Move a Label

Text Formatting


Index - Adjusting the Axes
Adjusting the Axes

Axis Scale

Axis Break

Axis Scale Type

Axis Increment

Set Axis Rescale Options

Set Number of Minor Tick Marks

Titles and Tick Labels

Add Tick Label Prefix/Suffix

Create Text, Time, or Date Tick Labels

Individual Tick Label Control

Set Tick Label Numeric Options

Set Tick Label Style

Specify Axis Title

Axis Display

Hide/Show Tick Labels

Hide/Show Tick Marks

Hide/Show X and Y Axes

Hide/Show/Format Grid Lines

Rescale Axes to Show All Data

Specify Axis Color and Thickness

Specify Axis Offset


Index - Page Layout; Layers
Page Layout; Layers

Page

Color the Page

Create a Blank Page

Master Page

Merge Pages

Rotate the Page

Set the View Mode

Zoom the Page

Layers

Add a Layer

Align Axes to Grid

Arrange Multiple Layers on the Page

Choose the Active Layer

Fit Layer to the Page

Hide Other Layers

Hide/Show Layer Elements

Hide/Show Layer Frame

Layer Color and Border

Move a Layer

Remove a Layer

Resize a Layer

Select a Layer

Set Layer Element Scale Factor

Set Layer Link Options


Index - Managing Windows
Managing Windows

Arranging Windows On-Screen

Opening and Closing Windows

Renaming Windows

Selecting the Active Window


Index - Managing Files
Managing Files

Documents

Creating a Document

Opening a Document

Naming, Saving and Closing a Document

Worksheet Templates

Worksheet Templates

Set a New Default Worksheet

Plot Window Templates

Plot Window Templates

Changing the Default Plot Windows


Index - Active Graphic Objects
Active Graphic Objects™

Active Graphic Objects

Template-Oriented Data Analysis


Index - Initialization Preferences
Initialization Preferences

Setting Start-up Preferences


Index - Printing
Printing

Print the Page


Index - Plot Window Command Menus
Plot Window Command Menus

These menus appear in the plot window menu display bar.

For help with a command, click on the appropriate menu.

File Menu Commands

Edit Menu Commands

Options Menu Commands

Page Menu Commands

Data Menu Commands

Math Menu Commands

Fit Menu Commands

Window Menu Commands

Help Menu Commands


Index - Worksheet Command Menus
Worksheet Command Menus

These menus appear in the worksheet menu display bar.

For help with a command, click on the appropriate menu.

File Menu Commands

Edit Menu Commands

Plot Menu Commands

Column Menu Commands

Data Menu Commands

Window Menu Commands

Help Menu Commands


Index - Functions
Functions

User-Defined Functions

Numeric Functions

abs(x)  exp(x)  sqrt(x)  ln(x)  log(x)  mod(x,y)  rmod(x,y)  int(x)  nint(x)

Precision Functions

prec(x,p)  round(x,p)

Trigonometric Functions

sin(x)  cos(x)  tan(x)  asin(x)  acos(x)  atan(x)  sinh(x)  cosh(x)  tanh(x)

Data Generation Functions

rnd( )  grnd( )  uniform(npts,seed)  normal(npts,seed)  data(x1,x2,inc)  {2,3,4,-3}  xof(data)  sort(data)

Accumulation and Arrangement Functions

sort(data)  diff(data)  sum(data)  ave(data,size)

Worksheet Functions

col(name)  %(wsheetname, col#, row#)  %(wsheetname, col#)  wcol(#)

Information Functions

exist(name)  exist(name,n)  xvalue(i,data)  hasx(data)  xof(data)  xindex(x,data)  v(x,col,row)

Special Functions

gammaln(x)  incgamma(x,a)  erf(x)  inverf(x)  incbeta(x,a,b)  Ttable(x,n)  Ftable(x,n,m)  bessel( )

Multi-Parameter Numeric Functions

poly(x,a0,a1,a2,..)	logistic(x,A1,A2,x0,p)

hyperbl(x,P1,P2)	dhyperbl(x,P1,P2,P3,P4,P5)

expdecay(x,y0,x0,A1,t1,A2,t2)	expassoc(x,y0,A1,t1,A2,t2)

Boltzman(x,A1,A2,x0,dx)	gauss(x,y0,xc,w,A)

lorentz(x,y0,xc,w,A)	expgrow(x,y0,x0,A1,t1,A2,t2)

pulse(X,Y0,X0,A,t1,P,t2)

Statistics Functions:

histogram(data,inc,min,max)

percentile(data1,data2)

cov(data1,data2,ave1,ave2)

ss(data,ref)

sum(data)

ave(data,size)


Mouse Commands

Many of Origin's features are accessed through dialog boxes. Most dialog boxes can be opened by double-clicking on graphic elements in an Origin plot window.

Use the scroll bar to see a list of graphic elements and their associated dialog boxes.

Double-clicking on:

Layer icon:	opens Layer Control dialog box - set layer boundaries, format layers, select data sets for plotting.

Y or X axis:	opens Y or X Axes Control dialog box - set axis parameters for both Y or both X axes; access Axis Style and Grid Details dialog boxes.

Axis Break:	opens Axis Break dialog box - set axis break parameters.

Tick Labels:	opens the Axis Tick Labels dialog box for that axis - set tick label display options.

Text Label:	opens Text Control dialog box - edit and format text..

Page:	opens the Page Control dialog box - set page display options like view mode, page dimensions, and screen redraw threshold.

Data Plot:	opens line/symbol Plot Display Details dialog box - set data plot display details.

Function Plot:	opens Function Control dialog box - change function, copy function to data set.

Error Bar:	opens Error Bar dialog box - format error bar appearance.

Arrow Label:	opens Arrow Control dialog box - format lines, arrows, curved arrows.

Rectangle or circle:	opens Shape Control dialog box - edit shapes.


Keyboard Commands
Keyboard

KEYS FOR MOVING IN WORKSHEET

Tab across Worksheet rows

Return down Worksheet columns

Arrow Keys = next, previous, up, down

Home = first cell

End = last cell

PgDn = scroll down one page

PgUp = scroll up one page

TOOLBOX KEYS

Esc = select Pointer tool

1 = select Enlarger tool

2 = select Screen Reader tool

3 = select Data Reader tool

4 = select Data Selector tool

5 = select User tool

6 = select Text tool

7 = select Arrow tool

8 = select Curved Arrow tool

9 = select Line tool

Arrow Keys = move cross-hair (Screen Reader tool); select next or previous data point (Data Reader tool); select left or right data pointer (Data Selector tool).

Ctrl + Arrow = move data pointers (Data Selector tool).

Shift + Arrow = increase movement increment (Screen Reader and Data Reader tools).

Shift + Ctrl + Arrow = increase movement increment (Data Selector tool).


Toolbox

The Toolbox contains tools that are used to work with data and labels in plot windows.

For help, click on a tool in the following list: Use the scroll bar to see tools not currently visible in the Help window.

Plotting Tools

 Pointer

 Enlarger

 Screen Reader

 Data Reader

 Data Selector

Labeling Tools

 Text

 Arrow

 Curved Arrow

 Line

 Rectangle

 Circle


Layer Control Dialog Box

The Layer Control dialog box provides control over layer size, offset, color, background, linked layer options, and other operations that relate to layers. From here you can also plot data from any worksheet into the active layer, as well as remove any data currently plotted in the active layer.

To open this dialog box, double-click on a layer icon.

Frame

Enter values in the width, height, left, and top edit fields to numerically position or resize this layer. Select the units (% of page, inch, cm, etc.) from the Units menu. Units are measured from the top left corner of the page to the top left corner of layer frame. Yields the same result as positioning or sizing a layer with the mouse, but the numerical method provides greater precision.

Scale Elements

Set layer element scale factor. Scale factor determines the size of layer elements relative to their original size. The size of all graphic elements in a layer is determined by multiplying their original size by the scale factor. For example, a text of point size 14 will print in size 14 only if the scale facter is equal to 1. If the scale facter is 0.8, the text will be printed in size 11. The Scale with Layer Frame option allows the scale facter to automatically adjust when the layer is resized, while the Fixed Factor option keeps the scale facter at the specified value.

Show Elements

You can use the controls in this group box to set the following layer display options:

1) Hide/show the X or Y axis These commands supersede the show elements commands in the Axes Control dialog box.

2) Hide/Show labels or data series plotted in this layer.

Background

Change Fill Color or Border Style of this layer. Adding color to a layer affects only the area within the layer frame. The Border style extends to just beyond the layer frame.

You can adjust the area covered by the border by doing the following:

1) Enable the Border Style by checking it.

2) Click on the very edge of the border to show the dotted square with the size box.

3) Move and size the dotted square to your liking, and click outside the dotted square to update the values.

Link To

Link this layer (the child) to another layer on the page (the parent ). The layer number of the child layer must be greater than that of the parent layer. Once a link is established, you can relate the child layer to the parent layer in terms of size, position, or axis scale.

Related Topics:

Adding a Layer

Setting Layer Link Options

Link Axes...

Grayed-out unless this layer is linked to another layer. Opens a dialog box that allows you to relate the axes scales between two linked layers.

Related Topic:

Setting Layer Link Options.

Available Data

Lists all data sets available for plotting in the current document.

Use the Delete button to delete the highlighted data set from the document.

Layer Contents

Shows a list of all data sets currently plotted in this layer.

Use the Group/Ungroup button to group and ungroup data sets. Use Show Range to show the current display range for the data sets in this layer. Use the Edit Range button to change the display range for a selected data set. Use => to add data sets to the Layer Contents list. Use the <= button to remove a data set from the list.

Both Layer Contents and Available Data lists support multiple selections with the shift keys and the control keys.

Show Range

Show the current display range for the data sets shown in the Layer Contents list. The first number in the range value is the worksheet row number of the first data value plotted. The second number is the row number of the last worksheet data value plotted.

Auto Rescale on OK

When this option is checkmarked, the layer axes automatically rescale to show all data when you click OK to close the Layer Control dialog box. To maintain the current axes scale settings, disable this option before closing the dialog box. Auto rescale is not available unless you have changed the Layer Contents list. Auto rescale will not affect axes that have Rescale set to Manual.


Link Axes Dialog Box
Link Axes Scales Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to link the axes scales in the active layer (the child layer) to the axes scales in this layer's parent layer. Before you can use this dialog box, you must first link this layer to a parent layer by using the Link to menu in the Layer Control dialog box. To open this dialog box, click on the Link Axes button in Layer Control.

You can create a link between the X axis, Y axis, or both axes. There are three types of axes link to choose from:

None

When this option is selected, no link is established between the axis scale in the child layer and the axis scale in the parent layer. The two scales remain independent.

Straight (1 to 1)

Creates a link such that whenever the scale in the parent layer changes, the scale in the child layer changes to exactly match the parent, and vice versa.

Custom

Allows you to relate the child axis scale to the parent axis scale by any mathematical expression. Set the initial and final axis values by entering expressions into the X1 and X2 (or Y1 and Y2) edit fields. You need to express these values in terms of the initial and final axis values of the parent, which are also represented by X1,X2,Y1, and Y2. The custom link is one directional. When a custom link is in effect, no change can be made to the child axes scale.

Examples of custom link:

Parent X axis in centigrade and child X axis in absolute temperature:

X1 = X1+273 and X2 = X2+273

Parent Y axis in centigrade and child Y axis in fahrenheit:

Y1 = 1.8*(Y1-32) and Y2 = 1.8*(Y2-32)

In both examples above, the expression for initial and final values are the same, though this need not always be the case.

Layer #

In this box are displayed the layer numbers that correspond to the two linked axes. For example, if you are linking an axis in layer number 3 to an axis in layer number 1, this box will read as follows:

Parent: 1

Child: 3


Choose Columns Dialog Box
Select Columns for Plotting Dialog Box

This dialog box opens when you choose any of the plotting commands (Line, Scatter, Column, etc.) from the worksheet menu display Plot menu. It lets you select which column in the active worksheet will supply the X values for this graph, and which column(s) will plot as Y values.

You can bypass this dialog box completely if you first set column type on the worksheet itself, highlight the worksheet columns that you want to plot, and then select one of the plotting commands.

Worksheet

Name of the active worksheet.

Columns/X Column/Y Columns

All of the columns in the active worksheet are listed in the Columns edit field. You can select any one of these columns, and use the => button to enter it into the X Column edit field. That column will supply the X data for this graph.

Follow the same procedure to enter columns into the Y Columns edit field. You can enter multiple Y columns. When you are satisfied with the X and Y column designations, click OK to plot the data.

No X Column

Click here to specify alternate X values for this graph. Enter an initial X value and an X step increment in the pop-up panel. If you decide not to use these alternate X values, you can remove them by simply selecting a column to be the X column.


Worksheet Column Format Dialog Box

Sets formatting options for the selected worksheet column.

To open this dialog box either double-click on a column heading, or select a column, then select the Column:Rename/Format command.

Name of the Column

The edit field at the top of the dialog box shows the column name. The name must be one word (though you can separate letters with an underscore character), and can not begin with a number. The column name is used to identify data plotted from a column, and is also used to specify a data set in worksheet calculations.

Enumerate all Columns to the Right

Use the current column name for all columns to the right, and number each column beginning at 1.

Column Type

Choose a column format type from this menu. Six formats are available:

A numeric column accepts only numeric values.

A text column accepts any alphanumeric characters. Values in a text column are treated as text, and can not be used in calculations.

A time column shows 24-hour clock values. Enter hours:minutes:seconds:fractions-of-second, separated with semicolons.

A date column shows calendar-accurate date values. Enter numeric or text values, separated by space, slash, or hyphen. For example, 12/13/91, or fri dec 13 1991, are both valid entries. Origin will display only possible dates. For example, 2/31/85 and thursday 12/13/91 are invalid entries.

A month column shows month values. You can enter months as numeric values (1 - 12) or text values. The latter can be abbreviated to one character, as long as the character represents a unique month. For example, N for November, but Jun for June.

A day of week column shows days of the week. Enter numeric (0 - 6) or text values.

Caution: You may lose your data if you switch between column format types. You can switch any column type to text or numeric and back again. No other switches are allowed.

Options

You can set options for most column format types. The option controls are different for each format type:

Numeric options: 	Use the Format menu to choose the numeric format:

Decimal:1000:	Standard decimal notation. 1, 1000, 1.00E+006, 1.00E+009

Scientific:1E3:	Scientific notation. 1.0x100 , 1.0x103, 1.0x106, 1.0x109

Engineering:1k:	Engineering notation, using the following abbreviations: p = pico, μ = micro, m = milli, k = kilo, M = mega, G = giga, T = tera. 1.0, 1.0k, 1.0M, 1,0G

Decimal:1,000:	Decimal notation with commas added.

The value in the # Significant Digits box specifies the total number of digits shown, both before and after the decimal point. A "0" value indicates that all entered digits should be displayed, regardless of number.

Internal Data Type sets the maximum size for each worksheet value, in bytes. The default data type is Double(8), which allocates eight bytes of storage space to each value. The Float(4) data type allocates 4 bytes storage. The Integer(2) and Integer(4) data types truncate all digits to the right of the decimal point. In all cases, maximum data set size is 32,000 points.

Text options:	Accepts any alphanumeric characters. Values in a text column are treated as text, and cannot be used in calculations.

Time options:	The time options format menu lets you choose what combination of hours, minutes, seconds, fractions-of-second, and AM/PM indicator to display.

Date options:	The date options format menu lets you choose a date display format. The first three formats are self-explanatory. The 2 format truncates the display to show only the number of the month. Mon and M show only the day of the week on which the date falls. Long shows the entire date, as in Fri December 13, 1991. The last two date options give you a combined date/time format., with hours (hh), minutes (mm), and/or seconds (ss).

Month options:	The month options format menu lets you choose a month display format.

Day of Week

options:	The day of week options format menu lets you choose a day of week display format.

Apply to All Columns to the Right

Apply the current column format type and options display format to all columns to the right.


X and Y Axes Control Dialog Boxes
X and Y Axes Dialog Boxes

Use this dialog box to set axis scale and increment, hide or show axes, labels, and grid lines, and format tick marks for both X or both Y axes. Push-button access is provided from here to all related dialog boxes, including the Tick Labels dialog, Axis Style dialog, Grids dialog, and Axis Break dialog.

To open this dialog box, either double-click on an X or Y axis, or select Set X Axis or Set Y Axis from the Plot menu.

Scale

Set the scale parameters for this axis.

From:	Shows the initial scale value for this axis.

To:	Shows the final scale value for this axis.

Increment:	Sets the spacing of major tick marks by value. Tick labels are placed at each major tick mark. Example: enter a step increment of "10" to display a major tick mark at every tenth value. To enable this option, activate the corresponding option button.

# Major Ticks:	An alternate way to set major tick increment. May be used in place of Step, above. Sets the absolute number of major ticks to be displayed on this axis. Activate the corresponding option button to enable this option and disable the Step option.

# Minor Ticks:	Determines how many minor ticks to draw between adjacent major ticks.

1st Tick:	Sets the position of the first major tick, and each minor tick. The two values must be separated by a comma. This is most useful when using a date format. For example, when using calendar dates for tick labels, if you enter 2/1, monday in the 1st Tick edit field, the first tick label is placed at February 1, and each subsequent Monday is marked with a minor tick mark. For most graphs you can leave this box blank.

Type

Set axis scale type: linear, logarithmic, probability, probit, reciprocal, or offset reciprocal. The Offset Reciprocal axis is useful in showing temperatures in centigrade while the relationship in reciprocal of absolute temperature.

Rescale

Select an axis scaling mode from this menu. Axis scaling is a property of each individual axis. There are three possible scaling modes:

Manual:	The axis is scaleable only from within this dialog box, or by setting the X1, X2, Y1, Y2 parameters. If you attempt to change the scale or use the Enlarger tool, you are prompted with a message dialog, and given the opportunity to temporarily override the scaling restriction.

Normal:	The axis is scaleable. You can alter the axis scale and use the Enlarger tool or the Plot:Rescale to Show All command.

Auto:	Same as the Normal option, and also allows Origin to automatically scale the axis to accommodate plotted data, if necessary.

Display Axis/Tick Labels

Hide or show the X (top and bottom) or Y (left and right) axes in this layer. Place a checkmark into one or more of the four checkboxes in this control group to display that graphic element.

Ticks

These eight checkboxes allow you to edit tick marks for the bottom and top X axes (or the left and right Y axes). You can display up to four types of tick marks for each axis: major in, major out, minor in, and minor out.

Vertical Grids (in X Axes Control)

Hide/show major and minor grid lines for the X axis.

Horizontal Grids (in Y Axes Control)

Hide/show major and minor grid lines for the Y axis.

Additional Lines

Opposite:	Draw a straight line opposite this X axis (at the end of the Y axis).

At X (or Y) = 0:	Draw a straight line at X = 0 (in Y Axes Control dialog) or Y = 0 (in X Axes Control dialog).

Right Axis../Left Axis

(In X Axes Control dialog box) Opens the Axis Style dialog box for the right or left Y axis.

Top Axis../Bottom Axis..

(In Y Axes Control dialog box) Opens the Axis Style dialog box for the top or bottom X axis.

Grid Lines..

Closes this dialog box, update the axes to show any changes made, and opens the Grid Lines dialog box. Use the Grid Lines dialog box to set grid style - color, dash pattern, etc.

Axis Break

Closes this dialog box, update the axes to show any changes made, and opens the Axis Break dialog box.

Go to X (Go to Y)

Closes this dialog box, update the axes to show any changes made, and opens the other (either the X or the Y) Axes Control dialog box for this layer.


ASCII Options Dialog Box
ASCII Import Options Dialog Box

This dialog box allows you to set file import options for the active worksheet prior to importing an ASCII file. Origin is often able to independently arrive at the correct ASCII file import scheme. In certain situations, however, you will need or want to use this dialog box to specify the format of a file you are importing. You can save import options independantly for each worksheet.

To open this dialog box, select File:Import ASCII:Options from the worksheet menu display bar.

File Structure

There are two types of ASCII file: those in which data are delimited by a character (typically a comma, tab, or white space), and fixed column files that specify the width of columnar fields. Origin can usually guess the correct file structure when importing a file, though will sometimes have difficulty with very complex files. You can often solve the problem by specifying the file structure, if known.

For a delimited file, select a delimiting character from the Delimited, delimitor menu, or select Other from the menu, and enter the delimiting character in the corresponding edit field.

For a fixed column file, specify the width of each columnar field in the corresponding edit field. Separate each value with a comma. Origin uses the last number entered to set the width for all remaining columns. If you enter only a single width value, Origin sets all columns to that width.

Automatic Determination of Column Types

When enabled, Origin automatically determines whether each imported column contains text or numeric data, and sets each Origin worksheet column type accordingly. When disabled, Origin retains the column type settings of the worksheet into which you are importing data.

File Header

Here you can specify the number of main header lines and sub-header lines that should be ignored before Origin starts importing data. In the Skip main header field, enter the number of lines you want Origin to skip. Now either enable the Auto determine to skip more header lines option if you want Origin to automatically determine the number of additional lines to skip, or specify a known number of subheader lines in the next option. Specify a sub-header of zero lines to start importing right after the main header. The separation of a sub-header from the main header is designed to allow multiple datasets within the same file.

When non-numeric is found in numeric fields

When text is found when numeric values are expected, you can choose one of the following options:

Terminate Import	Stop importing.

Read as Missing	The import continues and missing values are put into the corresponding cells as --.

Start New Worksheet	Start a new worksheet by copying the current worksheet to a new worksheet. Import will start from this point on, with subheader skipped.

Append to Header

Label	Same as Read as Missing, but the line containing the text is appended to a label named header if it exits. This option also creates two temporary datasets named _index.b and _index.e. When the import is finished, these two datasets will hold the beginning and ending row numbers of the contigueous numeric rows.

Rename columns if first line contains labels

If the first line of the imported file contains text, use the text to name the worksheet columns.

Rename worksheet to data file name

Change the name of the active worksheet to the name of the imported file.

Apply new range to associated data plots

If checkmarked,the display range is set to encompass all of the imported data. If not checkmarked, the current display range settings remain in effect.

Disabling this option lets you, for example, view a specific range of data from a series of imported data files. For example, if you have plotted a column of worksheet data, and set the display range from index # 10 to index #35, when you import new data only data points 10 through 35 will plot.

This option can have an effect only if you have already plotted data from this worksheet.

Update Options

Save the current settings into the active worksheet, and close the dialog box. Until you change them, these settings will remain in effect for this worksheet.

Import Now

Click here when you are satisfied with the dialog box settings and want to import an ASCII file. Origin updates the worksheet (as described above), and opens the File Open dialog box, from which you can choose an ASCII file. If you import a file, it will be subject to the current dialog box settings.

Import Into New Worksheet As

New Data:	Overwrite any existing worksheet data.

New Columns:	Append columns to this worksheet as necessary to accomodate the imported data.

New Rows:	Append rows to this worksheet as necessary to accomodate the imported data.

# of Columns

When the default setting Unknown is selected, Origin imports all columns. If you specify x number of columns, Origin imports only that many. If the worksheet contains more than x columns, only the first x columns will import.


Axis Tick Labels Dialog Box

Set tick label display options for the selected axis.

To open this dialog box, double-click on the axis tick labels.

Tick Label Type

Select a tick label type - numeric, text, time, date, month, day of week, column headings, dataset indexed as tick # - from this menu. See the description of the plot window display Plot:X Axis... command in the Origin Reference Manual for more detail about label types. If you select the text or dataset indexed as tick # types, you can use the adjacent edit field to specify the name of the data set containing the text values to be used.

Style

Set tick label style - font, color, point size, rotation. Click in the Apply to All Layers checkbox to apply the current style settings to all the tick labels in all layers on this page.

Options

Shows a list of available options for the selected tick label type. Each tick label type has a different set of formatting options. Refer to the plot window display Plot:X Axis... command in the Origin Reference Manual for details.

Prefix/Suffix

Specify a prefix and/or suffix for all tick labels along this axis.

Rotation (degree)

Enter any arbitrary rotation value for the tick labels.

Offset in % of point size

These edit fields control the horizontal and vertical position of the tick labels relative to the axis. To move tick labels you can enter values here, or simply click and drag the labels themselves.

Tick to Label Alignment

Next to Ticks: Major tick aligns with the left edge of each tick label.

Center Between Ticks: Tick labels are drawn equidistant between adjacent major ticks.

Center(Default): Major tick is centered over tick label.

Stay with Axis

When checkmarked, tick labels remain adjacent to axis when axis is offset. Otherwise, tick labels remain in their position along the side of the graph when axis is offset.

Axis

Close this dialog box, enact any changes made, and open the Axis Style dialog box for this axis.

More...

Close this dialog box, enact any changes made, and open the Additional Tick Label Controls dialog box for this axis.

Related Topics:

Set Tick Label Numeric Options

Create Text, Time, or Date Tick Labels


Axis Style Dialog Box
Axis Dialog Box

Provides independent control of axis style for each axis in a layer. Also change axis title, and set axis offset.

To open this dialog box, open the X or Y Axes Control dialog box and click on the Left... or Right... (for Y axes) or Top... or Bottom... (for X axes) button.

Color

Set the axis color.

Thickness

Set the axis thickness.

Apply to All

Apply the current settings to all other axes in this layer, to all layers on the page, or to all layers in all windows.

Axis Position

Offset this axis relative to the other axes in this layer. Enter an offset percentage or value in the Percent/Value field.

Axis Title

The value entered in this field becomes the axis title.

Tick Labels

Close this dialog box, enact any changes made, and open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box for this axis.


Axis Break Dialog Box

Set axis break placement and display settings.

To open this dialog box, either double click on an axis break, or open the Axes Control dialog box, and click on the Axis Break... button.

Break Region

Enter the From (last pre-break value) and To (first post-break value) values for the break.

Axis Scale Increment

Set the step increment for the axis before and beyond the axis break.

Break Position (% of axis length)

Position the axis break on the axis. Break position does not affect the From and To values.

Log Scale After Break

Set the post-break scale as logarithmic.

Remove

Remove this axis break from the axis.


Manual Tick Labels Dialog Box
Additional Tick Label Controls Dialog Box

Set additional display options for tick labels.

To open this dialog box, open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box and click on the More... button.

Minor Ticks

Labels:	Show a tick label for each minor tick, as well as for each major tick. This option has special significance when used with time series labeling, as discussed in the Time Series section, below.

Minor label on major ticks:

Show both a minor tick label and a major tick label for each major tick.

In order to see both labels you will need to enter a value in the Offset Major by % field. This moves the major tick labels the specified distance away from the axis, in units of percent of font height.

The Minor Label on Major Tick setting is only meaningful when you are using time series labels, in which you can specify different tick label types for major and minor tick marks (for example, you could show month at the major ticks and day at the minor ticks).

Box Around Labels

Draw a box around each tick label.

Plus Signs

Show a plus "+" sign to the left of each tick label.

Minus Signs

When this option is checked, minus signs "-" are not visible.

At Axis Begin

Add, remove, or specify an alternate tick label at the initial major tick mark on this axis.

At Axis End

Add, remove, or specify an alternate tick label at the final major tick mark on this axis.

Special

Add, remove, or specify an alternate tick label at the specified axis value. Origin also adds a major tick mark at this value if necessary. Enter the value into the At Axis Value edit field immediately beneath.

Auto

No change. Use default tick label display settings at this axis value.

Hide

If there is a tick label displayed at this value, hide it. Otherwise do nothing.

Show

If no tick label is displayed at this value, show one. Otherwise do nothing.

Manual

Display at this axis value the contents of the adjacent Labels edit field. Use the %1 command to include the current tick label at any point in the expression. For example, if the current tick label reads 19,and you specify a manual label of %191, the tick label will read 1991. Use the $(x) command to include the current tick label in a calculation, where x is the current tick label value. For example, if the current tick label is 91, the manual label expression $(1900 + x) will read 1991.


Grid Details Dialog Box
Grid Lines Dialog Box

Set display options for the axes grid lines.

To open this dialog box, open the X or Y Axes Control dialog box, and click on the Grids Lines... button.

Major Grids

Set major grid color, line, and thickness.

Minor Grids

Set minor grid color, line, and thickness.

Apply to All

Apply these settings to all X or all Y axes in all layers in this plot window.


Line/Symbol Plot Details Dialog Box
Plot Details Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to change plot type and plot formatting options, ungroup data plots, and open the worksheet containing the plotted data.

To open this dialog box, double-click on the plotted data, or double-click on the plot type icon in the legend. Or you can open this dialog box for the active data plot, by selecting Replot... from the Plot menu. You can also open this dialog box for a single data point or column/bar, and set options for that data point or column/bar only. To do so, hold down the Ctrl key and double-click on the data point or column/bar.

Data Set(s)

Name of the data set(s) whose plot details you are changing. Preceded by the word Group if these data are part of a plot group.

Plot Type

This menu lists all of Origin's basic plot types. Change the plot type by selecting a new plot type from the list.

Worksheet

Open the worksheet for this data plot.

Remove/Ungroup

If a single data plot is active, this button reads Remove. Click here to remove this data plot from the layer. Origin asks if you also want to delete the data. Respond Yes to delete this data from the document, No to simply remove the data plot from the layer.

If a plot group is active, this button reads Ungroup. Click here to ungroup the entire plot group. Once ungrouped, you can set plot details for each data plot independently; they will no longer increment. To recreate a plot group, open the Layer Control dialog box, select two or more data plots in the Layer Contents list, and click on the Group button.

Plot Group

Set the plot group as independent or incremental. The members of an independent plot group can be formatted separately, while in an incremental plot group the members of the group will automatically plot in an orderly sequence of display styles. If incremental is selected, Origin offers three checkboxes in which you can specify which formatting options to increment.

Formatting Options

The available formatting options (things like line color, symbol size, etc.) will vary somewhat depending on the option selected from the Plot Type menu. The line/symbol, area, and hi-lo-close plot types offer a similar selection of formatting options, as do the column/bar and box plot types.

Line/Symbol, Area, Hi-Lo-Close Formatting Options:

•	Line/Symbol Color: Sets the color for data plot line, area beneath the line, and/or data point symbols, as applicable.

•	Line/Symbol Gap: When not checkmarked, the data trace draws through the data symbols. When checkmarked, a gap is created between each data symbol and the data trace. This gap is user-definable in the Origin.INI initialization file (the LineSymbolGap parameter in the Symbol section).

•	Line - Connect: Determines the type of line used to represent the data. The connect type is important in that it will affect interpolation results. There are eight connect options: No line - data points are not connected; Straight - straight line between data points; Segment - alternates between Straight and No line; Spline - cubic spline connection. X must be discrete and increasing. Number of points used to calculate each spline segment is set by the SplineStep parameter in the Origin.ini initialization file. Since curvature information is held in memory, spline resolution remains the same regardless of page magnification; Step Horz - right angle connection, initial line horizontal; Step Vert - right angle connection, initial line vertical; Step Center - right angle connection, with angle midway between points; Bezier - Bezier curve. Uses every four points to draw a Bezier line. If you add symbols to a Bezier plot created with the User tool, handles appear. These can be used to reshape the curve.

•	Line - Type: Sets the dash pattern for the connecting line.

•	Line - Width: Sets line width in point size. One point equals 1/72 inch.

•	Line - Fill Area: Canges aline graph to an area graph.

•	Symbol - Shape: Sets the type of symbol - triangle, square, circle, etc.

•	Symbol - Style: Sets the interior pattern - solid fill, open, hollow (plot visible through symbol), etc.

•	Symbol - Size, pts: Sets symbol size and drop-down line width, in points. One point equals 1/72 inch.

•	Symbol - Drop Line: Drops vertical lines from each data point symbol to the X axis.

Column/Bar and Box Formatting Options:

•	In % of Width, Box Gap (column/bar plot only): Sets the distance between adjacent columns/bars.

•	In % of Width, Box Cap (box plot only): Sets the width of the box cap.

•	Gap (box plot only): Sets the distance between adjacent boxes.

•	Border/Box Line: Set column/bar border or box line color, line type, and line width.

•	Fill/Box Fill: Set column/bar or box interior display style: interior color, interior pattern, or hollow interior.

•	Hatch White Out: If this option is selected and a hatch pattern is selected as the Pattern option, the hatch pattern is drawn against a white background. Otherwise, the hatch pattern is drawn against a clear (see-through) background.

Related Topics:

Incrementing Grouped Data

Changing Plot Type and Plot Details

Plotting Data as a Group


Pie Details Dialog Box
Pie Chart Options Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to format a pie chart or a piece percent pie chart.

To open this dialog box double-click on the data plot, or select the Plot:Replot command.

Format Labels

Select Values to label each pie slice with either actual or percentage values. Select Category to label each pie slice with row number (or with text labels if you have entered text values into the X column). The value in the % of radius from boundary edit field determines at what distance from the pie to draw the labels. If Always Reposition is selected, the labels are reset to the % of radius distance each time the plot window redraws.

Shapes

The value in the Clearance as % of radius edit field determines the distance from the edge of the square border to the perimeter of the pie. Select the Elliptical option to create an elliptical pie. The four Start from option buttons in the Draw Pie box determine the position of the initial pie piece. If you change either the elliptical or draw pie settings, the Reposition Labels checkbox is automatically selected. This ensures that each pie label stays associated with the correct pie piece. Remove the x from this checkbox if you do not want the labels to be repositioned.

Filling

These controls allow you to choose between color and black and white patterns. The Patterns... button opens a dialog box in which you can create custom pattern configurations. De-select Slice Outline Black to remove the black line between colored pie slices.

Explode

Check the Explode checkbox to explode a pie piece. Explode means to separate a slice from the rest of the pie. The two edit fields indicate the number of the slice you want to explode (counting from 1 beginning at the first pie piece) and the distance you want to separate the slice from the pie. The slice label automatically explodes with the pie slice. Only one pie slice can be exploded at a time.

Pie Percent

This button only affects a piece % pie chart. Opens a dialog box in which you can change the color of the piece % sub-slices. You can also choose to exchange the background color or pattern of the main pie slice with the color of the sub-slice.


Error Bars Dialog Box

This dialog box opens when you select Add Error Bars... from the plot window display Plot menu. It allows you to add error bars to the active data plot. After you select the source of the errors, Origin places an error bar column in the worksheet to the right of the data column, enters the error values, and plots the error bars.

You can bypass this dialog box by highlighting a worksheet error bar column before choosing the Add Error Bars... command.

5% of Data

Sets the error values equal to a percentage of each plotted data point. You can enter any percentage value into the edit field.

Standard Deviation of Data

Origin calculates the standard deviation, and uses that as the source of the error values.

Worksheet Column

Enter the name of any column in the active worksheet. The values in this column will be used to provide the error values.

New Worksheet Column

Provides a quick way to enter user-defined error bar values. When you select this option, Origin creates an error bar column, but enters all zeroes. You can now enter your own error values into this column. To plot these error values, all you have to do is click on the plot window that shows the associated data plot.


Error Bar Display Dialog Box
Error Bar Options Dialog Box

Set error bar display format for this data set.

To open the Error Bar Display dialog box, either double-click on an error bar that is displayed in a plot window, or select the error bar data set from the data list in the Data menu, twice (once to make it the active data set, and once to open the dialog box).

Dataset name

Name of the error bar data set whose display style you are setting.

Color

Set error bar color.

Line Width

Set error bar line width.

Cap Width

Set error bar cap width.

Through Symbol

When checkmarked, error bars are visible through plotted data point symbols.

Apply to All

Apply these settings to all error bars plotted in this layer.

Plus

Draw error bars above the curve, or pointing away from "0" when Relative is selected (see below).

Minus

Draw error bars below the curve, or pointing toward "0" when Relative is selected (see below).

X Error Bar

Draw these error bars in the X (horizontal) direction.

Absolute

Always draw plus Y error bars pointing up, and minus Y error bars pointing down.

Relative

Always draw plus Y error bars pointing away from zero, and minus Y error bars pointing toward zero.

Worksheet

Open the worksheet containing these error values.

Delete

Delete this data plot from wherever it appears in the document, and also delete the underlying data set.

Related Topic:

Plotting Error Bars


Text Control Dialog Box

Use Text Control to create text annotations and add them to a graph. Also set style, size, font, and other formatting options. Enter label text in the edit field. Ctrl-Enter to start a new line. Ctrl-Tab to insert a tab. Use the backslash " \ " character to format text - add superscript, subscript, Greek symbols, and other formatting options.

To open this dialog box, either use the Text tool in the Toolbox, or double-click on a label with the Pointer tool.

Color

Select a color for this label.

Use Default System Font

Ignore the font and point settings for this label. Use the system font instead. Similar to Draft View Mode in that it provides faster redraw speed and enhanced screen legibility, but affects text only. When selected, text formatting (e.g., italic, bold, symbol) will not display.

Font/Pt

Set font style and point size for this label.

Apply to All

Check the Apply to All checkbox to apply the color, font, and point size settings to all other labels in this layer.

Rotate(deg)

The text label rotates from the horizontal by the degree value shown in this field.

Center in Multi-Line

Center this label text (multiple-line labels only).

White Out

Draws a separate white background for each line of text in this label.

Show Background

Choose a label background from the menu. Click a checkmark into the Show Background checkbox to show the selected background.

Set Default

Set the current text settings as the default settings.

Formatting Buttons

Highlight a text segment and click one of these buttons to automatically format the text. The formatting appears as control characters in the dialog box. Formatting options are

Normal	Remove one formatting option from the highlighted text.

B	Bold.

I	Italic.

+/-	Superscript/subscript.

u	Underline.

g	Greek characters.

Related Topics:

Adding and Editing Labels

Text Formatting


Label Control Dialog Box

Advanced control over individual labels. To open this dialog box you must first select a label by clicking on it with the mouse.

To open this dialog box first select a label, then choose Label Control from the Edit menu.

Object Name

Individual labels can be named, allowing Origin to identify them for use in built-in or user-defined programming scripts.

Link to Variables (%, $)

Allows the use of data and variables within a text label. The syntax is $( ) or %( ). With $( ) the expression to be evaluated is placed within the parentheses. For example, if you type The value of X is $(10*2), select the label, open the Label Control dialog box and activate Link to Data or Variables, the text label will read The value of X is 20. Change $(10*2) to $(X), and the expression will resolve to the current value of X. The %( ) notation returns the contents of the specified worksheet cell. You must specify the cell in parentheses, by giving the worksheet name, column number, and row number. For example: The value of X is %(data1, 3, 5).

Attach To

Page: When this option is selected, the selected label no longer moves when its parent layer is repositioned, nor will it move when the axes scale is changed. The label is still part of the layer, however, and will be deleted if you delete the layer.

Layer Frame: When this option is selected, the selected label is linked to its parent layer in terms of size and position. It will move and resize proportional to the parent layer.

Layer and Scales: The selected label is connected to the parent layer in terms of size and position, and is also connected to a particular XY coordinate value. Thus if you should change the X or Y axis scale, the label maintains its position relative to the axes. You might use this feature to ensure that a label stays next to a particular data point, for example, regardless of axis scale. If this option is not selected, changing axes scale will not affect the position of this label on the page.

Mouse Click

No Vertical Movement:	Restricts label to horizontal-only movement.

No Horizontal Movement:	Restricts label to vertical-only movement.

Not Selectable:	The label can be neither moved nor selected. It cannot be edited in any way.

Visible

If this option is enabled, the label is visible only when the Edit:Button Edit Mode command is checkmarked.

Real-Time

Update this label whenever there is a DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) message.

Script, run after:

Use this menu to create AGO's, or Active Graphic Objects™. An AGO is a graphic element that has been associated with a LabTalk™ script. The script is executed under certain circumstances, depending on the option selected from this menu.

None:	Never execute the script.

Button Up:	Changes the label into a button. Execute the script by clicking on the button. To use the button you must be in button edit mode (select the Edit:Button Edit Mode command).

Moved:	Execute the script when the label is dragged.

Sized:	Execute the script when the label is resized.

Moved or Sized:	Execute the scrip when the label is either moved or resized.

Redrawn:	Execute the script when the label is redrawn (that is, when the plot window is refresshed).

Real-Time

Redraw:	Execute the script when the label receives a DDE redraw message.

Window Create:	 Run the script when the button's window first opens.

Window Close:	 Run the script when the button's window closes.

In the box below this menu, enter an executable LabTalk™ script. This is the script that will be associated with the AGO.


Arrow Control Dialog Box

Edit arrows, curved arrows, and lines that have been added to a layer.

To open the Arrow Control dialog box, double-click on an arrow, curved arrow, or line that has been drawn in a layer.

Color

Set line or arrow color.

Thickness

Set line or arrow line thickness

Line Type

Set line or arrow dash pattern

Arrow at Start/Arrow at End

Set arrowhead placement.

Set Default

Set the current settings as the default settings.

Related Topics:

Adding and Editing Labels

Moving Layers and Labels


Shape Control Dialog Box

Edit rectangular and circular shapes that have been added to a layer.

To open the Shape Control dialog box, double-click on a circle or rectangle that has been drawn in a layer.

Border

Set the color, thickness, and line type of this shape's border.

Fill

Set shape interior as color, pattern, or hollow.

Set Default

Set the current settings as the default settings.

Related Topics:

Adding and Editing Labels

Moving Layers and Labels


Set Column Values Dialog Box

To use this dialog box you must first select a range of values in a worksheet column. You can then enter a formula into this dialog box, which is used to fill the selected worksheet column with values. The name of the selected column appears to the left of the text entry box.

The formula can include any mathematical expressions recognized by Origin. For example use the col(name) function to include Origin worksheet columns, where (name) is a column name, as in the expression :

For (i) from 1 to 10

col(B)=col(A)*2

This expression multiplies the cells in rows 1 through 10 in column A by 2, and puts each result into the corresponding rows in column B.

To open this dialog box select a worksheet column, then choose Set Column Values from the Data menu.

Do It

Set values for the selected column according to the specified formula.

Update

Set the specified formula as the default formula for the selected column. Each worksheet column can be associated with a different formula.

For Row Number (i):

Enter row numbers to specify the range of worksheet cells in the selected column for which values will be set.

Col(A) = [formula]

Enter a mathematical expression to be used to set values for the selected range of worksheet cells.

Cut

Delete the highlighted segment and copy it to the clipboard.

Copy

Copy the highlighted segment to the clipboard.

Paste

Paste the current clipboard contents in as the formula.

Undo

Undo the last change made to the current formula.

Related Topics:

Set Column Values

Extract Worksheet Data


Extract Worksheet Data Dialog Box

This dialog box asks you to enter a mathematical expression, which is used to collect rows of data from a worksheet based on whether the expression is true or false.

For each cell in rows i1 through i2 (where i is the row number), if the conditional expression is true, place that value into a new worksheet.

To open this dialog box, open or select a worksheet, and choose Extract Worksheet Data from the Data menu in the worksheet menu display.

Do It

Evaluate the conditional expression for all cells in rows i1 through i2. Place the values that meet the conditions into a new worksheet.

Update Formula

Set the specified formula as the default formula for this worksheet. Each worksheet can be associated with a different formula.

If [formula]

Enter the conditional expression.

For row number (i) from:

Enter row numbers to specify the range of worksheet rows to be evaluated.

Put into worksheet:

Enter a name for the worksheet that will receive the extracted values.

Copy

Copy the current formula to the clipboard.

Paste

Paste the current clipboard contents in as the formula.

Undo

Undo the last change made to the current formula.

Related Topics:

Set Column Values

Extract Worksheet Data


Function Control Dialog Box
 Function Details Dialog Box

Define a named function with an entered formula. Your formula can be any valid math expression, usually with the variable X.

To open this dialog box and plot a new function into the FUNCTION.OTP template, select File:New:Function Plot. To open this dialog box and plot a new function into the active plot window, select Plot:Add New Function. You can also open this dialog box by double-clicking on a plotted function.

F1 (x) =

Enter the formula here.

Make Dataset

Unlike a worksheet data set, a function is simply a description, and has no permanently defined data points; all function data points are generated on the fly. Use Make Dataset to capture the current range of the function values, and copy the values to a worksheet column.

Density (# of pts)

The range of X values used to plot the function is always the current X axis scale. Enter a value here to determine how many points will be drawn, within that X range, to plot the function.

Visible

Determines whether the defined function can be used for plotting or not. If visible is not checked, the function can not be plotted, and will not appear as Available Data.

Line Style

These controls let you select a color, line thickness, and line type for the function plot.

OK

Plot the current function into the active plot window.

Delete

Delete the current function.

Related Topic:

v(x,col,row) function


Select Fitting Function Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to select a fitting function before entering the fitting session. You can also use this dialog box to define your own fitting functions.

To open this dialog box, select Fit:Select Fitting Function...

To select a fitting function:

1) Click on a function in the Available Functions list. The function expression appears at the base of the dialog box.

2) Click OK.

To define a new fitting function:

 Click on the New... button, then enter the new expression in the text field at the base of the dialog box. The expression must be in terms of x and parameters, which can be those defined in User-defined or P1,P2,P3 and etc.

Example:

Second order polynomial -

p1+p2*x+p3*x^2

Available Functions

Lists all built-in or user-defined functions in the FitFunc section of the Origin.ini initialization file. User-defined functions are automatically added to Origin.ini when you select the Save All button.

Click on a function in the list to see its attributes.

Function Name

Function names are used as the DOS file name, with .F extension, to save the function to a disk file. As a result, function names may not exceed 8 characters.

Parameters

Parameters are fitting parameters that are used in the fitting function. You may choose between user-defined parameter names and the system default of P1, P2, P3 and etc. If you choose User-defined names, you must enter the parameters that you want to use in the box below, separating each by a comma. If you choose P1,P2,P3, you must enter a number in the box below specifying the total number of parameters you wish to use in the fitting function.

Significant Digits

Number of significant digits for the parameters. Use a comma to separate each number. If you enter fewer numbers than there are parameters, the last number is duplicated for all remaining parameters. For example, to set all parameters to the same significant digits of 5, enter a single 5 in the box.

Function Type

When one of the supplied functions is selected, the function type reads built-in. When a User function is selected, this menu offers two options:

Expression	The default setting. The function is an expression.

Script w/y=	Choose this option if you want to use a LabTalk script as the function. You can then enter script in the function text field. The script returns a value for Y.

New..

Create a new function called User and add it to the Available Functions list. You may then change the name of the function in the Function Name box, enter its expresion in the f(x,..)= box, and set parameters for the function in the Parameters section.

Delete

Delete the selected function from the Available Function list.

Save All..

Click this button to save all fitting functions to their respective disk files in the path specified in the FitFunc section of the Origin.ini initialization file. Also update the List parameter in the FitFunc section to include all functions currently shown in the Available Functions list.

Revert to Old

Replace the function attributes currently shown in the dialog box with attributes from the selected function in the Available Functions list. For example, if you made a mistake when entering a function expression, select Revert to Old to restore the previously saved expression for that function.

More

Opens the Fitting Function Additional Information dialog box, which allows you to set several additional options for the selected function. You must select a fitting function before clicking this button.

Related Topic:

v(x,col,row) function


Fitting Function Additional Information Dialog
Additional Information Dialog Box

Additional options for built-in and user-defined functions. Provides the ability to automate the fitting process, giving the user complete control. To open this dialog box first open the Select Fitting Function dialog box. Select a fitting function, then click on the More button.

Replica of the same form

Starting #: Specifies the first term in the function to use in replication, beginning from zero (0, 1, 2,...).

Unit size: Specifies the number of terms in each unit.

For example, if starting # = 1 and unit size = 3, then a function originally defined as

y0 A W x0

will now contain the following parameters:

y0 A1 W1 x01

y0 A2 W2 x02 ...

Parameter initialization script

The initialization script executes automatically when you enter the Fitting Session (if you check the Execute automatically box). You can enter a script to automatically initialize fitting parameters, set parameters as fixed or variable, and redefine pre-defined macros and variables.

To fix a parameter, set it to zero. For example, PV1 = 0 sets the first parameter as fixed.

Pre-defined macros that affect the fitting session include EndFitMacro, EndIterate, and QuitFitMacro. Pre-defined variables include FitWtMode and NoFitCurve.

Refer to the NLSF command in the LabTalk Reference Manual for more information.


Fitting Function Parameters Dialog Box
Fitting Function Dialog Box

Edit fitting parameters.

To open this dialog box, select a fitting function, then select Fit:Start Fitting Session.

Selected Function

The description of the currently selected fitting function appears in the scrollable window at the top of the dialog box.

Chi^2

Origin displays the chi^2 value for the current fit in the Chi^2 edit field. Chi^2 is defined as:

Tolerance

The value in this edit field establishes the termination criteria for the automatic fitting process that begins when you select the Fit command from the Fitting Session menu bar. When the difference between the Chi^2 of successive iterations is less than this value, then iterations cease.

This value is saved as the AcceptFit parameter in the Orgsys.cnf file.

Data Fitting Step

Number of data points used in the fitting process. If fitting step = 1, all points are used. If fitting step = 2, every other point are used, etc.

Vary?

If checked, the parameter is used in the fitting process. If not, it is held as a constant.

Parameters

The center panel has three columns. The Vary? column contains the parameter name and a checkbox. If checked, the parameter is varied in the fitting process. If not, it is held as a constant.

The Parameters column shows the current value of each fitting parameter. These values are updated as the fitting procedes. You can initialize the fitting parameters by entering new values into the parameter edit fieldes. You can also use math expressions. For example, to hold parameter A equal to B plus 1000 during the fitting, enter B+1000 in the B parameter edit field, and remove the checkmark from the B checkbox in the Vary? column.

The Error column shows standard errors for each parameter. To calculate this value it is assumed that the standard error for each data point is the same and equal to the square root of Chi^2.

Update Fit Curve

Updates the fit curve using the current parameter values. The current values are simply accepted. No iterations are carried out.

Paste Parameters

Pastes the parameters to either the active plot window or to the script window.

Make Func Data Set

Similar to Update Fit, but creates a new data set from the current parameters in the given X range (specified in the From and To boxes), with a given number of points (specified in the Num Pts box).

Related Topic:

v(x,col,row) function


Math Dialog Box
Math on/between Data Set Dialog Box

Perform basic arithmetic on or between data sets.

To open this dialog box, select Math:Simple Math.

Math on or Between Data Sets

To perform a math operation, select a data set from the Available Data list, then click on the upermost => button to enter this data set in the Y1 edit field. Enter a numerical value, a variable, an equation, or another data set into the Y2 edit field. Enter an arithmetical operator into the Operator box, and click OK to carry out the operation.

For example, if you enter the SAMPLE1_B data set into the Y1 edit field, enter the BUFFER_B data set into the Y2 edit field, and enter a subtraction operator "-" into the Operator box as shown above, Origin will subtract each value in BUFFER_B from the corresponding value in SAMPLE1_B, then save and plot the result as SAMPLE1_B.

Using a Constant

You can also enter a numerical constant for the Y2 value. For example, if Y2 = 35 and the operator is

" - ", then Origin subtracts 35 from each value in the Y1 data set, and plots the result.

Note:	If the points in Y2 do not correspond to the points in Y1 in their X coordinates, Y2 is interpolated or extrapolated for each point in Y1. The inter/extrapolation depends on the line connect type for the Y2 data plot, e.g., if the line connect type is spline, the interpolation will be a spline interpolation.

Worksheet calculations, on the other hand, are always performed on corresponding cells, with no interpolation.


Worksheet Script Dialog Box

Lets you associate a LabTalk script with the active worksheet. Each worksheet can be associated with its own script. If you save the worksheet as a template, the script is saved as part of the template.

To create a worksheet script, enter the script into the text area of the dialog box. The script should follow the same syntax conventions as a script file, so that each line is a single script. To extend a single script over multiple lines, use curly braces {}.

To enter a carriage return, use Ctrl + Enter. To enter a tab use Ctrl + Tab.

To open this dialog box, select Worksheet:Script... from the Data menu. This command is available only when a worksheet is the active window.

For more information about the LabTalk script language refer to your LabTalk Reference Manual.

Run Script Automatically After

Import:	Run the script the next time you import data into this worksheet.

Changes in Dataset:	Run the script the next time changes are made to the specified data set. Must enter a data set name in the adjacent text field.

Do It

Execute the script.

Update

Save the current script and close the dialog box.

Below is a sample worksheet script:

/* This is a comment,

 * You can used the C type comments

 * in a script file, or a worksheet script

 */

npts=100	/* number of rows that we will use */

col(1)=data(1,npts)	/* fill col(1) with 1,2,3 ... npts */

col(2)=normal(npts)	/* fill col(2) with a

* normal distribution with

* mean = 0 and sd = 1 */

col(3)=col(2)*2+0.5	/* col(3) now contains a

* normal distribution with

* mean = 0.5 and sd = 2 */

count = 0	/* count is used below to count

 * number of negatives */

for(i=1;i<npts;i+=1){	/* use the { to break the script into multiple lines */

  col(4)[i] = col(3)[i+1]-col(3)[i];	/*Find the difference between adjacent cells*/

  if(col(4)[i]<0) (count +=1); 	/*count those that are less than zero. Expect about half.*/

}

type -b "Count = $(count)"	/* This brings up a message box. The $() notation

 * evaluate the expression within the () and converts * the result into a text string*/

Related Topic:

Script Execution


Page Control Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to set various page display options. Page display options can be set independently for each page.

To open this dialog box double-click anywhere on the page, or on the gray area surrounding the page, but not within the frame of any layer. Or select the Page:Page Control command.

Page

The option selected from the View menu determines view mode. View mode affects text display and screen redraw speed. In Page Preview mode Origin gets text information directly from the output device driver. This gives the slowest redraw, but provides exact, WYSIWYG display and placement of text. In Page View, Origin receives text information from the screen driver. This offers a faster redraw, but may not provide exact on-screen text placement. Window View resizes the page to fill the plot window. AGO's are not visible in Window View. Draft View offers a very fast screen redraw, but shows only very basic text information (no formatting, rotation, etc). View mode affects the screen display only. Printing is not affected.

The values in the Width and Height edit fieldes determine page size. The Units menu lets you select the units. Default page size equals the page size setting for the current printer.

Set to printer dimension when open from a template

When this option is enabled and you open this plot window from a template file, the page is automatically set to the correct dimensions for the currently selected printer.

Maximum Points per curve

The first edit field in the Display Preferences group box determines the maximum number of data points that can be displayed on-screen for any one data plot. This affects screen display only, and has no effect on printing.

Screen Redraw (% page uncovered)

The second edit field in the Display Preferences group box sets the screen redraw threshold. This value determines the percentage of the plot window that must be unobscured by other windows before Origin redraws the window. The lower this number, the more often the plot window is redrawn.

Connect Line Across Axis Break

Toggles between connecting and not connecting the clipped ends of a data plot at an axis break.

Connect Line Across Missing Data

Connects points that are plotted as missing data. When this option is disabled, missing data are separated by empty space.

Full DataSet Name

Shows the full data set name (worksheet name plus column name) in the legend for all data sets in this plot window. The default setting shows only the column name for each data set.

Indicate Active Data Set

When this option is enabled, the active data set will be indicated on the legend by a black square surrounding the plot type indicator. This allows you to determine the active data set simply by looking at the legend. When this option is disabled the legend will not indicate the active data set. The active data set is always checkmarked in the Data List at the bottom of the Data menu.

Auto Update

Automatically update the legend whenever a data set is added to or deleted from a layer on this page. If this option is disabled, you must use the Plot:New Legend command to manually update the legend.

Symbol Width (% of Font)

The value in this field determines the width of the plot-type icon(s) in the legend. The plot-type icon is the icon in the legend to the left of each data plot name. It indicates how the data are plotted.

Page Color

Click on this button to open the Page Color dialog box. Use this dialog box to set page color and color gradient.


Data Label Display Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to format data labels.

To open this dialog box you must first create data labels by plotting text data from an L column, then double-click on the plotted data labels. Or select the data label data set from the Data menu, then select the Plot:Replot... command.

Dataset

The name of the data set that contains the data label text values.

Style

To change data label text format, select options from the Font, Color, and Point Size menus.

Justification

Center, left justify, or right justify the data labels, relative to their associated data points. For example, left justify aligns the left edge of the labels with the XY coordinates of the data point.

White Out

Draw each data label against a white background.

Rotate

The value in the rotate edit field determines the degree of rotation of the data labels. Positive values rotate counter-clockwise, negative values rotate clockwise.

Attach to Axis

Align the data labels vertically along the left or right Y axis at the Y coordinate, or horizontally along the top or bottom X axis at the X coordinate. The None option button aligns the data labels at the XY coordinate.

Offset (%)

The value in the X edit field determines the horizontal offset of the data labels. The value in the Y edit field determines the vertical offset. Offset is measured in percent of font height.

Remove

Click on this button to remove the data labels from the plot window. Origin asks if you also want to delete the data set from the document. Respond Yes to delete the data set, No to simply remove the data labels from the plot window.

Worksheet..

Click on this button to open the worksheet that contains the data label values.


Set Matrix Values Dialog Box

In this dialog box you can enter a formula to calculate the Z values that are displayed in the cells of the matrix window.

To open this dialog box, select File:New:Matrix to open a matrix window, then select Data:Set Matrix Values.

In the top two boxes, enter the number of the first and last columns in which new values are to be calculated. In the bottom two boxes, enter the first and last row numbers.

Enter any mathematical formula into the edit field at the bottom of the dialog box.

You can use the variables I, J, X, and Y in the formula, to indicate column number, row number, x value, and y value, respectively. For example, enter the formula

x*y

to display in each cell the product of that cell's associated X and Y values.


Worksheet Display dialog box
Worksheet Display Control Dialog Box

This dialog box controls all the display-related information for the current worksheet or matrix. To open this dialog box, double-click in the blank area of the window, or the very top left corner.

Worksheet Elements

This area defines the space and size information of the varous worksheet elements. They are all expressed in 1 tenth of the text height of the font used in the worksheet. For example, a value of 20 has a height that is twice the font height. The Gap From Top value specifies a gap between the top of the window and the top of the worksheet column headings. This area is usually used to put buttons and/or labels for the worksheet.

Color

If the background color of the worksheet is specified from the Background button, you may need to select a contrasting color for the cell and heading text, and the cell and heading grid lines. Enable the Auto option to force the cell and heading text to the default values.

Col Headings

Multiline:	Use periods '.' in the column title as line breaks. The (X), (Y) and etc. will also go to the next line. You need to increase the Col Heading Height parameter correspondingly to allow the multiple columns to fit.

Hide:	Hide the column headings completely.

Background

Opens the Page Color dialog box. You can specify a base color and gradient color for the worksheet. If No Color is selected as the color scheme option, the background color is forced to black. If Base Color Only is selected, the base color is used as the background color. If one of the Gradient, starting region options is selected, the base color shades gradually into the gradient color, beginning at the region indicated by the selected option.


Page Color Dialog Box

Use this dialog box to choose the background color for the page or worksheet.

To open this dialog box for a plot window, double-click in the plot window or select Page:Page Control to open the Page Control dialog box, then click on the Page Color button. To open this dialog box for a worksheet, double-click in the worksheet outside of any cells to open the Worksheet Display Control dialog box, then click on the Background... button.

Base Color/Gradient Color

When one of the Gradient, starting region options is enabled, the page color will start from the base color and gradually blend in the gradient color.

No Color

Use default color for the page. If the page is exported, or copied to the clipboard, this option will make the page transparent to the background color of the host application.

Base Color Only

Ignore the gradient color and fill the page with the color selection in the base color drop down list.

Start Gradient From

If one of these options is selected, the base color shades gradually into the gradient color, beginning at the region indicated by the selected option.


Active Graphic ObjectsÔ
Active Graphic Objects™

Active Graphic Objects™ (AGO's) are Origin graphic elements that have been associated with a LabTalk™ script. Text, lines and arrows, shapes, and pictures can all be AGO's. You can copy and paste AGO's, making them highly reusable functional units. The most common type of AGO is a button. When you click on a button, the associated script is executed.

To create an AGO:

1) Create a graphic element (for instance, a text string) in a plot window.

2) Click on the element to select it, then select the Edit:Label Control command. The Label Control dialog box opens.

3) To change the element into an AGO, select an option from the Script, run after menu. The option you select determines how the associated script is executed:

None:	Never execute the script.

Button Up:	Changes the label into a "button". Execute the script by clicking on the button. To use the button you must be in button edit mode (select the Edit:Button Edit Mode command).

Moved:	Execute the script when the label is dragged.

Sized:	Execute the script when the label is resized.

Moved or Sized:	Execute the scrip when the label is either moved or resized.

Redrawn:	Execute the script when the label is redrawn (that is, when the plot window is refreshed).

Real-Time Redraw:	Execute the script when the label receives a DDE redraw message.

Window Create:	Run the script when the button's window opens.

Window Close:	Run the script when the button's window closes.

4) In the box below this menu, enter an executable LabTalk™ script. This is the script that will be associated with the AGO. For example, the following script

win -T Plot origin;

opens a plot window from the Origin.otp template. For more about LabTalk™, see the LabTalk user's manual.

To modify an AGO:

1) Make sure that the Edit:Button Edit Mode command is enabled (checkmarked).

2) Click on the AGO, then select the Edit:Label Control command.

3) Make any modifications, as described above in the Creating AGO's section.


Template Oriented Data AnalysisÔ
Template Oriented Data Analysis™

By combining buttons into plot window templates, you can create plot windows (or groups of plot windows) that function as unique data analysis applications. This process is called Template Oriented Data Analysis™. Templates created through this process are called functional templates. Several functional templates are included with Origin. These are located in the Origin\Buttons directory, and include:

Simple.otp:	A collection of buttons having basic functions like saving and printing.

Scale.otp:	Contains buttons that allow you to change X and Y axis scales.

Zoom1.otp:	Use the rectangular AGO in the top layer to zoom in on a data segment, which is displayed in the bottom layer. This template can be used as a starting point to make templates that perform data analysis operations on selected regions of a large dataset, like a spectrum.

Zoom2.otp:	Same as Zoom1.otp, but allows you to independently zoom two data segments at once.

Lr.otp:	Use this template to perform a linear regression.

Baseline.otp:	Use this template to add a baseline to your data, and perform baseline-related operations.

To open a functional template:

1) Select the File:Template:Open Plot Window command. The File Open dialog box opens.

2) Navigate to the Origin\Buttons directory, and double-click on a template in the Files list.


Setting Axis Rescale Options
Setting Axis Recale Options

To aet rescale options for an X or Y axis:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis to open the Axes Control dialog box.

2) Choose one of the options from the Rescale menu.

3) Click OK.

There are three axis rescale options:

Manual: 	The axis is not scaleable. If you attempt to change the scale or use the Enlarger tool, you are prompted with a message dialog, and given the opportunity to temporarily override the scaling restriction.

Normal:	The axis is scaleable. You can alter the axis scale and use the Enlarger tool without restriction.

Auto:	Same as the Normal option, and also allows Origin to automatically scale the axis to accommodate plotted data, if necessary.

Hint:	X and Y axis settings are independent of one another. When changing both the X and Y axis parameters in a layer, use the GO TO X (or Y) button in the Axes Control dialog box to quickly move between axes.

Related Topics:

Rescaling Axes to Show All

Set Axis Increment

Enlarging a Data Plot


Set Axis Increment

To set the X or Y axis increment, you can either specify a step increment or specify the number of major tick marks.

To specify axis step increment:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis. The Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Enter a step value in the Increment edit field.

3) Click on the Increment option button to make it active.

4) Choose OK.

The step increment determines which axis values are displayed. For instance, set a step increment of 3 to display every third axis scale value.

To specify the number of major tick marks:

1) Open the Axes Control dialog box.

2) Specify a number of tick marks in the # Major Ticks edit field.

3) Click in the # Major Ticks option button to make it active.

4) Choose OK.

The specified number of major tick marks display, evenly spaced, across the axis. Since tick labels are placed at major ticks, specifying major tick increment determines the placement of tick labels.

Hint:	X and Y axis settings are independent of one another. When changing both the X and Y axis parameters in a layer, use the GO TO X (or Y) button in the Axes Control dialog box to quickly move between axes.

Hint:	Major tick increment settings (and all other axis parameters) can be saved as part of plot window templates.

Related Topics:

Linear vs.Logarithmic Axis Scale

Fixed Axis Scale


Set Number of Minor Tick Marks

To specify the number of minor tick marks between each pair of major tick marks on an X or Y axis:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis. The Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Enter a value into the #Minor Ticks edit field.

3) Click OK.

Hint:	X and Y axis settings are independent of one another. When changing both the X and Y axis parameters in a layer, use the GO TO X (or Y) button in the Axes Control dialog box to quickly move between axes.

Related Topic:

Hide/Show Tick Marks


Choose Axis Scale Type

To change axis scale type:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis. The X or Y Axes dialog box opens.

2) Select Linear, Log 10, Probability, Probit, or Reciprocal from the Scale menu.

3) Click OK.

For linear scale, axis increment and number of tick marks can be adjusted. For log scale, increment tick marks are adjusted automatically.

Scale type determines the type of ruler with which an axis determines the position of data points. Each X or Y axis in Origin can have its own scale type. There four scale types are:

Linear scale:	Standard linear scale.

Log 10 scale:	Base 10 logarithmic scale.

Probability scale: This scale represents the inverse of a cumulative Gaussian distribution. Plotting a cumulative Gaussian distribution produces a sigmoidally-shaped curve. This curve, when show on a probability scale, appears as a straight line. As probabilities are expressed as percentages, all values must fall between 0 and 100. Thus the probability scale range is 0.001 to 99.999.

Probit scale:	Similar to the probability scale. As with the probability scale, a sigmoidally-shaped curve plots as a straight line. In this case, however, the scale is linear, and the increment between tick marks is exactly one standard deviation. The value 5 on the scale shows the mean, or 50% probability. 6 is one standard deviation away, etc.

Reciprocal scale: Reciprocal scale, where X' = 1/X.

Hint:	X and Y axis settings are independent of one another. When changing both the X and Y axis parameters in a layer, use the GO TO X (or Y) button in the Axes Control dialog box to quickly move between axes.

Related Topic:

Set Axis as Fixed


Axis Break

To insert an axis break into an X or Y axis:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis. The Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Click on the AXIS BREAK button. The Axis Break dialog box opens.

3) Enter a starting value (last value to appear before the break) and ending value (first value to appear after the break).

4) Click OK.

To position an axis break on the axis:

Enter a percent value in the Axis Break dialog box (0=left, 50=middle, 100=right). Break position does not affect start and end values.

To set the post-break step increment:

Enter an increment value in the Axis Break dialog box. This determines what post-break values are displayed. For instance, enter 9 to display every ninth value.

Click in the Log Scale checkbox to place a logarithmic scale after the axis break.

To remove an axis break:

1) Open the Axis Break dialog box.

2) Click on the REMOVE BREAK button.

Hint:	Once you have placed an axis break, double-click on it to open the Axis Break dialog box.


Hide/Show Tick Marks

Any X or Y axis can have major and/or minor interior tick marks, exterior tick marks, both interior and exterior tick marks, or none at all.

To hide or show tick marks for an axis:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis. The X or Y Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Set tick display by checking the proper checkboxes. Eight checkboxes control tick mark display: four for the first and four for the second X or Y axis.

3) Click OK.

Related Topics:

Hide/Show Tick Labels

Set Number of Minor Tick Marks


Hide/Show TIck Labels

To hide or show tick labels for an X or Y axis:

1) Double-click on the X or Y axis. The X or Y Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Click in the Labels checkbox to hide or show tick labels. There is a separate checkbox for both the first and second X or Y axis.

3) Click OK.

Related Topic:

Hide/Show Tick Marks


Hide/Show/Format Grid Lines

To hide or show major or minor grid lines for an X or Y axis:

1) Double-click on an X or Y axis. The X or Y Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Click in the major and/or minor grid checkboxes to hide or show grid lines.

3) Click OK.

To format major and minor grid lines for an X or a Y axis:

1) Open the X or Y Axis Control dialog box.

2) Click on the GRIDS... button. The Grid Details dialog box opens.

3) Use the controls to set grid color, dash pattern, and line thickness for this axis.

4) Click OK.

To move grid lines in front of or behind data:

• Select Grid Lines in Front from the Plot menu. When this command is checkmarked, grid lines show in front of plotted data. Otherwise, grid lines show behind plotted data.

Hint:	Click a checkmark into the Apply to All checkbox in the Grid Details dialog box to apply the current grid format settings to the other axes in this layer.


Hide/Show X and Y Axes

A layer can be set to display up to four axes: two X axes, and two Y axes. Tick marks and tick labels can be hidden or shown independently for each axis

To hide or show the X axes in a layer:

1) Double-click on an X axis. The X Axes Control dialog box opens.

2) Click in the left or right Axis checkboxes to hide or show the left or right X axes.

3) Click OK.

To hide or show the Y axes in a layer, follow the same procedure as above, beginning by clicking on a Y axis to open the Y Axes Control dialog box. For the Y axes you set top and bottom, rather than right and left, axes.

Related Topics:

Hide/Show Layer Elements

Hide/Show Frame


Specifying Axis Offset

To offset an X axis relative to a Y axis:

1) Double-click on an X axis to open the X Axes Control dialog box.

2) Click on the button for the X axis you want to move (Left or Right). The

Axis Style dialog box opens for the left or right X axis.

2) Click on the arrow next to the Axis Pos pull-down menu to view the axis position menu.

3) Select an axis offset option from the menu:

Left:	Place X axis at left edge of Y axis.

Right:	Place X axis at right edge of Y axis.

At X value of:	Enter the Y axis value at which you want the X axis to begin.

% from Left:	Enter the percent from the left at which you want the X axis to begin.

4) Click OK.

Follow the same procedure to offset the Y axis relative to the X axis, beginning by double-clicking on a Y axis. Note that the menu choices in the axis position menu now read Bottom, Top, At Y value of, and % from Bottom.


Specify an Axis Title

To add a title to an individual axis:

1) Open the X or Y Axes Control dialog box for the axis.

2) Click on the Left... or Right... button (for the Y axis) or the Top... or Bottom... button (for the X axis) to open the appropriate Axis Style dialog box.

3) Type a title in the Axis Title edit field.

4) Click a checkmark into the checkbox to show the title.

5) Choose OK.

To format the title, double-click on the title on the page to open the Text Control dialog box. To move the title, click and drag with the mouse. You cannot move an axis title more than several inches from its original position.

Related Topic:

Adding and Editing Labels


Specifying Axis Color and Thickness

To change the color or line thickness of an individual X or Y axis:

1) Double-click on the axis to pen the X or Y Axes Control dialog box.

2) Click on the Left... or Right... button (for Y axes) or Top... or Bottom... button (for X axes) to open the Axis Style dialog box for that axis.

3) Use the menus to set axis color and thickness.

4) To apply this axis style to all other axes in this layer, on this page, or in all windows in this document, click in the Apply to All checkbox, and choose a selection from the menu.


Create Text, Time, or Date Tick Labels

There are six possible tick label types - numeric, text, time, date, month, and day of week.

To use text values as tick labels:

1) Open or select a worksheet, and change a column to text format.

2) Enter the tick label text values into the text column.

3) Open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box for the axis whose tick labels you are setting.

4) Select Text from Data Set from the Tick Label menu.

5) Type the name of the data set into the edit field adjacent to the Tick Label menu. Remember to include the data set worksheet and column name, separated by an underscore.

6) Click OK.

To use time, date, month, or day of week values as tick labels:

1) Double-click on the tick labels to open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box.

2) Select a tick label type from the Label Type menu. Set display options for the selected type in the Options section. See the Worksheet Column Format dialog box topic for a complete discussion of these controls. There the controls are called Column Type and Options.

3) Click OK.

4) If necessary, you can use the Axes Control dialog box to specify the first major tick mark to be displayed, and the minor tick increment. This is especially useful for the date tick label type.

Note that if you enter text, time, or date values into an X column the values automatically plot as X axis tick labels.


Individual Tick Label Control

To hide, show, or specify an alternate axis tick label:

1) Open the Additional Tick Label Control dialog box for the appropriate axis.

2) To hide the tick label at the first or last major tick mark, click in the Hide option button in the At Axis Begin or At Axis End row.

3) To show a tick label at the first or last major tick mark, click in the Show option button in the At Axis Begin or At Axis End row.

4) To hide or show a tick label at any other point along the axis, click in the Hide or Show option button in the At Axis Value row, and enter an axis value in the bottom edit field.

5) To specify an alternate tick label, click in the Manual Label option button in the appropriate row, and specify the label in the adjacent edit field.

Use the %1 command to include the current tick label at any point in the expression. For example, if the current tick label reads 19,and you specify a manual label of %191, the tick label reads 1991.

Use the $(x) command to include the current tick label in a calculation, where x is the current tick label value. For example, if the current tick label is 91, the manual label expression $(1900 + x) reads 1991.


Set Tick Label Style

To change tick label color, font, point size, or rotation:

1) Open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box for the labels you want to change.

2) Use the menus to change label style for this axis.

3) Click OK.

Hint:	To apply the current color, font, and point size style settings to all axes in this layer, click a checkmark into the Apply to All checkbox.


Setting Tick Label Numeric Options

To set numeric options for numeric tick labels, open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box for the labels you want to change.

To change the label format:

Use the Format menu to choose between decimal, engineering, and scientific label format. The formats differ as follows:

Decimal:	1      1000    1.00E+006  1.00E+009

Scientific:	1.0x10o   1.0x103   1.0x106   1.0x109

Engineering:	1.0     1.0k    1.0M    1.0G

To factor out the label values:

Enter a factor amount into the Factor box. Origin divides each label by the entered value, and displays the result.

To display a fixed number of digits after the decimal point:

1) Click a checkmark into the Manual Precision checkbox.

2) Enter the number of places after the decimal point in the places box.


Add Tick Label Prefix/Suffix

To add a prefix or suffix to all tick labels along one axis:

1) Open the Axis Tick Labels dialog box for the labels you want to change.

2) Type a prefix or a suffix into the Prefix or Suffix box.

3) Click OK.


Rescale Axes to Show All Data

Data, when plotted, may extend beyond the confines of the axes; portions of the plot may lie off of the page entirely. This might also occur when the Enlarger tool has been used to magnify a data plot.

To rescale axes to show the entire data plot:

1) Select a layer.

2) Choose Rescale to show all from the Plot menu.

The X and Y values for the axes in the active layer rescale to show all data in all the data sets that are plotted in that layer.

Related Topic:

Fixed Axis Scale


Defined Terms

Active Cell

Active Data Plot

Active Data Set

Active Graphic Objects

Active Layer

Active Window

Arrow Tool

Available Data

Axis

Axis Break

Boundary Square

Buttons

Chart Types

Circle Tool

Column Type

Command Menu Display

Control Menu Box

Curved Arrow Tool

Data Labels

Data List

Data Selector Tool

Data Markers

Data Plot

Data Point

Data Pointers

Data Reader

Data Set

Data Set Element

Default Plot Windows

Display Range

Disregarded Column

Document

Document Window

Enlarger Tool

Incremental

Error Bar Column

Error Bars

Frame

Function Window

Functional Template

Graphic Elements

Grid

Grid Lines

Index Number

L Column

Label

LabTalk

Layer

Layer Bounds

Layer Icon

Legend

Line Tool

Major Tick

Master Page

Minor Tick

Missing Values

Page

Plot Group

Plot Type

Plot Window

Pointer Tool

Rectangle Tool

Scale Factor

Screen Reader

Scroll Bar

Script Window

Selected Data

Selected Layer

Size Box

Status Bar

Template

Text Tool

Tick Labels

Toolbox

Worksheet

WYSIWYG

X Column

Y Column

Z Column


Worksheet Templates

Worksheets can be customized and then saved as templates. Templates are a convenient way to save window designs that you plan to use more than once. Number of columns, column designation, column plot style, and other worksheet characteristics can be included in a template. Data is not saved with a template.

To create a worksheet template:

1) Open a new worksheet.

2) Make whatever changes you want to the worksheet.

3) Select Save As... from the Template sub-menu in the File menu. The File Save As dialog box opens.

4) Enter a valid DOS file name for the template file. If you do not enter a name, the template will assume the name of the worksheet window. Template files must have the extension .OTW (Origin Template Worksheet).

5) Click OK.

To open a worksheet template:

1) Select Open Worksheet from the Template sub-menu in the File menu.

2) Select a directory, then select a template file.

3) Choose OK. The template opens into the current document.

A worksheet template, once opened, behaves exactly like any other worksheet.

Related Topics:

Plot Window Templates

Setting a New Default Worksheet


Setting a New Default Worksheet

To create a new worksheet and set it as the default window:

1) Open a new worksheet, and set it up exactly as you want the default worksheet to appear. Everything but data can be saved as part of the default worksheet.

2) Select Template Save from the Template sub-menu in the File menu. The window is automatically saved as ORIGIN.OTW, the default worksheet template file.

Each time you select File:New Worksheet to open a new worksheet, it will appear exactly as the default template you created.

Related Topic:

Worksheet Templates


Plot Window Templates

All plot windows are templates created from template files. Templates provide a convenient way to save window designs that you plan to use more than once.

A plot window template file contains all of the attributes of a page except the data. Labels, axes, data plot style and format, and page design are all saved into the template file. You can modify any of Origin's default template files. You can also create new template files of your own

To create a new plot window template:

1) Select File:New Plot Window to open a new plot window.

2) Use any combination of Origin's features to create the template page layout. Add layers and text, set axis parameters, etc. Note, however, that plotted data can not be saved as part of a template.

3) Select Template Save from the Template sub-menu under the File menu. The File Save As... dialog box opens.

4) Enter a name for the template. If you renamed the plot window, and if you used a valid DOS filename, the template will assume that name. A plot template must have the file extension .OTP.

5) Click OK.

To open a plot window template:

1) Select Open Plot Window... from the Template sub-menu in the File menu. The File Open dialog box opens.

2) Choose a directory, then choose a template file.

3) Click OK.

A plot window template, once opened, behaves exactly like any other plot window.

To modify a default template file:

• Every plot window in Origin is created from a template file. For example, when you plot a line graph by choosing the Plot:Line command, Origin plots the data into the LINE.OTP plot window template.

When a plot window template is the active window, simply select the File:Template:Template Save command to save the current window design into the template file from which that plot window was opened.

An Origin document, PLOTS.ORG, has been included with your software package. PLOTS.ORG is in the [samples] sub-directory in the [origin] directory, and contains a number of plot windows that you may want to save and use as templates.

Related Topics:

Master Page

Worksheet Templates

Changing the Default Plot Windows


Setting the Default Plot Window
Changing the Default Plot Windows

All plot windows used by Origin are opened from template files. Most of the default plot windows are listed below, along with the name of the template file from which they are opened:

1: The new plot window (select File:New:Plot Window). Template name is ORIGIN.OTW.

2: The function plot window (select File:New:Function Plot). Template name is FUNCTION.OTP.

3: The new graph plot windows (select Plot, then one of the plot commands). These templates files include Line.OTP, Scatter.OTP, Linesymb.OTP, Hi-Lo-Close.OTP, Column.OTP, Bar.OTP, Pie.OTP, Doubley.OTP, Waterfal.OTP, Box.OTP, XbarR.OTP, and Area.OTP (The COLUMN.OTP and BAR.OTP templates are also used by the Stack Column and Stack Bar plot commands).

To change a default plot window, simply open and edit the template, then use the File:Template:Save As command to save the changes.

To create a new default plot window:

1) Choose the appropriate command to open a default plot window, and lay out the page exactly as you want the window to appear. Plotted data can not be saved as part of a default plot window.

2) Select Template Save from the Template sub-menu in the File menu. The window is automatically saved under the correct template name. If the window was not opened from a template file, Origin asks if you want to save it as ORIGIN.OTP.

Related Topics:

Plot Window Templates

Master Page


Creating a Document

To create a new Origin document:

1) Select New from the File menu.

2) Select Document from the New sub-menu. If you have made changes to the existing document, Origin opens a dialog box asking if you want to save those changes.

3) The previous document closes, and a new untitled document opens.

A new document contains a single worksheet window, and shows the worksheet command menu display bar.

When Origin is launched a new document, called Untitled, is created automatically.

Related Topics:

Plot Window Templates

Worksheet Templates


Opening a Document

To open an existing Origin document:

1) Select Open from the File menu.The File Open dialog box appears. The file extension .ORG appears in the File Name edit field.

2) Select a directory from the directory list.

3) Select a document from the document list.

4) Click OK.

The previous Origin document closes (Origin will ask you to save any changes), and the selected document opens.

Related Topic:

Creating a New Document


Naming, Saving and Closing a Document
Naming, Saving, and Closing a Document

To save an Origin document under a new name:

1) Select Save As... from the File menu. The File Save As dialog box opens.

2) Enter a valid DOS file name for the document. Documents must have the file extension .ORG.

3) Choose OK.

To save changes to an existing document:

• Select Save from the File menu.

It is a good practice to save changes to your documents often, and always before closing a document or exiting the application.

To close a document:

• Select Close from the File menu.

When a document is closed, all associated worksheets and plot windows close with it.


Arithmetic Operators

+	Addition

-	Subtraction

*	Multiplication

/	Division

^	Exponentiate	(x^y raises x to the yth power)

Multiplication must be explicitly included in an expression, e.g., 2*x, not 2x to indicate the multiplication of the variable x by the constant 2, and (x+1)*(x-7), not (x+1)(x-7).

Related Topics:

Precedence Rules

Logical, Relational and Ternary Operators

Numeric Notation


Logical, Relational, and Ternary Operators

>	Greater than

>=	Greater than or equal to

<	Less than

<=	Less than or equal to

==	Equal to

!=	Not equal to

&&	And

||	Or

• The logical and relational operators follow standard C programming language notation.

• An expression involving Relational and Logical Operators will return either 1 (true) or 0 (false).

• The ternary operator ?: can be used in the form:	E1?E2:E3.

This expression first evaluates Expression 1. If Expression 1 is true (has a non-zero value) then Expression 2 is evaluated. The value of Expression 2 becomes the value for the conditional expression. If Expression 1 is not true (equals zero) then Expression 3 is evaluated and becomes the value for the entire conditional expression.

Related Topics:

Precedence Rules

Arithmetic Operators

Notation


Notation
Numeric Notation

Decimal Numbers:	1, 2, 100, 0.001

Scientific notation:	1.2e21, 1.5E-10, 1e3

Engineering notation:	1k, 1m, 1M, etc. Not allowed in expressions, though it can be used in worksheet data entry as well as in dialog boxes where only a single number is required.


Precedence Rules

Origin uses standard precedence rules for evaluating complex expressions:

1) Operations within parentheses are evaluated before those outside parentheses (or brackets).

2) Multiplication and division are done before addition and subtraction.

3) The relational operators (>,>=,<,<=) are evaluated, then the equality operators (== and !=).

4) The logical operators && and || are evaluated in the order listed.

5) Finally any conditional expressions (?:) are evaluated.

Related Topics:

Arithmetic Operators

Numeric Notation


Numeric Functions

With numeric functions, if the given x is a value, the function returns a value. If the given x is a range, the function returns a range.

abs(x)	Absolute value

exp(x)	Exponential

sqrt(x)	Square root

ln(x)	Natural logarithm

log(x)	Base 10 logarithm

mod(x,y)	Integer module(the remainder from division) of x divided by y

rmod(x,y)	Real module(the remainder from division) of x divided by y

int(x)	Truncated integer

nint(x)	Nearest integer


Precision Functions

With precision functions, if the given x is a value, the function returns a value. If the given x is a range, the function returns a range.

prec(x,p)	Returns a value or range of numbers such that the numbers contain p places of significance.

round(x,p)	Returns a value or range of numbers with p decimal places accuracy.


Trigonometric Functions

With trigonometric functions, if the given x is a value, the function returns a value. If the given x is a range, the function returns a range.

sin(x), cos(x), tan(x)

These three functions return values consisting of cosine, sine, and tangent. respectively, of each value in the given x. These and other trigonometric functions can take values in radians, degrees and grad. This is determined by the AngularUnit parameter in the Math section of the ORIGIN.INI file.

asin(x), acos(x), atan(x)

These functions return the inverse of the corresponding trig function. x must be within -1 and 1 for asin and acos, a missing value is return otherwise. x can be any value for atan. Values returned are in radians, degree or grad, depending on the AngularUnit parameter in the Math section of the ORIGIN.INI file.

sinh(x), cosh(x), tanh(x)

These functions are the hyperbolic forms of sin, cos, and tan, respectively.


Data Generation Functions

rnd()	Returns a number between 0 and 1 from a uniformly distributed sample. No argument is needed, but the ( ) must be used to signify that this is a function, not a a variable or constant.

grnd()	Returns a number from a normally distributed sample, with zero mean and zero unit standard deviation. No argument is needed.

To obtain a normal random number with mean=m and standard deviation=sd use the following:

grnd()*sd+m

uniform(npts,seed), normal(npts,seed)

Return a data set(a range) with npts number of values. The values are random numbers with uniform(between 0 and 1) and normal(zero mean and unit standard deviation) distribution repectively. If seed is omitted, a different seed is used each time the function is called.

Example: col(1)=normal(100)*2+5

will fill column 1 with 100 random numbers with mean = 5 and sd = 2.

data(x1,x2,inc)

Returns a data set (a range) with values starting at x1 with an increment equal to inc until x2. If x1 is set equal to x2, inc number of points equal to x1 is returned. If inc is omitted, inc = 1 is assumed.

Example: col(a)=data(1,100)

will fill column1 with 100 numbers from 1 to 100, with an increment of one.

{2,3.4,-3}	Returns a range that consists of the specified values.

Example: col(a)={1,2,4,5,12,13}

xof(data)	Returns the range that are the corresponding X values for the given data set data.

sort(data)	Returns a range that contains the given data set data, sorted in ascending order.


Accumulation and Arrangement Functions

sort(data)	Returns a range that contains the given data set data, sorted in ascending order.

diff(data)	Returns a range that contains the difference between adjacent elements in the given data set data. If there are N elements in data, the return range will have N-1 elements. The first element in the returned range is equal to the difference between the second and the first element of the given range.

sum(data)	Returns a range showing the cumulative sums of all values in the column or range specified. The last value in the returned range is the sum total of all values. Sum also automatically generates the following variables:

sum.mean, sum.total, sum.min, sum.max, sum.sd, sum.n

The sum function can also be used across worksheet columns. The syntax is the following:

sum(worksheetName,col1,col2)

A range is returned that equals to the sum of all the columns from col1 to col2. A number of data sets are also created to hold the various related values from the sum:

_Mean, _SD, _Max, _Min, _Range, _Npts

The leading underscore in these data sets indicates that they are temporary data sets, and will be removed from memory before printing or before the document is saved to a file.

ave(data,size)	Breaks the data set data into groups of size size, finds the average for each group, and returns a range containing these values.


Worksheet Functions

col(name)	Returns the given data set name for the active worksheet. Or you could use the corresponding column number. For example, if column A is the first column in the worksheet, col(1) and col(A) both return the data set in column A.

Example: (1+col(A))/(1-col(B))

Use col()[] to return the single data set element, or a cell in the worksheet in the row indicated between the square brackets.

Example:	col(A)[3]   (the third row of column A).

data_a	Alternate syntax for above. This form uses the worksheet name, then the worksheet column name, separated by an underscore:

Example:	(data1_A - data1_B) / data1_C

To specify a single data set element, use the following:

Example:	data1_A[12]   (The 12th element of data set data1_A).

data1_A[i+1] - data1_A[i]

%(wsheetname, col#, row#)

Returns the contents of an individual worksheet cell. Specify the worksheet name, column number, and row number in parentheses. This is a substitution notation, meaning, among other things, that you can use this notation in text labels, and it will substitute the correct value for itself whenever the label redraws. To use this notation in a label you must link the label to data or variables in the Label Control dialog box.

%(wsheetname, col#)

Returns the data set from the given worksheet that corresponds to the given column number col#.

wcol(#)	Returns the data set from the active worksheet that corresponds to the given column number # (counting from left to right). Similar to the col( ) function, but accepts only number, not column name. This function will accept math expressions, which means you do not have to know the value of #, it can be calculated at run-time.

Example:	for (i=1; i<=10; i+=1) {

  wcol(i) = data(i, 1+10);

}

Related Topics:

Precedence Rules

Arithmetic Operators

Logical, Relational and Ternary Operators

User-Defined Functions


User-Defined Functions

To define a new function:

1) Select New y=f(x) Function from the Data menu.

2) Enter a name for the function in the dialog box and click OK.

The Function Details dialog box opens.

3) Enter your function in the dialog box. You can use any of Origin's operators or built-in functions in your function definition.

4) Click OK to plot the function.

Once you have entered a function into a document, it can be referred to by name, and used just like a built-in function. Use the function in mathematical expressions in the Set Column Values dialog box, the Extract Worksheet Values dialog box, and the Script window.

In addition, each user-defined function is associated with a data set, and can be used exactly like a data set when plotting. Like data sets, user-defined functions are listed in the Available Data List in the Layer Control dialog box.

Related Topics:

Plotting Functions

Math Expressions


histogram(data,inc,min,max)

Generates a histogram from the specified range in data. Bin width is equal to inc. The histogram will begin at min and end at max.


cov(data1,data2,ave1,ave2)

Returns the covarience between two datasets. Let X and Y be two datasets and (x bar) and (y bar) their repective means, then the covarience between the two is defined as:


ss(data,ref)

This is the sum of squares function. The following equation is used to calculate a value for each value in the given data set data, the resulting values are added, and a single value is returned:

This function can take one of four forms, depending on the reference value ref.

ss(data)	Ref is omitted. Assumes the mean of data as the ref value.

ss(data,4)	Ref is a constant. Uses the constant as the ref value.

ss(data1,data2)	Ref is a data set. Uses the corresponding element in data2 as the ref value for each data1.

ss(data_A,A+B.x)	Ref is an expression involving i or x. If x, the corresponding X value for each element in data is used to calculate ref. If i, the corresponding row number for each element in data is used to calculate ref. The given example will calculate the sum of squares for the straight line formed by Y intercept A and slope B.


Percentile(data1,data2)

Returns a range comprised of the percentile values of data1 at each percent value specified in data2.

Example:	DATA1_A = normal(1000)

DATA1_B={1,5,25,50,75,95,99}

DATA1_C=percentile(DATA1_A,DATA1_B)

Result contains the percentiles of a normal distribution at 1%, 5%, .. 99%.


Sum(data)

Returns a range showing the cumulative sums of all values in the column or range specified. The last value returned is the sum total of all values. Sum also automatically generates the following variables:

sum.mean, sum.total, sum.min, sum.max, sum.sd, sum.n


Ave(data,size)

This function breaks the data set data into groups of size size, finds the average for each group, and returns a range containing these values.


Special Functions

gammaln(x)	Returns the natural log of the gamma function.

incgamma(x,a)	Incomplete gamma function P(a,x). It has the limiting values

P(a,0) = 0 and P(a,∞) = 1.

erf(x)	Error function (or normal error integral).

It has the limiting values erf(0) = 0, erf(∞) = 1, and erf(-x) = -erf(x).

inverf(x)	Inverse error function.

incbeta(x,a,b)	Incomplete beta function I (x,a,b). It has the limiting values

I(0,a,b) = 0 and I(1,a,b) = 1, and the symmetry relation

I(0,a,b) = 1- I(1-x,b,a).

Ttable(x,n)	t distribution with n degree of freedom. x is between zero and 1

Ttable(0.95,15) = 1.753

Ttable(0.99,10) = 2.764

Ftable(x,n,m)	F distribution with n and m degrees of freedom

Ftable(0.95,2,15) = 3.68

Ftable(0.95,4,10) = 3.48

bessel functions	Y0(x), Y1(x), Yn(x,n), J0(x), J1(x), Jn(x,n)


Information Functions

exist(name)	Returns a number indicating what the given name is:

0  None, the name is not defined for anything

1  data set

2  worksheet

3  plot window

4  variable

exist(name,n)	Return a non-zero value if given name belongs to the specified object type. See above for possible n values.

Examples: exist(Plot1) => 3, exist(Plot1,3) => 3, exist(Plot1,2) => 0

xvalue(i,data)	Returns the corresponding X value for the given data set data at row number i in the active worksheet.

hasx(data)	Returns a 1 if the given data set data has a corresponding X column. Returns a 0 otherwise.

xof(data)	Returns the range that are the corresponding X values for the given data set data.

xindex(x,data)	Returns the index number (row number) corresponding to the given x value in data. In other words,

i = xindex(x,data) such that

x value(i,data) = x

See Also

v(x,col,row) function


v(x,col,row)

This function is used for defining a fitting function to access related data from the worksheet that contains the fitted data. The col and row arguments are optional, as explained below:

If both col and row are omitted, the function returns the Y value of the fitted data for given x value.

If only row is omitted, the the Y value of the specified column(col) for the given x is returned.

If row is specified, then the cell value of the given column and row(row) is returned. In all cases, the worksheet that contains the fitted data is assumed.

For example, lets assume that the worksheet contains three columns A(X) B(Y) C(Y), and B(Y) is the data being fitted to. Then the function

f(x) = 1+x+y

should be written as

1 + x + v(x)

and the function

f(x) = 1 + x + z

with z being data in column C should be written as

1 + x + v(x,3)


ExpGrow(y0,x0,A1,t1,A2,t2)
ExpGrow(x,y0,x0,A1,t1,A2,t2)

A double exponential growth function of the form:

y0 + A1*exp[ (x-x0) / t1] + A2*exp[ (x-x0) /t2]


ExpAssoc(y0,A1,t1,A2,t2)
ExpAssoc(x,y0,A1,t1,A2,t2)

A double exponential association function of the form:

y0+A1*[1-exp(-x/t1)]+A2*[1-exp(-x/t2)]


ExpDecay(y0,x0,A1,t1,A2,t2)
ExpDecay(x,y0,x0,A1,t1,A2,t2)

A double exponential decay function of the form:

y0+A1*exp[ - (x-x0) / t1 ] + A2*exp[ - (x-x0) / t2]


Gauss(x,y0,xc,w,A)

The Gaussian function takes the form:

(A/(w*sqrt(PI/2)))*exp(-2*(x-xc)^2/w^2) + y0

If the variable NumPeaks is greater than one, the function will return a multiple Gaussian.

xc	center of the peak

w	2 sigma, approximately the width of the peak at half height

A	area under the peak

y0	baseline offset.


Lorentz(x,y0,xc,w,A)

The Lorentzian function takes the form:

(2*A*w/pi)/(w^2+4*(x-xc)^2) + y0

If the variable NumPeaks is greater than one, the function will return a multiple Lorentzian.

xc	center of the peak

w	width of the peak at half height

A	area under the peak

y0	baseline offset.


Boltzman(A1,A2,x0,dx)
Boltzman(x,A1,A2,x0,dx)

This function produces a sigmoidal curve using the Boltzman equation:

(A1-A2) / { 1+exp((x-x0)/dx) } + A2

with parameters of

x0	center

dx	width

A1	Y initial

A2	Y final


logistic(x,p1,p2,p3,p4)
Logistic(x,A1,A2,x0,p)

A four parameter logistic function is defined as:

y = (A1-A2) / (1+(x/x0)^P)+A2

with parameters of

x0	center

P	power

A1	Y initial

A2	Y final


Hyperbl(P1,P2)
Hyperbl(x,P1,P2)

A rectangular hyperbola function of the form:

P1*x / (P2 + X)


dHyperbl(P1,P2,P3,P4,P5)
dHyperbl(x,P1,P2,P3,P4,P5)

A double rectangular hyperbola function of the form:

P1 * x / ( P2 + x ) + P3 * x / ( P4 + x ) + P5 * x


Pulse(X,Y0,X0,A,t1,P,t2)

The pulse function has the form:

y0+A * [1-exp(-(x-x0)/t1)]^P * exp[-(x-x0)/t2]


poly(x,a0,a1,a2,...)
Poly(x,a0,a1,a2,...) or Poly(x,para)

This function evaluates an nth order polynomial for the given x and polynomial coefficients. The order of the polynomial is always assumed to be 9, but you can pass fewer coefficients to the function, and all higher order coefficients are set to zero.

In the first form, values of coefficients are given explicitly. In the second form, a data set is expected to contain the coefficients.

Example:	poly(2,1,3)	 returns 1 + 3 * 2 = 7


File Menu Commands (Plot Window Display)

New

Creates a new document, plot window, worksheet, or function window when you choose the appropriate sub-command from the New sub-menu.

Related Topic:

Creating a Document

Open...

Opens the File Open dialog box, which is set to view files with the .ORG file extension (the customary Origin document file extension). You can open an existing Origin document from this dialog box.

Related Topic:

Opening a Document

Close

Closes the current document.

Related Topic:

Saving and Closing a Document

Append..

Opens the File Open dialog box, from which you can open an Origin document. The content of this document is added to the currently open document.

Save

Saves the current document as UNTITLED.ORG.

Related Topic:

Saving and Closing a Document

Save As...

Opens the File Save As... dialog box. You can choose a new name and a destination directory for this file.

Related Topic:

Saving and Closing Documents

Template...

Opens a sub-menu that controls file operations for plot window and worksheet templates:

· Template Save:

Saves the active plot window as a template. If you opened this window from a template file, Origin saves the window under the original template name. If you opened this window as a new plot window, Origin saves the window as the default template, ORIGIN.OTP.

·  Save As...:

Opens the Save As... dialog box, from which you can save the active plot window as a template file.

· Open Plot Window...:

Opens the File Open dialog box, set to view files with the .OTP file extension.

You can open an existing plot window template.

· Open Worksheet...:

Opens the File Open dialog box, set to view files with the .OTW file extension.

You can open an existing worksheet template.

· Open Master Page:

Opens the Master Page, if there is one. Creates a blank one if not.

Related Topics:

Plot Window Templates

Worksheet Templates

Setting a New Default Plot Window

Setting a New Default Worksheet

Import ASCII...

Opens the File Open dialog box, set to view files with the .DAT file extension (This is the default extension for Origin data files. You can enter a new extension if you like). You can then import data directly into the active plot window. Origin assumes the first column of data to be X values, and all subsequent columns to contain Y values. To import files into a worksheet, see the worksheet menu display File:Import command.

Related Topic:

Entering Data From a File

Multiple ASCII..

Opens the Open Multiple Files dialog box, which allows you to import more than one ASCII file at a time. Double-click on a file in the File Name list, or select a file and click on the Add File button, to select a file to be opened. Click on a file, then click on the Remove File button, to remove a file from the Files to be Opened list. When you click OK, all files in the Files to be Opened list plot into the active plot window.

Export Page...

Opens a sub-menu containing two page export options:

· EPS...

In Origin 1.1 this command simply opens a dialog box that briefly describes how to change the Windows Control Panel settings so that Origin will print the page in the active window to an EPS (Encapsulated Postscript) file. See the Origin User's Manual command menu reference for more information.

· Windows Metafile...

Opens the File Save As dialog box. The name of the current window appears in the File Name edit field, with the file extension .WMF. You can choose a directory and save the current page into a file in Windows Metafile format.

· Bitmap...

Opens the Save As dialog box. The name of the current window appears in the File Name edit field, with the file extension .BMP. You can choose a directory and save the current page into a file in device independent bitmap format. A second dialog box prompts you for the resolution (width and height in pixels) in creating the bitmap, as well as the option of creating the bitmap in black and white. If you are going to use the bitmap in black and white printers, you should export the Origin page in black and white to save disk space. The default width and height parameters assume the resolution of the screen. To make changes to these parameters, you need to keep in mind the aspect ratio of the page.

Related Topic:

Printing the Page

Print

Print the page in the active window.

Page Setup

Opens the print setup dialog box. Select a printer, and set printer and page options before printing.

Exit

Exits the application.

You should always save the current document before choosing EXIT.


 Edit Menu Commands (Plot Window Display)

Undo

Not supported in this version.

Cut

Deletes the selected graphic element from the page, and places it on the clipboard.

Copy/Copy Page

Copy Page copies the entire contents of the page in the active plot window to the clipboard. Reads Copy if a graphic element on the page is currently selected. Copy copies the selected data, selected layer, or selected graphic element to the clipboard.

Paste

Pastes the current contents of the clipboard into the selected layer, or into the selected block of worksheet cells (if the clipboard contains columns of data).

Clear

Deletes the currently selected element from the page.

Update Client

For plot windows that have OLE clients, choosing this command informs the client applicaton that plots have changed.

Change Menus

Opens a sub-menu with which you can change the command menu display. The sub-menu contains the following options:

· Full Menus

All menu commands are displayed, as specified in the [config] section of the initialization file.

· Short Menus

Only certain menu commands are displayed, as specified in the configuration file SHORT.CNF.

· Data Display Only

Displays an abbreviated menu bar, with most menu items removed. This is an ideal configuration when using Origin to simply display data.

Behind Data Plots

To use this command you must first select a graphic element, such as a text label. This command is a toggle that alternately draws the selected element in front of or behind any data plotted in this layer.

Label Control..

Opens the Label Control dialog box. Provides advanced control over individual labels, and allows you to create Active Graphic Objects™.

To use the Label Control dialog box, first select a label, choose Edit:Label Control, then set options for that label in the dialog box.

Related Topic:

Label Control Dialog Box

Button Edit Mode

Enters Button Edit mode, which allows you to edit buttons. The command is checkmarked when enabled.


Options Menu Commands
Options Menu Commands (Plot Window Display)

Option set in the Options Menu are system wide. They apply to all documents, and all windows within a document..

Toolbox

Toggles between showing or hiding the toolbox. Checkmarked when the toolbox is visible.

Status Bar

Toggles between showing or hiding the status bar. Checkmarked when the status bar is visible.

Layer Icons

Toggles between showing or hiding layer icons. Checkmarked when layer icons are set as visible.

Set Active by Icon Only

When this option is selected (checkmarked) the active layer can be set only by clicking on a layer icon.

When this option is not selected, the active layer can also be set by clicking on any graphic element in a layer.

Related Topic:

Choosing the Active Layer

Active Layer Indicator

When selected (checkmarked) the active layer are indicated by accentuated layer axes (frame).

Snap Axes to Grids

When selected (checkmarked) all layer axes (frame) align to the grid.

Snap Labels to Grids

When selected (checkmarked) all labels align to the grid.

Display Master Items

When selected (checkmarked), if the master page is currently open, all items visible on the Master Page appear on the page in all plot windows.

Related Topic:

Master Page

Hide All Labels

When selected (checkmarked), all labels will be hidden from view.

Hide All Data

When selected (checkmarked) all data plots will be hidden from view.

Hide Other Layers

When selected (checkmarked) all layers except the active layer in each plot window will be hidden from view.

Color Palette

Opens the Color dialog box. To edit a color, select a color from the color list, then click on the Edit Color button to open a dialog box that shows a color spectrum. Use the mouse to choose a new color, then click OK. The selected color changes to become the new color you just chose. To add a new color to the color list, click on the Add button, then go through the process just described to edit the added color.


Page Menu Commands
Page Menu Commands (Plot Window Display)

Page Preview

Sets the page in the active plot window to Page Preview viewing mode.

Page Preview is a true WYSIWYG view mode. It shows a page that corresponds exactly to the page in your hard copy device. Font information is received directly from the current print driver. Exact font placement and size is guaranteed, at some sacrifice to screen appearance, since the print driver fonts must be scaled to fit their positions on the page (this will not harm the appearance of true vector fonts). Page Preview is slower than the other view modes, since each character is received from the print driver.

Use this view mode to preview your work prior to printing.

Note that view mode is set individually for each plot window. View mode does not affect printing. Printed output always shows the high quality, What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get Page Preview image.

Related Topic:

Setting the View Mode

Page View

Sets the page in the active plot window to Page View viewing mode.

Page View is faster than Page Preview for screen updating. Exact text placement on the page is not guaranteed unless you are using a typeface scaler (such as Adobe Type Manager).

Note that view mode does not affect printing. Printed output always shows the high quality, What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get Page Preview image.

Related Topic:

Setting the View Mode

Window View

Sets the page in the active plot window to Window View viewing mode.

Window View is similar to Page View except the page aspect ratio is ignored and the page dimension is determined by the current size of the plot window, rather than the size of the physical page.

Draft View

Sets the page in the active plot window to Draft View viewing mode.

Draft View has the fastest screen update of the all the view modes. The Draft View window display size is determined by the current size of the plot window, rather than the size of the page. This is a convenient mode to use when you are primarily interested in looking at on-screen data. Text formatting (super- and sub- script, Greek symbols, text styles and fonts, etc) is not visible in Draft View. Text rotation is disabled. All text displays in the system font only.

Note that view mode does not affect printing. Printed output always shows the high quality, What-You-See-Is-What-You-Get Page Preview image.

Related Topic:

Setting the View Mode

Full Screen

Expand the page in the active plot window to fill the entire screen. This is a display-only view mode - you cannot edit a graph in Full Screen mode. Buttons are not visible in Full Screen view mode. To exit Full Screen view mode, double-click the mouse.

Zoom In

Zoom into the active plot window for close-up views of elements on the page.

Related Topic:

Zooming the Page

Zoom Out

Zoom out of the active plot window for an expanded view of elements on the page.

Related Topic:

Zooming the Page

Zoom Layer to Window

Centers the active plot window on the active layer.

Note that the layer itself does not move or change size. It is plot window viewpoint that alters.

Related Topic:

Zooming the Page

Fit Page to Window

Brings the entire page into view in the active plot window.

Related Topic:

Zooming the Page

New Layer (Axes)

Adds a new layer to the page in the active plot window.

A layer is defined by its layer axes (frame). To add a new layer, choose one of these layer axes configurations from the New Layer (Axes) sub-menu:

· (Normal): Bottom X + Left Y

· (Linked): Top X + Right Y

· (Linked): Top X

· (Linked): Right Y

A Normal layer is independent of all other layers on the page. A Linked layer is automatically linked as a child to the last layer you added to the page (or to layer 1 if there is only one layer on the page), which is the parent. You can use the controls in the Layer Control dialog box to relate the child layer to the parent layer in terms of size, position, and/or axes scale.

Related Topics:

Adding a Layer

Setting Layer Link Options

Arrange All Layers...

Provides an automated method for ordering layers on the page. Opens a dialog box in which you can specify number of rows and columns, arranges the layers into those rows and columns, and creates more layers if there are empty spaces. Then opens another dialog box in which you can specify, in percent of page dimension, the vertical distance between rows of layers (vertical gap), horizontal distance between columns of layers (horizontal gap), and the right, left, top, and bottom page margins.

The ordering of the layers depends on the row/column arrangement specified. If more then one column is specified, the first layer will be positioned at the top left corner. If only column is specified, the first layer is specified as the bottom layer. In this case, you can link all layers to the first layer and show the bottom X axis to control all other layers.

Related Topic:

Arrange Multiple Layers on the Page

Fit Layer to Page

Expands or shrinks the active layer to full page size, and centers the layer axes (frame) on the page.

Related Topic:

Fitting a Layer to the Page

Rotate Page

Alternates between vertical (portrait) and horizontal (landscape) page orientation.

This command has no effect when the page is in Screen View mode.

Hint: Before you print, be sure that Origin's page orientation settings match the selected printer's page orientation settings.

Related Topic:

Rotating the Page

Page Control...

Opens the Page Control dialog box, from which you can set several page display options, including view mode, page dimensions, maximum data points to display per data plot, and screen redraw threshold.

Click on the Color Page... button to open the Page Color dialog box, from which you can select a new page color and/or color gradient.

Related Topic:

Coloring the Page

Merge All Pages

Takes the contents of all pages in the current document and places them onto the page in the active plot window. All other plot windows are closed. Iconized windows are ignored.

Related Topic:

Merge Pages


Plot Menu Commands
Plot Menu Commands (Plot Window Display)

Replot...

Opens the Plot Type dialog box, Pie Styling dialog box, or Data Label Display dialog box for the active data plot or plot group. Which dialog box opens depends on the plot type of the active data plot.

The Plot Type dialog box allows you to replot the active data plot in any of Origin's basic plot types - line, scatter, column, box, etc. You can also access the Plot Details dialog box from here.

The Pie Styling and Data Label Display dialog boxes contain controls for editing pie charts and data labels.

Related Topic:

Changing Plot Type and Plot Details

Add Plot to Layer

Use this command to add a data plot to the active layer in the active plot window. Select the worksheet data to be plotted, click on the layer into which you want to plot data, then select a plot type from the Add Plot to Layer sub-menu.

Related Topic:

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Add Error Bars...

Opens the Error Bars dialog box, from which you can add error bars to the active data plot. To use this command, there must be data plotted in the active layer.

If you select a worksheet error bar column, click on a plot window containing data, and then select this command, the selected error values plot as error bars for the active data plot, thus bypassing the Error Bars dialog box.

Related Topic:

Plotting Error Bars

Add New Function

Opens the Function Control dialog box. You can define and plot a new function into the active layer.

Related Topic:

User-Defined Functions

New Legend

Add a legend to the active layer. If there is already a legend, update the legend to reflect the current status of the data plotted in the layer.

Each name in the legend is composed of two parts - the plot type icon and the data set name. Double-click on the plot type icon to open the Plot Details dialog box. Double-click on the data set name to open the Text Control dialog box, in which you can edit the legend. For a complete description of creating and editing legends, see the Legend command section in the Plot Window Menu Reference of your Origin Users Manual.

Related Topics:

Adding and Editing Labels

Adding a Legend to a Layer

X Axis

Opens the X Axes Control dialog box.

Y Axis

Opens the Y Axes Control dialog box.

Rescale to Show All

Rescales the axes values for the active layer such that the display range for all data plotted in that layer is brought within the layer bounds. Has no effect if an axis has been set as fixed in the Axes Control dialog box.

Related Topic:

Rescale Axes to Show All Data

Stack Data in Plot

Stack all data plotted in the active plot window. Use this command to create stacked column, bar, and area graphs.

Exchange X Y Axes

Exchange the positions of the X and Y axes in the active plot window. For example, with a column graph, select Exchange XY Axes to create a bar graph.

Grid Lines in Front

When selected (checkmarked), if you display grid lines, they draw in front of data plotted in the active window. Otherwise, grid lines draw behind plotted data.

Show Frame

Show the frame for the active layer in the active plot window.

Clip Data to Frame

Clip (hide) any data plotted in the active layer, if that data extends beyond the clipping margins. The default clipping margin is the frame.

Clipping Margins..

Set the margins inside or outside the active layer frame at which plotted data will be clipped. The data are not actuallt clipped unless the Clip Data to Frame command is selected.


Data Menu Commands (Plot Window Display)

Set Display Range

Set the selected data, if any, on the active data plot as the display range.

Related Topic:

Specifying the Plot Display Range

Reset to Full Range

Reset the display range of the active data plot to show the entire data set.

Data Markers

Set data markers at the beginning and end of the active data plot.

Related Topic:

Selecting a Segment of Plotted Data

Move Data Point..

When selected, the cursor can be used to select and drag plotted data points. Select the Pointer tool to revert to normal operation. Some data are not movable. See the reference section of your Origin User's Manual for details.

Remove Bad Data Point..

Remove a plotted data point. Select the command, click on a data point, and press Enter.

[Data Set List]

List of data sets plotted in the active layer

This is a list of all data sets plotted in the active layer. Indicates with a checkmark the active data set. Select the active data set to open the Plot Details, Pie Styling, Data Label Display, or Error Bar Display dialog box for that data set.


Math Menu Commands

Simple Math

Opens the Math dialog box. Use this dialog box to perform math operations on a data set, or between two data sets. For example, you can subtract one data set from another.

Smoothing..

Smooth the active data set, using the Savitzky-Golay method. Smoothing reduces the noise in the data set. Opens a dialog box in which you specify how many data points at a time to be considered in the smoothing routine. The more data points, the larger the degree of smoothing. A zero value produces no smoothing at all.

If you do not select a segment of the data prior to smoothing, then then Origin creates a new data set from the smoothing operation and plot the results. The new data set is called name.sm#, where name is the name of the original data set, and # is the number of surrounding data points used in the smoothing.

An alternate approach is to use the Data:Data Markers command to select the entire data plot, or use the Data Selector tool to select a plot segment before smoothing the data. In this case a new data set is not created. Rather, the selected data are replaced by the smoothed values.

Adjacent Averaging..

Smooth the active data set by averaging adjacent data points. This reduces the noise in the data set. Opens a dialog box in which you specify how many data points at a time to be considered in the adjacent averaging routine. The more data points, the larger the degree of smoothing. A zero value will not smooth the curve at all.

As with the smoothing command described above, if you do not select a data segment prior to adjacent averaging, Origin plots the result as a new data set. The data set is called NAME.AV#, where name is the name of the original data set, and # is the number of surrounding data points used to take the average. If you do select a data segment first, then the selected segment is replaced by smoothed values.

FFT Filter Smoothing..

Smoothes the active data set by FFT (fast Fourier transform) filtering. Opens a dialog box in which you specify how many data points at a time to be considered in the smoothing routine. The filer frequency is equal to the inverse of the time period covered by the number of points that you specified. The more data points, the longer the period, the smaller the frequency and the larger the degree of smoothing. A zero value produces no smoothing.

As with all of Origin's smoothing routines, if you do not first select the data or a segment thereof, the smoothing results are plotted as a new data set. The data set is called name.ftsm#, where name is the name of the original data set, and # is the number of surrounding data points used in the smoothing. If you do select a data segment first, then the selected segment is replaced by the smoothed values.

Differentiate

Takes the derivitive of the active data plot. Opens a template plot window called Deriv, and plots the derivitive into this window. The derivatives are calculated by taking the average of the slopes on a point with the point next to it and the point before it. No smoothing is performed.

Diff/Smooth..

Takes the first or second order of derivitives for the active data plot, smoothes it using the Savizky-Golay method, and plots the result into the Deriv template plot window. Opens a dialog box in which you specify how many data points at a time to be considered in the smoothing routine.

Integrate

Numerically integrate the active data set from a baseline of zero (trapezoidal rule). Copies the area value, peak value, and width value to the Script window. The width parameter is calculated as follow. The integration procedure finds the maximum value of the data. The routine starts from the beginning to search the first X value that have a Y value at half of the maximum. The routine then starts from the end to search the first X value that have Y value at half of the maximum. The width is then equal to the difference of the these two X values.

Subtract Ref Data...

Opens the Math dialog box, with the "-" operator selected in the Operator box. You can use the dialog box to subtract one data set from another.

Subtract Straight Line

Allows the user to subtract a straight line from the active data set. When you select the command the cursor becomes a cross-hair. Double-click in the plot window to set the intial point of the straight line, and again to set the final point. Origin calculates the plotted values for the line, and subtracts each from the corresponding value in the active data set.

Y Translate

Allows the user to move the entire active data set vertically along theY axis. Double click (or click and press Return) to choose an initial data point. Double-click again on any point on the page. Origin takes the Y value of the distance between the initial and final points, and adds that amount to each Y value in the data plot.

X Translate

Allows the user to move the entire active data horizontally along the X axis. Double click (or click and press Return) to choose an initial data point. Double-click again on any point on the page. Origin takes the X value of the distance between the initial and final points, and adds that amount to each X value in the data plot.

Averaging Multiple Curves

At each X coordinate of the active data plot, calculates the Y average for all the curves in the active layer, extrapolates if necessary, saves the result as a new data set, and plots the data. The data plot is called ave#.1 (.2, .3, .4, etc.), where # is the number of curves used to take the average.

Inter/extrapolate...

Interpolates or extrapolates (if necessary) between the data points of the active data set. The interpolation or extrapolation is dependent on the type of line connecting the data points. For example, a cubic spline connection yields a different result then a straight line connection.

Opens a dialog box in which you can enter X minimum and maximum values to set the length of the inter/extrapolated curve - you are not limited to the original length. You can also set the number of points to draw between each point on the original curve. Using these values, Origin calculates an inter/extrapolated curve and plots the result.


Fit Menu Commands

Linear Regression

Fits a curve to the active data set, using the equation:

Y = A + Bx

where A is the intercept and B is the slope. The fit curve is named after the active data set, with the extension .line. After fitting, Origin copies the following parameters to the script window:

A	intercept value and standard deviation.

B	slope value and standard deviation.

R	correlation coefficient.

R2

P	Probability (that this R value could be a chance occurrence).

Polynomial Regression..

Fits a curve to the active data set, using the equation:

Y = ao + a1x + a2x2 . . . anxn

When you select this command, Origin opens a dialog box in which you can specify the order (1 through 9), number of points drawn in the fit curve, minimum and maximum X values and density for the fit curve. After fitting, Origin copies the following parameters to the script window:

0, 1, 2, ...	coefficient and standard deviation for each order.

R	correlation coefficient.

R2

Apparent Linear Fit

This command performs a transform on the selected data using the axis scale function before linear regression is carried out. For example, if data follows the relation

Y = A . XB

then

lnY = lnA + BlnX

To plot in a log log scale we transform

Y' = ln(Y)

X' = ln(X)

which gives Y' = lnA + BX' , a linear relationship. Linear regression is then carried out on Y' and X' so that we can obtain B (power on X) from the slope. The results are copied to the Script window.

1 Exponential Decay

This single exponential function fits a curve to the active data set using the equation:

y0 + Ae^ (-x/t)

and copies the following parameters to the Script window:

Y	Y offset

A	amplitude

t	decay constant

2 Exponential Decay

This double exponential function fits a curve to the active data set using the equation:

y0 + A1e^ (-x/t1) + A2e^ (-x/t2)

3 Exponential Decay

This triple exponential function fits a curve to the active data set using the equation:

y0 + A1e^ (-x/t1) + A2e^ (-x/t2) + A3e^ (-x/t3)

1 Exponential Growth

This single exponential function fits a curve to the active data set using the equation:

y0 + A1*exp[ (x-x0) / t1] + A2*exp[ (x-x0) /t2]

and copies the following parameters to the Script Window:

Y	Y offset

A	amplitude

t	decay constant

1 Gaussian

Fits a Gaussian curve to tha active data set, using the equation:

(A/w*sqrt(PI/2))*exp(-2*(x-x0)^2/w^2) + y0

where

Yo = offset

A = total area under the curve

Xo = center of the peak

w = 2 sigma, or approximately the width of a peak at half height.

After creating the fit curve, Origin copies the area, center, and width parameter values to the Script window.

1 Lorentzian

Fits a Lorentzian curve to the active data set, using the equation:

(2*A*w/pi)/(w^2+4*(x-x0)^2)

The Lorentzian parameters are identical to the Gaussian parameters defined above.

After creating the fit curve, Origin copies the area, center, and width parameter values to the Script window.

Sigmoidal (Boltzman equation)

Fits a sigmoidal curve to the active data set, using the equation:

(A1-A2) / { 1+exp((x-x0)/dx) } + A2

with parameters of

x0	center

dx	width

A1	Y initial

A2	Y final

Multiple Gaussian

Allows the user to specify the number of peaks, then invokes the Gaussian function.

Opens a dialog box in which you can enter the number of peaks for this plot. You then double-click on the plot to set the location for each peak. Origin integrates to estimate the overall half-width, then divides by the number of peaks to arrive at the final value.

The script for the Multiple Gaussian command is defined in the FIT.CNF configuration file. The script invokes the FitNpeaks macro, which is also defined in FIT.CNF. If you are familiar with the LabTalk script language you can easily edit the FIT.CNF file using any standard text editor. FIT.CNF is located in the [origin] directory.

Multiple Lorentzian

Similar to the Multiple Gaussian command, this command allows the user to specify the number of peaks, then invokes the Lorentzian function.

Opens a dialog box in which you can enter the number of peaks for this plot. You then double-click on the plot to set the location for each peak. Origin integrates to estimate the overall half-width, then divides by the number of peaks to arrive at the final value.

The script for the Multiple Lorentzian command is defined in the FIT.CNF configuration file. The script invokes the FitNpeaks macro, which is also defined in FIT.CNF. If you are familiar with the LabTalk script language you can easily edit the FIT.CNF file using any standard text editor. FIT.CNF is located in the [origin] directory.

Select Fitting Function..

Opens the Select Fitting Function dialog box. Use this dialog box to select a fitting function before entering the fitting session. You can also create a user-defined fitting function.

Start Fitting Session..

Enters the fitting session. A new menu bar appears, and the Fitting Function Parameters dialog box opens. This dialog box gives the user control over the fitting parameters during curve fitting.

Before selecting this command you must choose the Fit:Select Fitting Function command, and then select a fitting function from the Select Fitting Function dialog box.

Parameters/Simulate..

Opens the Fitting Function Parameters dialog box, but does not enter the fitting session. This allows you to use the dialog box to create a simulated fit curve. First select a fitting function (use the Fit:Select Fitting Function... command), then select the Parameters/Simulate... command. Enter fitting parameters into the parameters edit fields. Click on the Create Now button to draw a curve based on these parameters. The curve appears in the active plot window.


Window Menu Commands

Cascade

Orders all worksheets and plot windows into an overlapping pattern in which the title bar of each is visible.

Tile

Orders worksheets and plot windows side-by-side so that all can be viewed.

Refresh

Redraws the contents of the active window.

Arrange Icons

Orders the plot window and worksheet icon display in the current document.

Rename

Opens a dialog box in which you can rename the active window.

Related Topic:

Renaming Windows

Script Window

Toggles between showing or hiding the script window. Checkmarked when the script window is visible.

(Window Names)

List of plot windows and worksheet windows in the current document

To select the active plot window or worksheet, choose that window from the list. The active window is checkmarked.

Related Topics:

Selecting the Active Window


Help Menu Commands

Index

Opens Origin Help main index.

Keyboard

Opens Origin Help keyboard commands topic file.

Commands

Opens Origin Help commands index for the active window (plot window or worksheet).

Toolbox

Opens the Origin Help toolbox tools index.

Mouse

Opens the Origin Help mouse commands index. This index describes how to open dialog boxes by double-clicking on graphic elements on the page in a plot window.

Glossary

Opens the Origin Help glossary of terms.

Using Help

Provides information on using the Windows Help system.

About

Provides information about Origin, and available memory.


File Menu Commands (Worksheet Menu Display)

New

Same as New command in plot window display File menu.

Open..

Same as Open command in plot window display File menu.

Close

Same as Close command in plot window display File menu.

Append...

Same as Append command in plot window display File menu.

Save

Same as Save command in plot window display File menu.

Save As...

Same as Save As... command in plot window display File menu.

Template..

Opens a sub-menu that controls file operations for plot window and worksheet templates:

· Template Save:

Saves the active plot window as a template. If you opened this window from a template file, Origin saves the window under the original template name. If you opened this window as a new plot window, Origin saves the window as the default template, Origin.OTP.

· Save As...:

Opens the Save As dialog box, from which you can save the active plot window as a template file.

· Open Plot Window...:

Opens the File Open dialog box, set to view files with the .OTP file extension.

You can open an existing plot window template.

· Open Worksheet...:

Opens the File Open dialog box, set to view files with the .OTW file extension.

You can open an existing worksheet template.

Related Topics:

Plot Window Templates

Worksheet Templates

Setting a New Default Plot Window

Setting a New Default Worksheet

Import

Opens the following sub-menu of file import options:

· ASCII...

Opens the File Import dialog box. You can select an ASCII file for importing.

· Options...

Opens the ASCII Import Options dialog box. Set file structure, file header and other options prior to importing.

· Lotus

Import Lotus (WKS, WK1, and WK3) files.

· Quattro

Import Quattro (WKQ) files.

· Excel

Import Excel (XLS) files.

· DBase

Import DBase (DBF) files.

· Symphony

Import Symphony (WR1) files.

· Paradox

Import Paradox (PXT) files.

· DIF

Import DIF files.

Export ASCII..

Saves the contents of the active worksheet into a tab-delimited ASCII data file. Default file extension is .DAT.

Print

Disabled in the worksheet command menu display. To print, you must first activate a plot window, then select Print from the File menu in the plot window command menu display.

Page Setup

Opens the Print Setup dialog box, in which you can select a new printer, and choose various printer options.

Exit

Exits the application.

You should always save your work before choosing Exit.


Edit Menu Commands (Worksheet Menu Display)

Undo

Not supported in this version.

Cut

Not supported. Use Del.

Copy

Copies the highlighted worksheet values to the clipboard.

Paste

Places the current contents of the clipboard into the selected cell or range of cells. To paste a range of cells, click on a cell and select Paste. The cell you clicked on becomes the upper left cell in the pasted range.

Clear

Not supported. Use Del.

Paste Link

Create a DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) link with another windows application. For example, open another Windows application such as Excel, copy data from an Excel worksheet, then Paste Link the data into an Origin worksheet. The two worksheets are now linked. Any change to the Excel worksheet is reflected in Origin.

Change Menu

Opens a sub-menu with which you can change the command menu display. The sub-menu contains the following options:

· Full Menus

All menu commands are displayed, as specified in the [config] section of the initialization file.

· Short Menus

Only certain menu commands are displayed, as specified in the configuration file SHORT.CNF.

· Data Display Only

Displays an abbreviated menu bar, with most menu items removed. This is an ideal configuration when using Origin to simply display data.

Label Control..

Opens the Label Control dialog box. Provides advanced control over individual labels, and allows you to create Active Graphic ObjectsÔ.

To use the Label Control dialog box, first select a label, choose Edit:Label Control, then set options for that label in the dialog box.

Related Topic:

Label Control Dialog Box

Button Edit Mode

Enters Button Edit mode, which allows you to edit buttons. The command is checkmarked when enabled.

Clear Worksheet

Deletes all values from the active worksheet.

Insert

Inserts a new row above the highlighted row, or a new column to the left of the highlighted column in the current worksheet.

Related Topic:

Inserting Rows and Columns

Delete

Deletes the highlighted column or block of cells from a worksheet. If the deleted data has been plotted, the related data points are deleted as well. If you delete an entire column, that data set, along with any associated data plots, is removed from the document entirely.

Related Topic:

Deleting Rows and Columns

Delete Cell Contents

Set As Begin

Sets the beginning of the display range for a worksheet column.

Related Topic:

Setting Column Display Range

Set As End

Sets the end of the display range for a worksheet column.

Related Topic:

Setting Column Display Range

Reset to Full Range

Resets the display range of the highlighted worksheet column to include the entire data set.

Go to Row

Opens a dialog box, in which you can enter a row number. This allows you to instantly move to any row in the active worksheet.

Active Update Plot

When this option is selected (checkmarked) changes made to worksheet data are reflected instantly in any associated data plots. When this option is not selected, plotted data remains unchanged unless you activate the window in which the data are plotted, or until you actually replot the worksheet data.

Related Topics:

Automatic Plot Update

Plotting Data From a Worksheet


Plot Menu Commands (Worksheet Menu Display)

The Plot menu commands provide the easiest way to create a new graph in Origin. These commands each open a new plot window from a template file, and plot the selected worksheet data against the default XY axes in that window. The commands each represent a different initial plot type. You can change the initial plot type with the Replot command in the Plot plot window display Plot menu.

Before using these commands you must select the data to be plotted. You do this by highlighting columns or ranges of data in a worksheet. If you choose a plot command without first highlighting worksheet data, Origin opens a dialog box in which you can specify the X and Y columns for this plot. You can plot any number of Y columns simultaneously.

Related Topics:

Creating a New Graph

Changing Plot Type and Details

Line

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a line graph.

Scatter

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a scatter graph.

Line + Symbol

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a line+symbol graph.

Hi-Lo-Close

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a hi-lo-close graph.

This plot type requires that you select three columns of data. The first column contains the hi values, the second column contains the lo values, and the third column contains the close values. Each related pair of hi and lo values plots as a vertical line, which is marked by a horizontal dash at the close value. This type of plot is mostly used to display stock market reports and other financial information.

Column

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a column graph.

Stack Column

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a stack column graph.

Bar

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a bar graph.

Stack Bar

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a stack bar graph.

Area

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as an area graph.

Pie Chart

Opens a sub-menu, from which you can choose one of the following:

Pie Chart: 	Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a pie chart. The format the pie chart, double-click on the pie to open the Pie Details dialog box.

Piece % Pie Chart:

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a piece % pie chart.

The piece percent pie chart requires you to select two columns of Y data for plotting. The first column determines the size of each piece of the pie. Each piece is then broken into two segments. The values in the second Y column determine the size of each inner segment in terms of percent area of the piece. Origin labels each piece with percent values that show the size of the inner segment relative to the size of the entire piece.

Polar

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a polar graph.

Double Y (Line/Symbol)

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a double Y line graph.

In a double Y graph two controlling Y axes are used, each of which can have a different axis scale. If you select and plot two columns of data, Origin plots each column against a different Y axis.

Waterfall (X Y Offset)

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a waterfall graph. A waterfall plot offsets each data plot in both X and Y direction to give a pseudo 3D effect. The nature of this plot is in the template it opens (waterfal.otp). There are buttons on this template for controlling the various display parameters on a water fall plot. You can make all the changes that you would like to see on this plot and choose File:Template:Template Save to update the template.

Line Series Chart

A Line Series Chart is used to show relations (or changes) between values in two or three columns of data. The selected columns are plotted symbols with lines connecting corresponding rows. Two new columns are inserted into the worksheet to generate the appropriate data for plotting.

Statistical Charts

Box Chart:	Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a box chart.

The box chart plots each selected column of data as a separate box, with markings that indicate the 0, 1, 5, 25, 50, 75, 95, 99, and 100 percentiles.

QC (X bar R) Chart :

Opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data as a quality control chart.

In an X bar R chart you divide the data set into subgroups, and select the number of standard deviations desired. Origin then creates two data plots, one indicating the average value of each subgroup (X bar) and one showing the range of values in each subgroup (R). Both plots are superimposed on a set of three control lines. The center line shows the data plot average, and the upper and lower lines are drawn at a distance from the average equal to the number of standard deviations you originally established.

Histogram:	Opens a new plot window, and plots each column of the selected data as a histogram and stacks them on the same page. The default template has five layers. If more columns are selected, new layers are added. You can edit the page to whatever you want and choose File:Template:Template Save to update the template.

Histogram + Probabilities:

Opens a new plot window from the Histcumu.otp template, and plots the selected data as a histogram in the bottom layer and a probability plot in the top layer.

Analysis Charts:

Linear Regression and Confidence Bands:

Opens a new plot window from the lr.otp template, and plots the selected data as a scatter plot. The lr.otp template contains a number of buttons that allow you to do a linear regression (with confidence bands) on the plotted data.

Baseline and Peak Analysis:

Opens a new plot window from the Baseline.otp template, and plots the selected data as a line plot. The Baseline.otp template contains a number of buttons that allow you to create baselines and perform peak analysis routines.

Zoom Details:

Opens a new plot window from the Zoom1.otp template, and plots the selected data as a line plot. This template includes two layers. The top layer contains a rectangular, blue AGO. Click and drag this AGO to position it over any segment of the plotted data. A magnified view of the covered data segment appears in the bottom layer.

Template..

Opens the File Open dialog box, with the .OTP file extension selected. OTP files are Origin plot window template files. If you select a template file and click OK, Origin opens a new plot window from the selected template file, and plots the selected data into the widow. The plot type(s) is whatever plot type(s) is saved along with the template file.


Column Menu Commands (Worksheet Menu Display)

Set as X

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Makes the highlighted worksheet column an X column, as indicated by an (X) in the column heading. Worksheet Y column values will plot against the values in the X column. A worksheet can have only one X column. If a worksheet has no X column, data plots against row number. Or you can set default X values for the worksheet with the Set Worksheet X command in the Data menu.

Related Topics:

Specifying Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Setting the Default X Increment

Set as Y

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Makes the highlighted worksheet column a Y column, as indicated by a (Y) in the column heading. The data in a Y column will plot as Y values against the X values in the worksheet's X column, or against the default X values for the worksheet. A worksheet can have any number of Y columns.

Related Topics:

Specifying Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Setting the Default X Increment

Set as Z

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Makes the highlighted worksheet column a Z column, as indicated by a (Z) in the column heading. A Z column can be used to plot 3D scatter plots. The first Y column to the left of the Label column will provide the Y coordinates while the X column will provide the X coordinates.

Set as Label

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Makes the highlighted worksheet column a Label column, as indicated by a (L) in the column heading. A Label column is used to create data labels. The first Y column to the left of the Label column will provide the Y coordinates while the X column will provide the X coordinates.

Disregard Column

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Instructs Origin to ignore the highlighted column. The column can not be plotted. Indicated by empty parentheses ( ) in the column heading.

Related Topic:

Disregarding a Column's Values

Set as Error Bars

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Makes the highlighted worksheet column an error bar column, as indicated by a (Er) in the column heading. The values in this column will plot as error bars for the Y column immediately to its left.

Related Topic:

Displaying Error Bars

Error Bar Options

Before selecting this command, you must first select an error bar column.

Opens the Error Bar Display dialog box for the highlighted error bar column. You can use this dialog box to set error bar plotting style, change the direction of the bars, set the error bars as absolute or relative, and delete the error bars.

Related Topic:

Formatting Error Bars

Add New Columns...

Opens a dialog box from which you can add one or more new columns to this worksheet. Just enter the number of columns you want to add. New columns are added as Y columns, and are placed to the right of the last column in the worksheet.

Related Topic:

Adding Columns

Width of Columns...

Opens a dialog box in which you can change column width for the active worksheet.

Related Topic:

Changing Column Width

Move to First

Moves the highlighted column to the first (leftmost) position on the worksheet.

Move to Last

Moves the highlighted column to the last (rightmost) position on the worksheet.

Rename/Format..

Before selecting this command, you must first select a worksheet column.

Opens the Worksheet Column Format dialog box for the selected column. You can also open this dialog box by double-clicking on a column heading. Use this dialog box to change the name of the highlighted worksheet column. The column name is used to identify this data set everywhere it appears in the document, whether as a data plot, as available data, or in the Data List.

You can also use this dialog box to change the internal data representation type for this column, set significant digits for this column, set this column to accept text values, and set other column format options.

Related Topics:

Naming a Column

Set Column as Text

Create Text, Time, or Date Tick Labels


Data Menu Commands (Worksheet Menu Display)

Set Worksheet X...

To use this command, you must remove the X column from the active worksheet.

Opens a dialog box in which you can set the initial X value and X increment for the active worksheet. When you create a graph from a worksheet that has no X column, Origin will plot data against these default X values.

Related Topics:

Specifying Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar

Deleting Rows and Columns

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Setting the Default X Increment

Show X Data

To use this command, you must remove the X column from the active worksheet.

Shows the X values associated with this worksheet. Thses X values will be identical to row number, unless you have used the Set Worksheet X command to set worksheet X values.

Set Column Values...

Opens the Set Column Values dialog box. This dialog box allows you to create a formula to be used to calculate and enter values into the selected cell or range of cells.

Related Topic:

Set Column Values

Extract Worksheet Data..

Open the Extract Worksheet Data dialog box. Extract values from the active worksheet that meet user-specified conditions, and enter these values into a new worksheet.

Related Topic:

Extract Worksheet Data

Worksheet Script..

This command opens the Worksheet Script dialog box, in which you can enter a LabTalk™ script. The script is associated with the active worksheet and can be executed from the dialog box, or executed when certain user-specified conditions are met. Each worksheet can be associated with its own script. If you create a template from the worksheet, the script is saved into the template.

Statistics on Columns

Opens a new worksheet that shows the mean, standard deviation, sum, and number of values for the highlighted columns.

Related Topic:

Statistics on Columns and Rows

Statistics on Rows

Creates two new worksheet columns that show the mean and standard deviation for the highlighted rows.

Related Topic:

Statistics on Columns and Rows

Sort (Ascending)

Arranges the selected data in order from low values to high values. Relationships between the values in X, Y, Z, and error bar columns are always maintained.

There are two ways to use this command:

1) If you select a range of values in a single column, Origin sorts ALL values on the worksheet that fall into the same rows as do the values in the selection range. For example, if you select the cells in rows 20 through 50 in column C, Origin sorts rows 20 through 50 in all worksheet columns according to the values in column C.

2) If you select a range of values in multiple columns, Origin sorts only the selected values, according to the values in the first (leftmost) column. For example, if you select the cells in rows 20 through 50 in in columns C, D, and E, Origin sorts the entire selection range, according to the values in column C.

Related Topic:

Sorting

Frequency Count

Count frequency according to a given range of worksheet values, using a given step increment, from which a histogram can be plotted.

Select a column or a range of values in a column, choose Frequency Count, then enter step increment and minimum and maximum values in the dialog box. Origin creates a set of bins, beginning at the minimum value and based on the step size. Origin then searches each bin, and records the number of times a value is encountered that falls between the minimum and maximum values you specified. Origin creates a worksheet with three columns. the first column shows the bins, the second column shows the number of hits in that bin, and the third column shows the cumulative count.

Number of values, mean, median, and standard deviation values for the worksheet column are determined simultaneously and displayed in the Script Window. The median is calculated by sorting the data, which may be time consuming if the data set is large. If so, a dialog box will appear asking if you want to skip this step.

The frequency count routine can be modified in the WKSHEET.CNF configuration file. Use any text editor to open Wksheet.cnf.

Related Topic:

Frequency Count (for plotting histogram)

Normalize...

To use this command you must first select a worksheet column (by clicking once on the column heading). Normalize... opens a dialog box in which you can enter a factor value. When you click OK, Origin divides all values in the selected column by the factor value.

Complex FFT

Performs a complex fast Fourier transform on the data. To use this command you must first select two Y columns. Origin assumes the first column to contain the real component and the second column to contain the imaginary component of the function. The number of data points in each column must be a power of 2. If not, Origin finds the closest number and an interpolation is performed on the original data.

The Complex FFTresults are displayed in a new worksheet, as both Cartesian (Real and Imaginary) values and polar (r and Phi) values. A template plot window (FFT) is opened and the r and Phi are plotted into two separate layers.

Real FFT..

Same as above except a zero imaginary component is assumed.

t-Test (One Population)

Performs Student's t-Test on the selected worksheet column, to determine whether or not the mean differ significantly from a value the user specified.

t-Test (Two Populations)

Performs Student's t-Test on the selected worksheet column and the X column, to determine whether or not the two means differ significantly.

Select a column, then choose the T-Test(Two Population) command. A dialog box prompts you for significance level (default is 0.05) and test type (Paired or Independent. Default is Independent.)

The selected column is compared with the X column for this worksheet (if there is one). The results are output to the Script Window.

The t-Test routine can be modified in the STAT.CNF configuration file. Use any text editor to open STAT.CNF.

Related Topic:

Student's t-Test (independent)

One-Way ANOVA

Performs One-Way ANOVA on the selcted columns. The means and variance of the columns are computed and ANOVA calculation determines whether the means are significantly different. The scirpt for this command can be modified in the STAT.CNF file.

Multiple Regression

Perform multiple regression on worksheet data. To use this command you must first select one or more worksheet columns.

The first column on the worksheet (the first worksheet column, not the first selected column) is always assumed to contain the dependent variables. The selected worksheet column(s) are assumed to contain independent variables. Note that column designations are ignored for this command. It does not matter if your dependent or independent variables are in X columns or Y columns.

Once you have selected column(s) for independent variables, select the Multiple Regression... command. Origin performs the multiple regression, and copies the parameters to the script window.


Printing the Page

To print the page in a plot window:

1) Select a plot window.

2) For a WYSIWYG preview of your work prior to printing, check to be sure that you are in Page Preview viewing mode.

3) Select Page Setup from the File menu. Set the appropriate printer options, then click OK.

4) Select Print from the File menu.

Origin use both bitmap and vector fonts from Windows. The bitmap fonts are better looking but may not be sized exactly when printing or when pasted into other applications. Unless you have a PostScript printer, or are using typeface scaling software such as Adobe Type Manager, you will get the best results using the Windows vector fonts: Roman, Modern, or Script.


Setting Start-up Preferences

Each time Origin is launched, the program reads the ORIGIN.INI initialization file. This file determines many of Origin's default start-up settings.

The ORIGIN.INI initialization file default settings are all user-definable.

To set Origin start-up preferences:

1) Use a text editing program (for example, Windows Notepad), to open the ORIGIN.INI file. It is located in the [origin] directory.

2) Scroll through the text to find the initialization parameters you want to change. Instructions for changing the parameters are included in the ORIGIN.INI file.

3) Save and close the file. Reboot Origin to enact your changes.

User-definable start-up preferences in ORIGIN.INI are organized into a number of sections, including the following:

[Config]	Specify which .CNF (configuration) files will be included. CNF files can perform a number of program configuration procedures, including create new Origin menus or menu commands.

[Document]	Specifies the creation of a file to contain system variables, which can be carried over from one document to another.

[Options]	Set default Options menu settings (on (1) or off (0)).

[Display]	Set window update criteria; data point display upper limit (use these two preferences for display optimization); set spline resolution; set axis and label grid sizes; determine how missing data are plotted; set default data plot color and line width.

[Axis]	Set default axis line width and color; major and minor grid line width, color, and dash pattern; default label color; major and minor tick length; tick in and tick out gap (distance from tick mark to tick label); title gap (distance from tick label to axis title); set log scale exponent display.

[Font]	Set default font type and point size.

[Symbol]	Border width (also sets graph drop-down line width). Line/Symbol gap (sets gap between data trace and data symbols).

[Text]	Set line-spacing, sub-script size, sub-script and super-script offset.; restrict screen display to system font only (for display optimization).

[Dash]	Length of line, gap width, use Origin or device-driver dash type.

[Data]	Double precision or floating point variable type.

[Math]	Set angular unit to radian, degree, or Grad.

[Import]	Set ASCII file import termionaton event.


Creating a Blank Page

Each Origin plot window contains a blank page.

Opening a new plot window creates a blank page.


Master Page
Using the Master Page

Allows you to create a page layout, which can be set to appear on every page in every plot window in a document.

To create a master pagedef_master_page:

1) Select Open Master Page from the Template sub-menu in the File menu. The Master Page plot window opens.

2) Create a page layout. Add master items. text, labels, page colors, layers, etc. Plotted data can not be included on the Master Page.

3) Select Save Template from the Template sub-menu.

4) Click OK. The master page automatically saves as MASTER.OTP.

To display master items:

1) Open the Master Page.

2) Select Display Master Items from the Options menu.

All plot windows will display the master page items until the Master Page is closed, or the Display Master Items command is de-activated.

Related Topics:

Plot Window Templates

Setting the Default Plot Window


Zooming the Page

The four zoom commands allow you to move easily to any point on the page.

To zoom the page, select a zoom command from the plot window display Page menu:

Zoom In/Zoom Out:	Expand or contract your view of the page.

Zoom Layer to Window:	Center active layer in plot window.

Fit Page to Window:	Return to original full-page view.


Rotating the Page

The page in a plot window can be rotated to a vertical (portrait) or horizontal (landscape) orientation.

To rotate the page:

• Select Rotate Page from the Page menu. Rotate Page toggles between vertical and horizontal page orientation.

Origin maintains the relative position of graphic elements on the page, and automatically fits these graphic elements to the new page orientation.

Hint: 	When printing a plot, remember to check the printer page orientation settings under Page Setup in the File menu. The printer setting and the Origin page setting should match (Origin will warn you if they do not match).


Setting the View Mode

Each plot window can be set to one of the following four view modes. View mode is selected from the Page menu. The currently selected view mode will be checkmarked.

Page Preview

A true WYSIWYG view mode. Shows a page that corresponds exactly to the page in your hard copy device. Font information is received directly from the output device driver, so exact on-screen positioning of text and graphics is guaranteed.

Page View

Page View provides a faster screen redraw than page preview. In this view mode Origin receives font information from the screen driver. Therefore, exact text placement on the page is not guaranteed unless you are using a typeface scaler (such as Adobe Type Manager).

Window View

Expands the page to fill up the entire plot window. Buttons are not visible in Window View mode.

Draft View

Fastest view mode. The display automatically fills the entire plot window, making for easy-to-read on-screen data display. You cannot rotate the page while in Screen View. Text formatting (color, italics, supercripts, etc.) is not visible in this view mode. Text rotation is disabled.

You may print the page while in any view mode. The page will always print in the WYSIWYG, Page Preview display.


Coloring the Page

To color a page:

1) Select a plot window.

2) Select Page Control... from the Page menu (or double-click anywhere within the plot window, as long as it is not on another graphic element). The Page Control dialog box opens.

3) Click on the Color Page button. The Page Color dialog box opens.

4) Choose a base color from the dialog box. You can also choose a gradient color, if you like.

5) Select Base Color Only to apply the base color evenly to the entire page.

Select an option button in the Start Gradient From box if you want to shade the base color gradually into the gradient color across the page.

Select No Color to revert to a white page.

6) Choose OK.

The page redraws in the chosen color(s).


Merging Pages

All layers in all open plot windows in a document can be combined onto one page in one window. Iconized windows are ignored when merging pages.

To merge all pages:

1) Select the destination plot window.

2) Choose Merge All Pages from the Page menu.

3) Α warning dialog box appears. Click OK to proceed.

All layers redraw on the page in the active plot window. All other plot windows close.


Adding a Layer

When you open a plot window, it already shows a single layer on the page. Use this command to add a new layer to the page.

Each layer is a separate graph composed of axes, data plots, and text and graphic labels. Using multiple layers on a page allows you to create graph inserts and other page layouts involving multiple graphs. You can also link two or more layers together, and relate the linked layers by size, position, and axes scale.

 To add a new layer to a page:

1) Select New Layer (Axes) from the Page menu.

2) Choose an axes configuration from the New Layer (Axes) sub-menu.

If you choose the Normal layer option from the sub-menu, the added layer will be independent of all other layers on the page. If you choose one of the Linked layer options, the added (child) layer links to the layer with the next highest layer number (the parent layer). Though you can manipulate the child layer independently, if you align, move, or scale the parent, the child layer follows suit. To change layer link options, or to link layer axes scales, see Setting Layer Link Options.

Up to twelve layers can be placed on each page. Each layer is identified by a unique layer icon. Each layer will support multiple data plots.

Related Topics:

Choose Active Layer

Select Layer

Resize Layer

Move a Layer


Setting Layer Link Options

You can link two or more layers together, and relate the layers in terms of relative size, relative position, and axes scale. In all other respects the two layers remain independent. The controlling, or parent layer always has a lower layer number than the controlled, or child layer. Since layer 1 has the lowest number, it can be only a parent layer, never a child.

Layer link options are set from the Layer Control dialog box.

To link two layers together, either:

• Choose one of the three linked layer options from the Page:New layer (Axes) command sub-menu. This adds a new layer to the page (the child layer), and automatically links it to the layer with the next highest layer number (the parent layer), or

• Double-click on the layer icon of the child layer to open the Layer Control dialog box, then select a parent layer from the Link to menu.

To set layer link options:

1) Double-click on the layer icon of the child layer to open Layer Control.

2) To relate the child to the parent in terms of relative size and position, select % of Linked Layer from the Units menu, then set layer size and offset values in the size and offset text boxes. The values are evaluated relative to the parent layer. For example, offset values of Left = 0 and Top = 100 align the child layer immediately below the parent, and flush left. To set the child and parent equal in size, enter Height and Width values of 100.

3) To relate the child to the parent in terms of axis scale, click on the Link Axes... button. The Link Axes dialog box opens. You can now set link options separately for both the X and the Y axes. No Link means the axes scales remain independent. Straight Link means the child's axis scale remains identical to the parent's axis scale. Custom Link lets you enter any mathematical expression to establish a custom relation between the two axes. This relation can be in terms of the parent layer axis scale. For example, here are some valid custom link expressions: X1 = X2 + 10; Y1 = X2^2; Y2 = Y2; X2 = X2/Y1.

Related Topic:

Adding a Layer


Choosing the Active Layer

When there is more than one layer on a page, plotting, labeling, and other pertinent operations will be performed on the active layer.

To make a layer the active layer, click once on either:

• The layer's X or Y axes (or anywhere within the frame).

• The layer icon associated with that layer

• A data set or label associated with that layer.

The active layer's layer icon will depress, and its number will darken, to indicate that the layer is active. If the Active Layer Indicator option in the Options menu is on, the layer axes will darken as well.

To de-select the active layer, choose another layer as active.

Related Topic:

Selecting a Layer


Selecting a Layer

Before a layer can be moved, resized, or deleted it must first be selected.

To select a layer:

• Click once on either the X or Y axis of the active layer.

A dotted boundary square will appear around the layer frame, indicating that the layer is selected.

Related Topics:

Choosing the Active Layer

Moving a Layer

Resizing a Layer

Removing a Layer


Resizing a Layer

To resize a layer with the mouse:

1) Select the layer to be resized. A boundary square appears.

2) Click in the size box in the lower right corner of the boundary square.

3) Drag the mouse to resize the layer, then release the mouse.

4) Click anywhere outside of the layer to deselect it. The layer redraws at the new size.

To precisely resize a layer numerically:

1) Open the Layer Control dialog box for the layer.

2) Select the units - % of page, inch, cm, mm, pixel, point - from the Units menu.

3) Enter width and height values in the in the appropriate text boxes in the Frame control group.

4) Click OK.

Note that when you resize a layer, all layer elements - axes, labels, and plotted data - are resized simultaneously, and kept to scale.


Hide/Show Frame
Hide/Show Layer Frame

The frame is a rectangular box, drawn at the normal position of the four layer axes. The frame is independent of the axes. When you color a layer, the color appears within the frame boundaries. You can use the frame to quickly delimit the layer axes boundaries.

To hide or show the layer frame:

•  Select Show Frame from the plot window display Plot menu. The command is checkmarked when active. When checked, the frame is visible.

• To hide the frame, select the command again.

Related Topic:

Hide/Show X, Y Axes


Fitting a Layer to the Page

To automatically size and scale a layer to fit to the page:

1) Choose an active layer.

2) Select Fit Layer to Page from the Page menu.

All graphic elements in a layer are sized and scaled proportionally.

Related Topics:

Arranging Multiple Layers on the Page

Aligning Axes to the Grid


Moving a Layer

To move a layer around the page:

1) Select the layer to be moved. A boundary square appears around the selected layer.

2) Click anywhere inside the selected layer, and drag to a new position.

3) Click anywhere outside the selected layer to de-select it.

To precisely move a layer numerically:

1) Open the Layer Control dialog box for the layer.

2) Enter position values in the Left and Top Offset text boxes in the Frame control group.

3) Select the units - % of page, inch, cm, mm, pixel, point - from the Units menu.

4) Click OK.

Note that a label can be moved independently of its parent layer. When the layer is moved, however, all associated labels and data plots move with it.

Related Topics:

Aligning Axes to the Grid

Arranging Multiple Layers on the Page


Removing a layer

To remove a layer from the page:

1) Select a layer. A boundary square appears around the selected layer.

2) Choose Clear from the Edit menu, or press the Delete key.

A dialog box asks if you want to remove this layer.

3) Click OK to remove the layer.

The layer - including all associated labels and plotted data - disappears. Note that removing a layer in which data has been plotted does not delete the associated data sets. Only the data plot is removed.


Hide/Show Layer Elements

To hide/show layer elements for an individual layer:

1) Open the Layer Control dialog box for the layer.

2) Click in the appropriate check box to show that element for the layer: X axis, Y axis, labels, or data. Unchecked layer elements are hidden.

3) Click OK.

To hide all layer elements on the page:

• To hide all data, select Hide All Data from the Options menu.

• To hide all labels, select Hide All Labels from the Options menu.

All Options menu commands are active when checkmarked. Select the menu option again to make the data or labels visible.

All Options menu commands are global options. When active, they will always affect any open document.

Related Topic:

Hide/Show X, Y Axes


Hiding Other Layers

To hide all layers on a page except the active layer:

• Select Hide Other Layers from the Options menu.

A checkmark appears to show that the command is active. The other layers still exist, but are now hidden from view.

To view all layers:

• Select Hide All Layers again from the Options menu.

All layers will become visible, and the checkmark will disappear.

Hide Other Layers (and all other Options menu commands) is a global option. As long as it is activated, it affects all plot windows in the current document.


Layer Color and Background
Layer Color and Border

To change layer color or background type:

1) Double-click on a Layer Icon to open the Layer Control dialog box for that layer.

2) Choose a layer color or border type from the color or border menu.

3) Activate the color or border option by clicking in the appropriate checkbox.

4) Click OK. Layer color is displayed within the layer frame. Border style extends to just beyond the frame.


Set Layer Element Scale Factor

When you resize a layer, each graphic element is resized proportionally. This is accomplished by multiplying each element by the same scale factor. Scale factor starts at 1. Shrink a layer by half, and its scale factor becomes .5. Font size, line width, and similar settings remain the same; only scale factor changes.

Though scale factor is normally set automatically, it can be set manually.

To set scale factor manually:

1) Open the Layer Control dialog box.

2) Click in the Fixed Factor option button, and enter a scale value.

3) Click OK.

When you specify a scale factor value, all layer elements draw at that scale factor, regardless of layer size. If you set a scale factor of .5, for example, all layer elements draw at one-half their actual size, regardless of the size of the layer.

Hint:	If you have two (or more) layers on a page that are of slightly different sizes, and you want text in both layers to draw at the same size, apply the same scale factor to both.

Caution: If the scale factor is less than .1, the layer disappears. Should this occur, simply enter a scale factor of .1 or greater to correct the problem.


Arranging Multiple Layers on the Page

You can use the mouse to reposition layers on the page. You can also use the Page:Arrange All Layers command, which provides an automated method for arranging layers.

To quickly arrange multiple layers on the page:

1) Select a plot window, then select the Page:Arrange All Layers command. A dialog box opens.

2) Enter row and column numbers, and click OK. Origin creates a grid of this size, arranges the layers to fit the grid, creates additional layers to fill the grid if necessary, and opens another dialog box.

3) In this second dialog box you can specify the vertical distance between rows of layers (vertical gap), horizontal distance between columns of layers (horizontal gap), and the right, left, top,and bottom page margins.

Note that the above procedure may alter the shape and dimensions of the axes, though relative position of layer elements will not change, nor will data representation be affected.

Related Topics:

Aligning Axes to the Grid

Adding a Layer

Resizing a Layer

Moving a Layer


Aligning Axes to the Grid

To align the layer axes (frame) to a grid on the page:

1) Select Snap Axis to Grid from the Options menu.

2) Select a layer.

3) Move the selected layer to approximately where you want it.

4) Click outside the boundary square to deselect the layer.

The layer axes will snap to the nearest grid line.

Axis grid size is a user-definable value. It can be set as a start-up preference in the Display section of the ORIGIN.INI initialization file.

Related Topic:

Aligning Labels to the Grid


Creating a New Graph

To plot worksheet data into a new plot window:

1) Activate the worksheet containing the data you want to plot.

2) Select the column(s), row(s), or range of cells to be plotted. The selected values will automatically plot against the values in the worksheet X column (or against row number if there is no X column), even if the X column is not selected.

3) Select a plot type from the Plot menu. Origin opens a new plot window, and plots the selected data into the default layer. Available plot types include:

Line	Scatter	Column	Stack Column	Line+Symbol

Bar	Stack Bar	Area	Hi-Lo-Close	Piece % Pie

Box	Double Y	Pie	QC Chart	Polar

Waterfall	Histogram

If you select a Plot command without first highlighting a range of worksheet data, Origin opens a dialog box in which you can specify by name which column contains the X values for this plot, and which column(s) you want to plot as Y values. You can also disable the worksheet X column from within this dialog box, and specify entirely new X values.

Hint:	If you simultaneously plot data from two or more worksheet columns, the data will plot as a group. When you change the plot type of a data plot in a plot group, all members of the group change.

Related Topics:

Entering Worksheet Data From the Keyboard

Specify worksheet column designation

Changing Default X Values for a Worksheet


Adding a Data Plot to a Graph

To plot data from a worksheet into an existing layer:

1) Activate the worksheet containing the data you want to plot.

2) Select the column(s), row(s), or range of cells to be plotted. The selected values will automatically plot against the values in the worksheet X column (or against row number if there is no X column), even if the X column is not selected.

2) Select the plot window into which you want to plot the data.

3) Select the layer to which you want to add a new data plot (only necessary if there are multiple layers on the page).

4) Choose Add Plot to Layer from the Plot menu, and select a plot type from the sub-menu.

Note that if you simultaneously plot data from two or more worksheet columns, the data will plot as a group.

To plot data from the Layer Control dialog box into an existing layer:

The Layer Control dialog box contains an Available Data list showing all the data sets in a document. You can move any of these data sets into or out of the active layer from within this dialog box.

1) Double-click on the Layer Icon for the layer into which you want to add a data plot. This opens the Layer Control dialog box for that layer.

2) Click to select one or more data sets from the Available Data list.

3) Click on the => button. The selected data set(s) appears in the Layer Contents box.

4) Click OK to plot the data.

Related Topics:

Entering Worksheet Data From the Keyboard

Changing Default X Values for a Worksheet

Specifying Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar

Removing a Data Plot From a Layer


Change Plot Type
Changing Plot Type

To change the plot type of a data plot or plot group:

1) Double-click on the data plot, or set the data plot as active, then select the data plot name from the Data List. The Plot Details dialog box opens.

2) Select a new plot type from the Plot Type menu.

You cannot change the plot type for pie charts or data labels.

Related Topic:

Formatting a Data Plot


Formatting a Data Plot

To format a data plot or plot group:

1) Double-click on the data plot you want to change, or double-click in the legend on the plot type icon for this data plot. This opens a controlling dialog box for that type of data plot:

If You Double-Click On A	This Dialog Box Opens

Pie plot	Pie Styling

Data Label	Data Label Display

All others	Plot Details

2) Use the dialog box controls to change the plot format.

To set a special format for an individual data point or column/bar:

1) CTRL + double-click to open the Plot Details dialog box for a single data point or column/bar.

2) For a data point you can use the dialog box controls to change the color, symbol attributes, or add a drop line. For a column/bar you can change all of the border and fill attributes.

3) To delete the special format, click once on the data point or column/bar to select the special format tag.

4) Press DELETE to delete the special formatting.

Related Topics:

Change Plot Type

Incrementing Grouped Data


Plotting User-Defined Functions

Origin lets you plot any user-defined function of the form y=f(x).

To plot a function:

1) Choose File:New:Function Plot. The Function Control dialog box opens.

2) Enter a mathematical expression. You can use any of the operators or functions that Origin recognizes.

3) Click OK to plot the function in a new plot window (named Function1, 2, 3, ...etc). Click Copy to Data Set to create a data set from the function, and plot the data set in a new plot window entitled FUNCTODATASET.

4) You can click on the buttons in the function window to rename, rescale, change to polar coordinates, and perform several other operations on the plotted function.

Hint:	The Copy to Data Set feature uses the function to create a data set with a finite number of points (the function itself is only a description, without discrete, defined values). When you double-click on a plotted function, the Function Control dialog box opens. When you double-click on a plotted data set, the Plot Details dialog box opens.

To add a function to a layer:

1) Click on the layer to make it active.

2) Select PLOT:ADD NEW FUNCTION...

3) Go to step 2 above. When you click OK, the function plots into the active layer.

Related Topic:

User-Defined Functions


Plotting Multiple Data Sets as a Group

When you plot data from two or more worksheet columns at the same time, the data plot as a group. A plot group can be set to automatically increment by color, pattern, symbol, and (for column and box graphs) interior pattern. Incremental options are set in the Plot Details dialog box.

Data can be grouped and ungrouped in the Layer Control dialog box.

To group data:

1) Open the Layer Control dialog box.

2) Click in the Layer Contents box on the data sets that you want to group. SHIFT-click for multiple selection. Ctrl-click for discontinuous multiple selection.

3) Click on the Group button (it will change into the Ungroup button).

4) Choose OK.

The selected data will plot as a group. The members of a plot group are indicated (in the Data List and in the Layer Control dialog box) by a lower-case g, followed by a number. Each plot group has a unique number.

To ungroup data:

1) Open the Layer Control dialog box.

2) Select a plot group in the Layer Contents box.

3) Click on the Ungroup button (it will change into the Group button).

You can also ungroup data from within the Plot Details dialog box. Double-click on a plot group (or select Plot:Replot) to open the Plot Details dialog, then click on the Ungroup button.

Related Topics:

Incrementing Grouped Data

Plotting Data From a Worksheet


Incrementing Grouped Data

When you plot from two or more worksheet columns at once, you create a plot group. The data plots in a plot group are related by plot type - all line plots, all column plots, etc. To easily differentiate between them, the members of a plot group can be set to automatically increment by color, dash pattern, symbol, and (for column and box plots) interior color or pattern.

To change the increment style for a plot group:

1) Double-click on a data plot in the group to open the Plot Details dialog box.

2) Set the Incremental options by clicking in the appropriate check boxes.

3) Click OK.

The plot group replots with the selected incremental options.

The possible Incremental options are: color, dash pattern, symbol (for Line/Symbol graph); interior color or pattern (for Column graph).

Related Topic:

Plotting Multiple Data Sets as a Group


Plotting Data From an ASCII File

Origin can read directly into a plot window any ASCII file that stores data in columns..

To plot data from a file:

1) Select a layer.

2) If you like, you can select ASCII Options from the File menu. A dialog box opens in which you can specify file import characteristics.

3) Choose Import ASCII... from the File menu. The File Open dialog box appears.

4) Select a directory, then select an ASCII data file (data files have the extension .DAT).

5) Click OK to plot the data.

The first column of data supplies X values for the graph. All other columns will plot as line graphs against these X values. If the imported data file contains only one column of data, Origin will ask you to specify default X values for this graph. If the file contains multiple data sets, they will plot as a group.

Hint:	To change the X, Y, and error bar column designations for an imported data file, first import the data into a worksheet, then specify worksheet column type.

Related Topics:

Changing Plot Type and Plot Details

Plotting Data From a Worksheet


Live Link to Worksheet

When you plot data from a worksheet, the worksheet and data plot remain linked. If you change the values in the worksheet, the data plot will change (just as if you delete data from the data plot, the worksheet changes). Normally, the data plot updates the next time you select that plot window. The live link to worksheet enables the data plot to update instantly, as soon as you enter new worsheet values.

To create a live link between a worksheet and related data plots:

1) Select a worksheet.

2) Choose Active Plot Update from the Edit menu. The command is checkmarked to show that it is selected.

Related Topic:

Plotting Data From a Worksheet


Plotting Error Bars

Each data set in a worksheet can have one or more related error bar columns. The error bar column(s) must be located immediately to the right of the Y column to which the error relates.

You can plot error bars along with the associated data when you first create a graph, or you can add error bars to an existing data plot.

To plot error bars and associated data at the same time:

1) Enter your X, Y, and error bar data into three separate worksheet columns. The error data must be in the column immediately to the right of the Y data.

2) Highlight the column with the error data (by clicking on the column heading), and select Column Set as Error Bars. This sets the highlighted column as an error bar column. Use the same procedure to make sure your X and Y data are in correctly designated columns.

3) Click and drag on the column headings to select both the Y and the error bar column.

4) Select one of the plotting commands from the Plot menu. The Y data plots in a new plot window, with error bars derived from the error bar column.

To add error bars to an existing data plot:

1) Select the data plot to which you want to add error bars.

2) Select a worksheet error bar column that contains error values, activate the plot window containing the plotted data, then choose Add Error Bars... from the Plot menu. The error values plot as error bars for the active data plot,

-or-

Choose Add Error Bars... from the Plot menu (with no error bar column selected). The Error Bars dialog box opens. Select one of the error bar options from the dialog box:

• % of data: Enter a percent value. Origin creates a worksheet column, calculates error values, enters them in the column, and plots the values.

• Standard deviation of data: Origin calculates the standard deviation for the active data plot, then creates a worksheet column, enters and plots the error values.

• Worksheet column: Enter the name of the worksheet column from which you want Origin to get the error values. Column must be located on the active worksheet.

• New worksheet column: Create a new worksheet column in which you can enter error values for the active data plot.

Related Topic:

Formatting Error Bars


Formatting Error Bars

To change error bar display options:

1) Double-click on an error bar to open the Error Bar Control dialog box. Or you can set the error bars as active by selecting the error bar data set from the Data List in the Data menu, and then select Replot from the Data menu.

2) Use the dialog box controls to change the error bar display options, and click OK.

The following display options can be set in the Error Bar Control dialog box:

• Apply to All:

Apply these error bar settings to all other error bars in this layer.

• Plus or Minus Error Bars:

Select Plus (above the curve for Y error bars, to the right of the curve for X error bars) and/or Minus (below curve for Y, to the right for X) error bars.

• X Error Bars:

Check this option to switch from Y (vertical) to X (horizontal) error bars.

• Absolute/Relative:

Affects error bar direction. Check Absolute to display plus Y error bars pointing up, and minus Y error bars pointing down. Check Relative to display plus Y error bars pointing away from zero, and minus Y error bars pointing towards zero.

• Line and Cap Width:

Set error bar line and cap width in millimeters.

• Through Symbol:

Display error bars either in front of or behind the data point symbols.

• Delete:

Clicking on the Delete button will delete the error bars from the data plot, and also delete the error bar column from the worksheet.

• Worksheet

Clicking on the Worksheet button will select the worksheet containing these error bar values as the active window.

X, Y, plus, and minus error bar formatting styles are indicated in the error bar worksheet column heading.

Related Topic:

Plotting Error Bars


Selecting the Active Data Plot

Math and graphic operations are always performed on either the display range or, if the data markers have been moved, on the selected data in the active data plot. If multiple data plots are plotted in a layer, you must select a data plot before performing any operations on the data.

To select the active data plot:

1) Select the layer containing the data plot you want to select.

2) Choose a data set from the data list in the plot window display Data menu.

A checkmark will appear next to the data set you select, indicating that it is now active.

To set a plot group as active, choose the first member of the group from the data list.

Hint:	The data list shows all data sets currently plotted in the active layer.


Selecting a Segment of Plotted Data

A segment of the display range of a data plot can be selected, allowing math and editing operations to be carried out on this segment alone.

To select a plot segment:

 • Use the Data Selector tool.

Selecting a plot segment is exactly analogous to selecting a block of worksheet data.

Related Topic:

Enlarging a Data Plot


Specifying the Plot Display Range

A display range can be specified for any data plot. Only the data that fall within the display range will be visible as plotted data. Math and editing operations are performed only on the current display range.

To set the data plot display range:

1) Select a data plot.

2) Use the Data Marker tool to select a plot segment.

3) Choose Set Display Range from the Data menu.

You can also set the display range from the Layer Control dialog box. Double-click on the layer icon to open Layer Control, and click on a data set in the Layer Contents list. Now click on the Range... button. A dialog box opens in which you can set the display range for the selected data plot.

To view the entire data plot again set the data plot as active, then choose Reset to Full Range from the Data menu.

Setting the display range for a data plot is exactly analogous to setting the display range for a worksheet column.


Enlarging a Data Plot

A data plot can be enlarged for a close-up view. This is done by either selecting a segment of a data plot to be enlarged, or by specifying an axis scale display range.

To enlarge a segment of a data plot:

 • Use the Enlarger tool.

To specify the axis scale display range:

1) Open the X or Y Axes Control dialog box.

2) Click on the By: option button next to the scale to/by text box.

3) Enter a display boundary value in the to/by text box.

4) Enter a value in the From edit field.

5) Click OK.

The axis redraws to begin at the From value, and extend for a distance of By units. For example, if you enter 10 in the to/by edit field, and 50 in the From edit field, the axis begins at 50, and extends for a distance of 10 units. The final axis value is 60.

Related Topics:

Clipping Plotted Data

Selecting a Segment of Plotted Data

Specifying the Data Plot Display Range


Clipping Plotted Data

It is possible to clip those portions of a data plot that extend outside the layer bounds. This is most often necessary when a data plot has been enlarged with the Enlarger tool.

To clip a data plot:

1) Select Clip Data to Frame from the plot window display Plot menu. Any data that extends beyond the layer frame is clipped.

2) To change the clipping margins, select Clipping Margins... from the Plot menu. Enter positive or negative values into the X axis and/or Y axis % boxes. This sets the margin inside or outside the X and Y axes at which the data are clipped.


Determining the X,Y Values of Any Point

To identify the X,Y values of any point in a layer:

• Use the Screen Reader tool.

To identify the X,Y values of a plotted data point:

• Use the Data Reader tool.


Viewing Worksheet Values for Plotted Data

Every data plot in an Origin document has a related worksheet. The worksheet need not be open, but is always accessible.

To view the X,Y worksheet values for the active data plot:

1) Open the Plot Details dialog box.

2) Click on the Worksheet button.

To view plotted error bar values for the active error bar data set:

1) Open the Error Bar Display dialog box.

2) Click on the Worksheet button.

Related Topic:

Copying and Pasting Plotted Data


Removing Plotted Data from a Layer

To remove plotted data from a layer:

1) Double-click on the Layer Icon for the layer containing the plotted data you wish to remove. This opens the Layer Control dialog box for that layer.

2) Select a data set in the Layer Contents list.

3) Click on the <= button. The data set is removed from the Layer Contents list.

4) Click OK.

Though the data is removed from the active layer, it will remain listed as Available Data.

Related Topic:

Deleting a Data Set From the Document


Copying and Pasting Plotted Data

To copy the X and/or Y values for a data plot or plot segment, and paste them to a worksheet:

1) Use the Data Marker tool, or choose the Data Marker command from the plot window display Data menu, to select a segment of plotted data.

2) Select Copy from the Edit menu.

3) Open or select a worksheet, and highlight a column or a block of cells. You must select at least as many cells as there are values to be pasted.

4) Select Paste from the Edit menu.

To paste copied values into a layer, select a layer and chose Paste from the Edit menu.

Hint:	Remember to select cells in two columns if you want both X and Y data to be pasted. If you select cells in only one column, only X data is pasted.


Adding and Editing Labels

To add labels to a layer:

To add text, use the Text tool.

To add arrows, use the Arrow tool or the Curved Arrow tool.

To add lines, use the Line tool.

To add shapes, use the Rectangle tool or the Circle tool.

To add axis titles, use the Axis Style dialog box.

To edit labels once they are added to a layer:

Double-click on text to open the Text Control dialog box.

Double-click on arrow, curved arrow, or line to open the Arrow Control dialog box.

Double-click on rectangle or circle to open the Shape Control dialog Box.

Related Topics:

Adding a Legend

Moving a Label

Adding and Editing Data Labels


Add and Edit Data Labels
Adding and Editing Data Labels

Origin lets you enter text labels into a worksheet column, then plot the labels at the XY coordinates of the Y column immediately to the left. Values plotted in this manner are called Data Labels. Data labels make it easy to annotate individual data points or axis scale values.

To plot data labels

1) Enter numeric data into a Y column.

2) Double-click on the column heading of the column immediately to the right of the Y column (add or insert a new column if necessary). When the Worksheet Column Format dialog box opens, select Text from the Column Type menu (this allows you to enter text values into this column). Click OK.

3) Make sure the new column is still highlighted, then select the Column:Set as L command. This changes the column to a L (label) column.

4) Enter into the L column the text values you wish to plot as data labels.

5) Select both the Y and the L columns. To plot the data, choose one of the plot commands from the Plot menu. The Y data plot as a data plot. The L data plot as data labels for the corresponding XY data points.

To reposition and format data labels

1) Double-click on the plotted data labels (or select the data label name from the Data menu, then select the Plot:Replot... command.)

The Data Label Display dialog box opens. Use this dialog box to set data label font style, justification, offset, rotation, or to attach the labels to the X or Y axis.


Moving a Label

To move a label around the page:

• Click once on a label to select it and, while holding down the mouse button, drag the label to a new page location.

Note that a label can be moved independently of its parent layer. When the layer is moved, however, all associated labels and data plots move with it (although you can use the Label Control dialog box to set a label as independent of any layer).

Related Topics:

Adding and Editing Labels

Aligning Labels to the Grid


Text Formatting

Text formatting commands always begin with a backslash ( \ ), and are followed directly by a control character, and finally by the text to be altered. The altered text must be enclosed in parentheses.

To format text, first open the Text Control dialog box. The available formatting commands are listed below. The Text Control dialog box also contains several buttons that allow you to add certain text formatting options with a single click.

     script

super\+(script)	super

sub\-(script)	sub

    script

     super

script\=(sub,super)	script

     sub

Change \p180(point) size	Change point size (enter percent of current text size after control character. 200 doubles the size, 100 means no change).

\i(italics)	italics

\b(bold)	bold

\g(greek)	γρεεκ (Greek symbols).

ASCII symbols \(0190,0169)	ASCII symbols ¾ © (Enter the ASCII character code).

Change font \f:script(type)	Change font type (Type f (for font), a colon, then the font name. You can abbreviate the name, as long as you use enough letters for the name to be unique).

Red, white, and\C4(blue)	Red, white, and blue (The number (1 to 18) determines the color).

\b(You \i(\C4(can mix)) commands)	You can mix commands (Nested formatting command).

To use Greek symbols you must either have the Symbol font in your printer, or have font generation software, e.g., Adobe Type Manager. The \g switch uses symbol font by default. You can set it to use any font by changing the Greek Font Name parameter in the [Text] section of the ORIGIN.INI file.

The sample document TEXT.ORG, located in the Origin samples directory, contains several instructive text formatting examples.

Super- and sub-script offset, and sub-script point size, are user-definable values. These values can be  set as start-up preferences in the Text section of the ORIGIN.INI initialization file.


Adding a Legend
Adding a Legend to a Layer

To add a legend to a layer:

• Choose New Legend... from the plot window menu display Plot menu.

A legend is added to the active layer, indicating each data plot in the layer by data set name and by type of graph. If the layer already contains a legend, then the legend is updated to reflect any changes you have made.

To edit a legend

• Double-click on a legend data plot icon to open the Plot Details dialog box for that data plot.

• Double-click on the legend text to open the Text Control dialog box for that text label.

Note that in the Text Control dialog box, the legend is expressed as two groups of control characters, for example:

\L(1) %(1)

The current plot type icon and data set name are substituted for the these control characters when the legend is updated. The \L group returns the plot type icon, and the % group returns the data set name. The numbers in parentheses indicate a position in the Data List (in the Data menu). The plot type icon and data set name are returned for the data set at the specified position in the data list.

For a complete description of creating and editing legends, see the Legend command section in the Plot Window Menu Reference of your Origin Users Manual.

Related Topic:

Naming a Data Set


Aligning Labels to the Grid

To align labels to a grid on the page:

1) Select Snap Labels to Grid from the Options menu.

2) Select a label

3) Move the label to approximately where you want it.

4) Click outside the boundary square to deselect the label.

The label will snap to the nearest grid line.

Label grid size is a user-definable value. It can be set as a start-up preference in the Display section of the ORIGIN.INI initialization file.

Related Topic:

Aligning Axes to the Grid


Active Cell

A single highlighted cell in the active worksheet.


Active Data Plot

The data plot whose related data set is currently checkmarked in the Data List (in the Data menu). A data plot must be set as active before math and editing operations can be performed on it.


Active Data Set

The data set that is checkmarked in the Data List in the Data menu.


Active Graphic Objects™ (AGO's)

An AGO (also called a Button) is a graphic element (text, arrows, shapes, or pictures) that has been associated with a LabTalk™ script. When you click on, move, resize, DDE message, or otherwise manipulate the graphic element, the associated script is executed. Use the Label Control dialog box to create AGO's.


Active Layer

The layer that you are currently working with is the active layer. Only one layer can be active at a time. Click on a layer or its layer icon to make that layer the active layer. Plotting, labeling, and other pertinent operations can be carried out only on the active layer.


Active Window

The currently operative window in a document, either a plot window or a worksheet. Will be checkmarked in the Window List under the Window menu. Click on a window to make it the active window, or select the window from the Window List.


Arrow Tool

A toolbox tool used to add arrows to a layer.


Available Data

All data sets in a document that are currently available to be plotted. This includes all data sets in all worksheet columns that are currently designated as Y, Z, or error bar columns. It does not include data in columns currently designated as X or disregarded. Available data sets are listed in the Layer Control dialog box.


Axis

One of no more than four lines of reference that define a coordinate system. Axes determine the origin and scaling of a plot. In Origin, an axis or set of axes is the defining characteristic of a layer.


Axis Break

A gap inserted into an X or Y axis indicating that a range of values has not been represented on the graph. Axis breaks are set from within the Axis Break dialog box.

Most often useful to skip over long segments of uninteresting data, or to compress data so that the final values are visible.


Boundary Square

A dotted rectangular outline that surrounds a label to show that the label is currently selected, or surrounds the layer frame to show that the entire layer is currently selected.


Chart Types

A chart is a graphic presentation of data from a worksheet. Origin offers a number of unique chart types that make it easy to instantly view your data in meaningful ways. Chart types include:

• Pie	• Piece % Pie

• Polar	• Double Y

• Waterfall	• Line Series

• QC (X bar R) Chart	• Histogram

• Histogram + Probabilities	• Linear Regression with Confidence Bands

• Baseline and Peak Analysis	• Zoom Details


Circle Tool

A toolbox tool used to add circular shapes to a layer.


Column Type

Worksheet column type designation tells Origin what type of values a column contains. Column designations are essentially plotting instructions that tell Origin how to use the column values when plotting data. Each column must be designated as one of these column types:

• X column:	contains X values. Only one X column allowed per worksheet.

• Y column:	contains Y values.

• Z column:	contains Z values.

• Error bar column:	contains error bar values.

• Disregarded column:	these values are ignored when data are plotted.


Command Menu Display

The command menu display bar runs along the top of the document window. It shows the pull-down menus that contain the commands used to access many of the Origin's features. When a document is open, the command menu display bar will show one of the following:

• Worksheet Display:	Contains worksheet command menus. Visible only when a worksheet is the active window.

• Plot Window Display:	Contains plot window command menus. Visible only when a plot window is the active window.


Control Menu Box

The square icon  [image]  in the upper left corner of all Origin document, plot, and worksheet windows. Click to see the Control Menu, used to close, move, resize, and control other window operatons.


Curved Arrow Tool

A toolbox tool used to add curved arrows to a layer.


Data Labels

Text labels that automatically adhere to the given XY coordinates. These offer a quick and easy way to annotate plotted data points or specific axis values.


Data List

The list of data sets (Y or error bar data) plotted in the active layer. The currently active data set will be checkmarked. The Data List is located under the plot window display Data menu.

Select a data set from the Data List to set that data set as active. All math, fitting, and editing operations are performed on the active data set.


Data Selector Tool

A toolbox tool used to select a segment of plotted data. All subsequent math, fitting, and editing operations will be carried out on the selected data segment only.


Data Markers

In a plot window:	Double-headed arrows affixed to a data plot to indicate that a segment of the data plot is selected. Math, fitting, and editing operations can then be performed on the selected segment. Set with the Data Selector tool.

In a worksheet:	Invisible pointers that mark a range of selected data in a worksheet column.


Data Plot

A data set that has been plotted onto a set of axes. The data plot is merely a different representation of the data set; changes made to the data set are reflected in any associated data plots. Double-click on a data plot to change its plot type and plot details.


Data Point

A single plotted data set value, represented by a unique X, Y coordinate value pair.


Data Pointers

The pair of double-headed arrows that appear when the Data Selector tool is selected. Used to specify the placement of data markers.


Data Reader

A toolbox tool used to indicate the X,Y coordinates of any point in a plot window.


Data Set

A set of values, or the values specified by a function. The same underlying data set can be represented in Origin as:

• A column of worksheet data.

• One or more data plots.

All data sets have a related worksheet column. Each data set has a unique name, which is the name of its worksheet and the name of its worksheet column, separated by an underscore. All data sets currently designated as Y or error bar data are listed as available data in the Layer Control dialog box. Data sets plotted in the active layer are listed in the Data List in the plot window display Data menu.


Data Set Element

A scalar quantity specified from the range of values in a data set. Elements in a worksheet column are designated by the column name or number in the worksheet and the row number in the column.

col(Heat)[233]	specifies the value in the 233rd row in the Heat column of the active worksheet.

col(5)[i+10]	the value in the 10th row from row i, in the 5th column of the active worksheet.


Default Plot Windows

All plot windows are opened from template files. The default plot window that opens when you choose File:New:Plot Window is opened from the default template file, ORIGIN.OTP. The default worksheet that opens when you choose File:New:Worksheet opens from the default template file, ORIGIN.OTW. The plot windows that open when you choose a plot command (line, column, etc.) from the Plot menu also open from default templtate files (named LINE.OTP, COLUMN.OTP, etc.). You can alter any default plot window by editing the default template file upon which it is based.


Display Range

A selected range of data in a data plot or a worksheet column can be set as the display range. That portion of the data set that falls outside the display range still exists, but is no longer visible. Math and editing operations are performed on the display range only. The current display range for plotted data can be determined by clicking the Show Range checkbox in the Layer Control dialog box.


Diregarded Column

One of five possible worksheet column designations. The others are X, Y, Z, and error bar. Origin uses column designation to provide plotting directions when creating a graph. Values in a disregarded column are ignored when plotting data. These values cannot be plotted. To disregard a column use the Column:Disregard Column command.


Document

An Origin file that can contain any number of worksheets and/or plot windows. All of the windows are saved together when you save the document. Only one document may be open at a time. Open documents appear in their own document window. Documents have the file extension .ORG.


Document Window

The Microsoft Windows window in which an Origin document appears on screen.


Enlarger Tool

A toolbox tool used to magnify a section of a data plot.


Error Bars

Vertical or horizontal lines that intersect each data point in a data plot, depicting graphically the variability of the data.


Error Bar Column

One of five possible worksheet column designations. The others are X, Y, Z, and disregarded. Origin uses column designation to provide plotting directions when creating a graph. Origin will plot the data in an error bar column as error bars for the Y column immediately to the left of the error bar column. Each Y column can have multiple related error bar columns, as long as the columns are immediately adjacent. To create an error bar column use the Column:Set As Error Bars command.


Frame

The frame is a rectangular box which shows the normal position of the four layer axes in a layer. The frame is independent of the axes. When you select a layer, the dotted boundary square that appears is drawn along the frame. Most layer display options - e.g., layer color, data clipping, and axis grid lines - are delimited by the frame boundaries. By showing the frame, you can quickly draw a box that shows the layer axes boundaries.


Functional Template

A plot window template that contains AGO's (Active Graphic Objects). Several functional templates are included in the origin\buttons directory.


Function Window

The default plot window that opens when you select File:New:Function Plot. You can initially plot a function in this window. Origin automatically names the window Function1 (Function2, 3, etc).


Graphic Elements

The graphic components that make up a layer. There are four graphic elements that can be part of a layer:

• Axes

• Plotted data

• Error bars

• Labels (text, arrows, shapes)

A set of axes is a required layer element. To the layer axes can be added any number of labels and data plots. All layer elements will move and resize simultaneously and proportionally.


Grid

An invisible network of vertical and horizontal lines that can be superimposed on a page, and along which layer elements can be aligned. Origin provides two grids - one to align labels, and one to align layers. Set from the plot window display Options menu.


Grid Lines

Vertical and horizontal lines in a layer. Major grid lines emanate from major tick marks. Minor grid lines emanate from minor tick marks. Use the Axes Control dialog box to hide and show grid lines. Use the Grid Details dialog box to format grid lines.


Incremental

When data sets are plotted as a group and set to increment, they will automatically plot in an orderly sequence of plot display styles. Incremental options are set in the Plot Details dialog box.


Index Number

The worksheet row number in which an X, Y value pair appears. Used to identify individual plotted data points. Use the Data Reader tool to determine index number.


L Column

One of six possible worksheet column designations. The others are X, Y, Z, error bar, and disregarded. Origin uses column designation to provide plotting directions when creating a graph. Values in an L column are plotted as data labels for the Y column immediately to the left. A column is designated as an L column with the Column:Set As Label command.


Label

Text, arrows, and shapes added to a layer using the Text, Line, Arrow, Curved Arrow, Rectangle, or Circle tools in the toolbox. Labels become an element of the layer to which they are added. The will move and resize along with the layer.


LabTalk™

The script language for Origin. Much of Origin, including most of the menu commands, is written in LabTalk™. LabTalk™ gives you access to all of the functionality of Origin, and also lets you modify the user interface to create custom applications. For more about LabTalk™, see the LabTalk™ user's manual.


Layer

The three elements of an Origin graph - axes, plotted data, and text and graphic labels - are collectively known as a layer. Layers are the fundamental unit of plotting and page layout in Origin. Each layer can be resized and moved around the page as a unit. Up to twelve layers can be placed on a single page. Each layer can be independent, or linked to other layers on the page. You can relate linked layers in terms of size, offset, and axes scales. Each layer is associated with its own layer icon. Double-click on the layer icon to open the Layer Control dialog box for that layer.


Layer Bounds

The area on the page that is delimited by the layer frame. Layer bounds are set from the Layer Control dialog box (or manually with the mouse).


Layer Icon

The numbered, square buttons that run along the top of each plot window. A unique layer icon is associated with each layer on the page. Use the Layer Icons command in the Options menu to hide/show layer icons.

Click once on a layer icon to set the associated layer as active. Double-click on a layer icon to open the Layer Control dialog box for that layer.


Legend

A label that is added to a layer with the New Legend command. Identifies each plotted data set by name, and iconically by graph style. If you select New Legend when there is a legend already on the page, the legend updates to show any changes in the graph.

Double-click on the plot name to edit the text (this affects the label only, not the name of the data set.)

Double-click on the graph icon to open the Plot Details or Pie Styling dialog box for that plot.


Line Tool

A toolbox tool used to add straight lines to a layer.


Major and Minor Ticks

The evenly spaced, larger and smaller indicator lines on an X or a Y axis. When grid lines are added to a layer, they will extend from major and/or minor ticks.


Master Page

The page contained in the Master.OTP plot window template. with the Save As Template sub-command under the Template command in the File menu. To open the Master Page, use the File:Template:Open Master Page command. To save the Master Page use the File:Template:Template Save command.

When the Master Page is open, and the Display Master Items command in the Options menu is checkmarked, every plot window in the document will duplicate the page layout of the Master Page.


Missing Values

Signified by the symbol " -- " in a worksheet cell. Origin skips over missing values when plotting data.


Page

The area of a plot window on which layers are laid out to be printed. Each plot window has only one page. Each page corresponds exactly to the page in your hard copy device.


Plot Group

When two or more columns of data are plotted simultaneously they create a plot group. You can also create a plot group from the Layer Control dialog box. To display multiple column/bar plots side-by-side along the same axes, the data must be plotted as a group. A plot group can be set to increment, that is, to automatically plot in an orderly sequence of display styles. In all other respects, a plot group behaves the same as a single data plot.


Plot Type

The basic style in which a data set is plotted. Set from the Plot Details dialog box.

Available plot types include:

• Line

• Scatter

• Line+Symbol

• Area

• Column/Bar

• Hi-Lo-Close

• Box

Most of these plot types can be stacked, by choosing the Plot:Stack Data in Plot command.

Related Topic:

Chart Types


Plot Window

A window in an Origin document in which data are plotted, and from which graphs are printed. Each plot window contains a page, which corresponds exactly to the page in your hard copy device. Multiple plot windows can co-exist in the same document.


Pointer Tool

A toolbox tool used for dragging and general selection tasks.


Rectangle Tool

A toolbox tool used to add rectangular shapes to layers.


Scale Factor

Sets the size of all graphic elements in a layer, as a percentage of original size. The size of all graphic elements in a layer is determined by multiplying their original size by the scale factor. Changing the scale factor scales proportionally the size, width, and thickness of individual graphic elements.


Screen Reader

A toolbox tool used to read the X.Y coordinates of any point in a layer.


Script Window

The Script window has two primary functions:

1) Text editing. Use the Script window to create, open, save, and edit text files.

2) Script execution. You can execute LabTalk scripts from the Script Window.

To open the Script window select the Window:Script Window command.


Scroll Bar

The slide control that runs along the right hand side of help windows and worksheets in Origin. Use the scroll bar to move forward and back through the window display.


Selected Data

In a worksheet, a block of data that is highlighted.

In a plot window, a data plot segment that lies between two data markers.


Selected Layer

A layer that is ready to be moved, resized, or deleted. Click once on the active layer to select that layer. The selected layer is enclosed by a dotted boundary square.


Size Box

The square, black box at the lower right corner of a selected layer. Click and drag in the size box to resize the layer.


Status Bar

The bar that runs along the bottom of the Origin window. Displays help messages and information about program operations.


Template

All plot windows and worksheets in Origin are opened from template files. A template file contains all of the attributes of a plot window or worksheet except the data.

Any plot window or worksheet in Origin can be saved as a template file. Templates allow you to save window designs that you plan to use more than once.


Text Tool

A toolbox tool used to add text to a layer.


Tick Labels

The numeric or text labels that appear next to major tick marks on an X or Y axis.


Toolbox

A floating palette containing tools that are used to add labels to layers, and perform a variety of operations on data in plot windows. There is one toolbox in each Origin document. It is visible only when a plot window is the active window.

Click once on a tool to select it. Click again on a tool to return to the Pointer tool. Nine of the tools (all but the Square and Circle tools) can also be selected by typing a number from 1 to 9.


Worksheet

A window in an Origin document in which data sets are displayed as columns of data. Worksheet data can be manipulated in several ways. A document can contain multiple worksheets.


WYSIWYG

"What-you-see-is-what-you-get." Signifies that the printed output of a file will be identical to the screen image of that file.


X Column

One of six possible worksheet column designations. The others are Y, Z, L, error bar, and disregarded. Origin uses column designation to provide plotting directions when creating a graph. Values in an X column are used as X values for the values in Y columns on the worksheet. A worksheet can have only one X column. A column is designated as an X column with the Column:Set As X command.


Y Column

One of six possible worksheet column designations. The others are X, Z, L, error bar, and disregarded. Origin uses column designation to provide plotting directions when creating a graph. Values in a Y column are plotted against the values in the X column (or against row number if there is no X column). A worksheet can have any number of Y columns. A column is designated as a Y column with the Column:Set As Y command.


Z Column

One of five possible worksheet column designations. The others are X, Y, L, error bar, and disregarded. Origin uses column designation to provide plotting directions when creating a graph. Values in a Z column plot as data labels for the Y column immediately to the left. In future releases or Origin the Z column will contain the Z coordinate for contour plotting. A column is designated as a Z column with the Column:Set As Z command.


Pointer Tool

The Pointer is an all-purpose selection tool, found in the toolbox.

Single-click with the Pointer to select windows, icons, and graphic elements in a Plot Window.

Double-click on graphic elements to open related dialog boxes. For example, double-click on an axis to open the Axes Control dialog box; double-click on a Layer Icon to open the Layer Control dialog box.

Pressing the 0 key or the Esc key automatically selects the Pointer tool.


Enlarger Tool

Use the Enlarger tool to magnify a segment of a data plot. You can show the magnified data in the current window or in a new window.

To magnify a segment of a data plot (results into current window):

1) Select the Enlarger tool from the toolbox by clicking on it.

2) Click and drag with the mouse to draw a square around the segment of a data plot, or the group of data points, that you want to enlarge. When you release the mouse, the axes will rescale to show only the selected data.

Double-click on the Enlarger tool to revert to the original scale.

If the X or Y axis scale has been set as fixed, the selected data will enlarge only along the unfixed axis. If both X and Y axes are fixed, the Enlarger tool will not function.

To magnify a section of a data plot (results into new window):

1. Get some data into a plot window.

2. Click on the Enlarger tool to select it.

3. While holding down the Ctrl key, use the mouse to drag a rectangle around any part of the plotted data.

4. When you release the mouse, Origin opens a new plot window (called Enlarged), and displays a close-up view of the data segment that is obscured by the rectangle you just drew.

5. By dragging the size box at the lower right corner of the rectangle you can change the size of the rectangle.

6. Click and drag the rectangle to move it. Each time you move the rectangle, the Enlarged window updates accordingly.

7. You can create as many rectangles as you like. The Enlarged window display corresponds to the rectangle that was moved last.

Related Topics:

Clipping Plotted Data

Specifying the Plot Display Range


Screen Reader Tool

The Screen Reader is a toolbox tool used to determine the X and Y coordinates of any point in a plot window.

To determine the X,Y coordinates of a point in a plot window:

1) Open or select a plot window.

2) Select the Screen Reader tool by clicking on it.

3) Click on any point in the Plot window. This places a cross-hair at that point. The X and Y coordinates of the cross-hair are displayed in the display bar at the top of the plot window.

The cross-hair can be moved with the keyboard arrow keys, or by dragging it with the mouse. Using the arrow keys allows for precise placement. Use the Shift key with an arrow key to increase the movement increment.

Click again on the Screen Reader tool to reselect the Pointer (or click on any other tool to select that tool).


Data Reader Tool

The Data Reader is a toolbox tool used to determine the X and Y coordinates of a plotted data point.

To find the X, Y coordinates of a plotted data point:

1) If there is more than one layer on the page, choose the active layer.

2) Select the Data Reader tool by clicking on it.

3) Click in the plot window on the plotted data. If more than one data set is plotted, clicking on or near the data plot you wish to work with automatically reads that plot.

A cross-hair appears on the nearest data point in active layer. The name of the data set, the data point's index number, and its X,Y coordinates will all display in the display bar at the top of the Plot window.

Use the left and right arrow keys to move the cross-hair to other data points in this data set. Hold down the Shift key to increase the movement increment.

Click again on the Data Reader tool to reselect the Pointer (or click on any other tool to select that tool).

Double-click on the Data Reader tool to set tool options.


Data Selector Tool

The Data Selector is used to select a segment of plotted data. All subsequent math, fitting, and editing operations will be carried out only on the selected segment of the data plot.

To mark a data segment:

1) Select a data plot to be marked.

2) Choose the Data Selector tool from the toolbox.

Two data pointers appear, one at either end of the data plot.

3) Select a data pointer by clicking on or near it, or by pressing the left or right arrow keys.

The data pointer is identified (left or right) in the plot window display bar, along with the data set name, the index number of this data point, and its X, Y coordinates.

4) Use the mouse to move one data pointer to the beginning and one to the end of the range of data you want to select.

For precise placement, use the Ctrl + arrow keys to move pointer. Hold down the Shift key to increase the movement increment.

5) Set data markers at the selected points on the data plot, by either double-clicking in the Plot window, pressing Enter, or clicking on the Data Selector tool.

The two data markers now enclose a range of selected data. Math, fitting, and editing functions will be carried out on this selected range, and will not affect the rest of the plot.

Related Topics:

Selecting the Active Data Plot

Setting the Data Plot Display Range

Selecting a Segment of Plotted Data


Text Tool

The Text tool is used to add text to a layer.

To add text to a layer:

1) Choose the layer to which you want to add text.

2) Select the Text tool from the toolbox.

3) Click on the page where you want to enter the text.

The Text Control dialog box opens.

4) Use the Text Control dialog box to enter, edit, and format the text.

5) Click OK to close the Text Control dialog. The text is added to the layer at the point that you clicked the mouse.

Related Topics:

Adding and Editing Labels

Moving Layers and Labels

Text Formatting


Arrow Tool

The Arrow tool is used to add straight arrows to a layer.

To add an arrow to a layer:

1) Choose the layer to which you want to add an arrow.

2) Select the Arrow tool from the toolbox.

3) Click on the point at which you want the arrow to begin. Draw an arrow by dragging the mouse, then releasing the mouse button.

To move an arrow:

1) Select the Pointer tool, and click once on the arrow.

A dotted boundary square will appear, showing that the arrow is selected.

2) Click anywhere within the dotted square, and drag the mouse to move the arrow around the page.

Use the Arrow Control dialog box to edit the arrow's color, thickness, dash type, arrowhead placement, and to set the arrow default type.

Related Topic:

Curved Arrow Tool


Curved Arrow Tool

The Curved Arrow tool is used to add curved arrows to a layer.

To add a curved arrow:

1) Select the layer to which you want to add a curved arrow.

2) Select the Curved Arrow tool from the toolbox.

3) Click on the point at which you want the curved arrow to begin. Click three more times while dragging the mouse in an arc. Place the third click at the point where you want the curved arrow to end. After this final click, the curved arrow appears.

To move a curved arrow:

1) Select the Pointer tool, and click once on the curved arrow.

A dotted boundary square will appear, showing that the curved arrow is selected.

2) Click anywhere within the dotted square, and drag the mouse to move the curved arrow around the page.

Use the Arrow Control dialog box to edit the arrow's color, thickness, dash type, arrowhead placement, and to set arrow default.

Related Topics:

Αrrow Tool

Adding and Editing Labels

Moving Layers and Labels


Line Tool

The Line tool is used to add lines to a layer.

To add a line to a layer:

1) Select the layer to which you want to add a line.

2) Select the Line tool from the toolbox.

3) Click on the point at which you want the line to begin. Draw a line by dragging the mouse, then releasing the mouse button.

To move a line:

1) Select the Pointer tool, and click once on the line.

A dotted boundary square will appear, showing that the line is selected.

2) Click anywhere within the dotted square, and drag the mouse to move the line around the page.

Use the Arrow Control dialog box to edit the line's color, thickness, dash type, arrowhead placement, and to set the line default type.

Related Topics:

Moving Layers and Labels

Adding and Editing Labels


Rectangle Tool

The Rectangle tool is used to draw rectangular shapes in a layer. Use rectangles to enclose text or data, and enhance the readability and visual impact of charts.

To draw a rectangle:

1) Select the layer in which you want to draw a rectangle.

2) Select the Rectangle tool from the toolbox.

3) To create the rectangle, click anywhere on the page and drag the mouse. Release the mouse when the rectangle is the correct shape.

To move a rectangle:

1) Select the Pointer tool, and click once on the rectangle.

A dotted boundary square appears, showing that the rectangle is selected.

2) Click anywhere within the dotted square, and drag the mouse to move the rectangle around the page.

3) Click on and drag the size box, in the lower right corner of the selection square, to resize the rectangle.

Use the Shape Control dialog box to edit the rectangle's border type, color, pattern, and to set the rectangle default type.

Related Topics:

Circle Tool

Moving Layers and Labels

Adding and Editing Labels


Circle Tool

The Circle tool is used to draw circular shapes in a layer. Use these shapes to enclose text or data, and enhance the readability and visual impact of charts.

To draw a circle:

1) Select the layer in which you want to place the circle.

2) Select the Circle tool from the toolbox.

3) Draw the circle by clicking anywhere on the page and dragging the mouse. Release the mouse when the circle is the correct shape.

To move a circle:

1) Select the Pointer tool, and click once on the circle.

A dotted boundary square appears, showing that the circle is selected.

2) Click anywhere within the dotted square, and drag the mouse to move the circle around the page.

3) Click on and drag the size box, in the lower right corner of the selection square, to resize the circle.

Use the Shape Control dialog box to edit the circle's border type, color, pattern, and to set the circle default type.

Related Topics:

Rectangle Tool

Moving Layers and Labels

Adding and Editing Labels


Opening and Closing Windows

To create a new plot window or worksheet window:

1) Select New from the File menu.

2) Select Plot Window or Worksheet from the New sub-menu.

A new plot or worksheet window appears in the currently open document (if no document is open, a new document will be created containing one plot or worksheet window).

There is no limit to the number of windows that can be open in a document.

To close a window:

1) Click on the window's Control Menu Box [image].

2) Select Close from the Control Menu.

Related Topics:

Renaming Windows

Arranging Windows On-Screen


Selecting the Active Window

To make a plot window or a worksheet the active window:

• Click anywhere within the window, or

• Select the window name from the window list in the Window menu.

Origin operations are always carried out in the active window. The menu display bar  changes, depending on whether a plot window or a worksheet is the active window.


Renaming Windows

Origin automatically names plot windows and worksheets numerically (Plot1,2,3... Data 1,23,....). You can, however, give these windows any one-word name you like.

To rename a plot window or worksheet:

1) Click on the worksheet or the plot window to select it.

2) Select Rename from the Window menu.

3) Type a one-word name into the Window Rename dialog box, and click OK (or press Return).

The window or worksheet title bar will update to reflect the new name. Note that the word data is reserved, but data1, data2, etc, may be used.

Hint:	If a window is to be saved as a plot window template or a worksheet template, it must be given a valid DOS file name.


Arranging Windows On-Screen

The Window menu in the menu display bar includes two commands for arranging plot windows and worksheets within a document.

Tile:	Selecting the Tile command makes all open worksheets and plot windows visible, and give each one approximately equal space within the document.

Cascade:	Selecting the Cascade command makes all open worksheets and plot windows visible, and lays them out one below another, as if you were laying out a deck of playing cards.


Set Column Values

This command allows you to define a formula to be used to calculate and enter values into an existing worksheet column.

To set column values:

1) Open or select a worksheet, then select a worksheet column.

2) Open the Set Column Values dialog box.

3) Enter a mathematical expression: you can use of constants, data sets, arithmetic operators and numeric functions.

4) Click on the Do It button to enter the values into the selected worksheet column.

Related Topic:

Extract Worksheet Data


Extract Worksheet Data

Extract values from a worksheet based on a user-specified conditional expression. For each cell in rows i1 through i2 (where i is the row number), if the conditional expression is true, place that value into a new worksheet.

To extract data (the worksheet must be the active window):

1) Open the Extract Worksheet Data dialog box.

2) Enter the mathematical expression describing the conditions to be met. You can use any of the functions or operators available in Origin. You can enter a formula from the keyboard or paste it in from the clipboard.

3) Click on the Do It button. The dialog box closes. Origin performs the calculations and puts all the selected data in a new worksheet. The columns have the same headings as the source worksheet. You will see messages in the status bar as Origin searches for values that meet the conditions of your mathematical expression.

Related Topics:

Set Column Values

Mathematical Expressions


Sorting

To sort worksheet data in ascending order:

1) Select the data.

2) Choose Sort (Ascending) from the Data menu.

For more sophisticated data sorting and data selecting capabilities, see Extracting Worksheet Data.


Script Execution

A very powerful scripting language called LabTalk is included with your Origin software. LabTalk gives you direct access to all of Origins features. Anything you can do in Origin you can control with LabTalk, up to and including reconfiguring Origin's menu system to create custom applications.

Origin offers two ways to execute LabTalk scripts: the Script window and the Worksheet Script dialog box.

To use the Script Window for script execution:

1) Select Script Window from the Window menu.

The Script window opens. A check mark appears next to the command to indicate it is active.

2) Select Script Execution from the Script Window File menu.

A checkmark appears next to the Script Execution command.

3) Enter LabTalk commands, functions, or mathematical expressions into the Script window. To execute a single-line script, place the cursor at the end of the line and press Return. Origin appends a semi-colon to the line to indicate that execution was successful. To execute a multi-line script, highlight the text and press Return.

To use the Worksheet Script dialog box for script execution

1) Select or open a worksheet.

2) Select the Data:Worksheet Script... command. The Worksheet Script dialog box opens.

3) Enter LabTalk commands, functions, or mathematical expressions. Press the Ctrl+Enter keys for a new line. Click on the Do It button to execute the script. The entire script is saved to a temporary script file and executed via the LabTalk Run command.

For example, open a worksheet, open the Worksheet Script dialog box, enter col(a)=normal(100) into the dialog box, and click on the Do It button. Column A fills with a normal distribution of values generated by the normal() function.

For more information about LabTalk, please refer to your Lab Talk Reference Manual.

Related Topics:

Worksheet Script Dialog box

Mathematical Expressions


Statistics on Columns and Rows

To calculate statistics on columns:

1) Select two or more columns by clicking and dragging on the column headings. The column(s) will highlight to show they are selected.

2) Choose Statistics on Columns from the Data menu A new worksheet appears. The first column contains the name of each worksheet column for which statistics were calculated. This is followed by mean, standard deviation, sum, and number-of-data-point values for each column.

Origin will find the mean, standard deviation, sum, and number of data values for any worksheet column.

To calculate statistics on rows:

1) Select at least two columns by clicking and dragging on the column headings. The columns will highlight to show they are selected.

2) Select Statistics on Rows from the Data menu. Two columns - Mean(Y) and sd(err) - are added at the right side of the worksheet. These columns contain mean and standard deviation values for the selected rows.

Origin will find the mean and standard deviation for any worksheet row.


Frequency Count (for plotting histogram)

To count the frequency of values in a worksheet column:

1) Select the column containing the values.

2) Choose Frequency Count from the Data menu.

3) Enter minimum, maximum, and step values in the dialog box. Click OK.

A new worksheet with three columns appears, showing step increment, frequency count, and cumulative frequency count. Number of values, mean, median, and standard deviation for the original worksheet column are also calculated and displayed in the Script window.

To plot a histogram with uniform distribution:

1) Select the Count worksheet column.

2) Select a plot type (i.e., Column) from the Plot menu.

Hint:	The frequency count routine is defined in the ORIGIN.CNF configuration file. ORIGIN.CNF can be modified by the user. For example, you can modify the above routine to display a normal distribution. Use any text editor to open ORIGIN.CNF.

Related Topic:

The Plot:Statistical Charts:Histogram command in the Plot menu.


Student's t-Test (independent)
Student's t-Test

To determine whether the mean of two worksheet columns differ significantly:

1) Select a worksheet column.

2) Choose T-Test (Two Population) from the Data menu.

The selected column is compared with the worksheet X column (this t-test cannot be performed on a worksheet that has no X column). The test results are displayed in the Script Window.

Hint:	The above t-test routine can be modified in the ORIGIN.CNF configuration file.


Mathematical Expressions

This index lists topics describing the mathematical elements that are allowed in Origin, and their correct usage and syntax in mathematical expressions.

Spaces in expressions are ignored. Parentheses may be used to enclose expressions. Curly braces and square brackets are reserved for specific uses. Mathematical expressions can be entered into the Set Column Values dialog box, the Extract Worksheet Values dialog box, and the Script Window. For more information select a topic from the list below:

Operators

Arithmetic Operators	(1+x)^0.2 + (1-x)^-0.2

Relational & Logical Operators	x > 0 && (1-x) <= 0

Ternary Operator	x != 0 ? sin(x)/x : 1

Rules of Expression

Notation

Precedence

Functions


Entering Data from the Keyboard

To enter data into a worksheet from the keyboard:

1) Open or select a worksheet.

2) Select a worksheet cell.

3) Enter a numeric value, and press Tab or Return.

4) Enter the next value. If necessary, use the keyboard keys to position the active cell.

Hint:	To enter text values, first set the column as text.

Related Topics:

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Specify Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar

Importing Data From a File

Setting Column Display Range

Missing Values


Importing Data from a File

To import a data file into an Origin worksheet:

1) Open or select a worksheet.

2) Choose File:Import, then choose a file type from the sub-menu. The File Open dialog box opens.

3) Select a file and click OK.

To import an ASCII data file into a worksheet:

1) Open or select a worksheet.

2) You have the option of specifying file import options before you import an ASCII file. To do so, choose File:Import:Options.... The ASCII Options dialog box opens. Use this dialog box to specify the column delimitor (or lack thereof), set the number of columns to import, or ignore the file header. For more details, see ASCII Options dialog box.

3) Choose File:Import:ASCII.... The File Open dialog box opens, set to open a file with the .DAT (Origin) default file extension.

4) Select an Origin or other ASCII file, and click OK.

The selected file reads into the active worksheet. Origin renames the worksheet after the imported file. If the imported file contains any text values, Origin automatically sets the active worksheet to accept text as well as numerical values.

Related Topics:

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Entering Data From the Keyboard


Changing Default X Values for a Worksheet

When you plot data from a worksheet that has no X column, Origin assumes an initial X value of 1, and an increment of +1.

To change the default X values:

1) Select a worksheet.

2) If the worksheet has an X column, delete or disregard the column.

2) Choose Set Worksheet X from the Data menu. A dialog box opens.

3) Enter an initial X value and an X increment into the dialog box.

4) Click OK.

Y column values plotted from this worksheet will plot against the default X values.

Hint: 	If you add an X column to the worksheet, the default X values are ignored, but not deleted. If you delete or disregard the X column, you can again plot against the default values.

Related Topic:

Specifying Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar


Missing Values

To enter missing values into a worksheet:

1) Select a worksheet cell.

2) Enter any text character (anything but a numerical value).

The missing value symbol ( -- ) appears in the worksheet cell, replacing any previous cell contents. Origin ignores missing values when plotting. If the missing value is in a Y column, X column, or Z column that X, Y data pair will not plot. If in an error bar column, that error bar will not plot.

Hint:	When a missing value is plotted, the two adjacent data points will either be connected by a line, or separated by a blank space (blank space is the default setting). Missing value plot style is a start-up preference (ConnectMissing) that can be set in the origin.ini initialization file.

Related Topic:

Entering Data From the Keyboard


Saving Worksheet Data

To save data entered into an Origin worksheet, either:

• Save the document. Saving a document causes any associated worksheets to be saved as part of that document, or

• Save the worksheet data into a file.

To save worksheet data as an ASCII text file:

1) Select a worksheet window.

2) Choose Export ASCII from the File menu. The File Save As... dialog box opens.

3) If the worksheet window has a valid DOS file name, the file is saved under that name, or you can enter a new name in the dialog box. Data files have a .DAT file extension.

Column values are separated by tabs, and rows are terminated by carriage returns. ASCII files can be read back into an Origin worksheet, or into most industry-standard worksheet and database applications.

Related Topics:

Opening and Closing Windows

Entering Data from a File

Renaming a Window


Clear Worksheet Values

To clear all values from a worksheet:

1) Select a worksheet.

2) Choose Clear Worksheet from the Edit menu.

The contents of all worksheet cells will erase. All column data markers will revert to zero. All data sets represented on this worksheet will be deleted from the document.

Related Topics:

Deleting a Data Set From a Document

Deleting Rows and Columns


Delete Worksheet Values

To delete worksheet values:

1) Select a worksheet.

2) Select a cell or range of cells.

2) Choose Delete from the Edit menu.

The contents of the selected cells will erase. If this data has been plotted, the data plot(s) will redraw to reflect the changes.

Related Topics:

Deleting a Data Set From a Document

Deleting Rows and Columns


Copying and Pasting Worksheet Data

To move data between Origin worksheets, or from one part of a worksheet to another:

1) Select the data.

2) Choose Copy from the Edit menu. The data are copied to the clipboard. Note that the Cut command is disabled. To delete data, use the Delete or Clear commands in the Edit menu. .

3) Select a destination column, cell, or range of cells in any worksheet. If you select a single cell, it will be the upper left corner of the destination range.

5) Choose Paste from the Edit menu. The data are pasted from the clipboard into the worksheet.

To export data from Origin into another program running under Microsoft Windows:

1) Follow the procedure above to copy data from a worksheet.

2) Switch to another application that supports clipboard operations. Origin is compatible with most industry-standard worksheet, database, word processing, and plotting programs.

3) Paste the data. Use whatever procedure is appropriate for the target application.


Positioning the Active Cell

Click on any worksheet cell to make it the active cell. Click within the worksheet, but not on a cell, to deselect the active cell. Worksheet operations are always performed on the active cell (or range of cells).

To move the active cell around the worksheet:

Tab	next column.

Return	next row.

←	previous cell in row.

→	next cell in row.

↑	previous cell in column.

↓	next cell in column.

Home	first cell in worksheet.

End	last cell in worksheet.

Page Up	scroll one page up.

Page Down	scroll one page down.

Hint: 	To quickly move to any worksheet row, select Go To Row from the Data menu, and enter a row number.


Selecting Cells and Ranges

To select a cell

Click on the cell with the mouse.

To select an entire column

Click on the heading at the top of the column. Click and drag to select multiple columns.

To select an entire row

Click on the row number.

To select a block of cells, either

Click on a cell and drag the mouse to the right and/or down (you can not select multiple cells by dragging to the left or up), or

Select an initial cell, then shift-click on a final cell.

Hint:	To quickly select a long segment of data, click on the first cell in the range, then select Go To Row from the Data menu. Enter a destination row and click OK. Now shift-click on the last cell in the range. All intermediate cells will highlight.

Related Topic:

Positioning the Active Cell


Adding Worksheet Columns

To add a column to a worksheet:

1) Select a worksheet.

2) Choose Add New Columns from the Edit menu. Enter the number of columns you want to add into the dialog box. That many Y column are added to the right of the last worksheet column. Added columns are labeled alphabetically.

When you add a column to a worksheet, its data markers are set to the same position as the data markers in the column to the left. Zero values are entered in the column to show the current position of the data markers.

Related Topics:

Inserting Rows and Columns

Renaming a Column


Changing Column Width

To change worksheet column width:

1) Select a worksheet.

2) Choose Width of Columns... from the Column menu. The Column Width dialog box opens.

3) Enter a width value in the dialog box, and click OK.

All columns in the worksheet will assume the new width.


Deleting Worksheet Rows and Columns

To delete a row:

1) Select a row.

2) Choose Delete from the Edit menu.

To delete a column:

1) Select a column.

2) Choose Delete from the Edit menu.

Deleting a worksheet column deletes that data set from the document completely. If the data set has been plotted, the data plot(s) will be deleted along with the worksheet column.

Related Topic:

Deleting a Data Set from a Document


Inserting Worksheet Rows and Columns

To insert a new row into a worksheet:

1) Select a row.

2) Choose Insert from the Edit menu.

The selected row will shift downwards, and a new row will be inserted in its place.

To insert a new column into a worksheet:

1) Select a column.

2) Choose Insert from the Edit menu.

A new column appears to the left of the highlighted column. Displaced columns shift right.

Each new worksheet column is given a unique, alphabetic name (A, B, C, etc). Inserted columns are not automatically alphabetized (that is, they will not sort into alphabetical order).

Related Topics:

Renaming a Column

Adding Columns


Renaming a Worksheet Column (data set)

To change the name of a column:

1) Select Rename/Format from the Column menu (or double-click on the column heading). The Worksheet Column Format dialog box opens.

2) Enter a new name for the column in the appropriate text box, then click OK. The column heading changes to reflect the new name.

Each data set in Origin must have a unique name. Data set name equals worksheet name_column name (the name of the worksheet window and the name of the worksheet column, connected by an underscore). To rename a data set, rename its worksheet column. To rename all the data sets in a worksheet, rename the worksheet.

When you plot data, the data plot is identified by the same name as its underlying data set, that is, worksheet name_column name.


Specifying Worksheet Column Type:  X, Y, Z, or ErrorBar
Specifying Worksheet Column Type: X, Y, Z, L, or Error Bar

Origin worksheets are column oriented, not cell oriented. Each worksheet column can be designated as an X column, Y column, Z column, L column, or error bar column (or disregarded). Column designation determines whether data will plot as X values, Y values, Z values, or error bar values.

To change worksheet column type:

1) Select a worksheet, then select a column.

2) Choose Set As X, Set As Y, Set As Z, Set As L, or Set As Error Bars from the Column menu.

The column heading shows either (X), (Y), (Z), (L), or (er), reflecting the column type chosen.

A worksheet can have any number of Y, Z, L, or error bar columns, but only one X column.

Related Topics:

Naming a Column (data set)

Plotting Data From a Worksheet

Plotting Error Bars

Setting Default X Values for Worksheet

Adding and Editing Data Labels


Disregarding a Column's Values

It is sometimes useful to ignore a worksheet column. For instance, you may want to have several columns of X data in a worksheet, and ignore all but one when plotting data.

To disregard a worksheet column:

1) Select the column.

2) Choose Disregard Column from the Column menu.

An empty set of parentheses will now follow the column name, indicating that this column will be ignored when plotting data.

Related Topic:

Specifying Column Type: X, Y, Z, or Error Bar


Set Worksheet Column Format

Worksheet column format determines the type of data that can be represented in a column. The default column format type is numeric. Numeric columns accept only numeric values. Origin also supports five other column formats: text, time, date, month, and day of week.

To change worksheet column format:

1) Select Rename/Format from the Column menu (or double-click on the column heading). The Worksheet Column Format dialog box opens.

2) Select a column format type from the Column Type menu. Select numeric to enter numeric values, text to enter text values, time to enter 24-hour clock values (you must separate hours:minutes:seconds with semicolons), date to enter calendar-accurate date values (separate month/day/year with a slash, space, or hyphen), month to enter months, and day of week to enter names of days. In the case of months and day of week, numerical values (0 - 7 and 1 - 12) correspond to days and months, or you can enter the text for the day or month. The text can be abbreviated.

3) You can, for all but the text column type, select a display format from the Format menu. Display format determines how the data are represented in the worksheet column.

4) Click OK. The dialog box closes.

5) Enter values into the column.

Hint:	One use for a text column is to supply text values for tick labels.

Related Topic:

Worksheet Column Format Dialog Box


Setting Column Display Range

The display range for a worksheet column can be set manually. When the column data are plotted, only values that fall within the display range will plot. Math and editing operations are performed only on the current display range.

To set column display range:

1) Select an initial cell for the display range.

2) Choose Set As Begin from the Edit menu. This marks the selected cell as the first cell in the display range. Cell values higher in the column still exist, but are not displayed.

3) Select a final cell for the display range. This cell need not be in the same column as the first cell.

4) Choose Set As End from the Edit menu. This marks the selected cell as the last cell in the display range. Values below this cell in the column still exist, but are not displayed. The data between the two selected cells makes up the display range.

5) To reset the data markers to show all data, choose Reset to Full Range from the Edit menu.

Setting column display range is exactly analogous to setting the data plot display range.

Hint:	To set the display range quickly, highlight a block of cells. Choose Set As Begin, then choose Set As End from the Edit menu. All values above and below the highlighted data will be hidden, leaving the highlighted data as the display range.


Deleting a Data Set From the Document
Deleting a Data Set From a Document

There are three ways to delete a data set from a document.

Method One:

1) Double-click on a data plot (Y values or error bar values) that was plotted from the data set. The Plot Style dialog box opens.

2) Click on the Delete button.

Method Two:

1) Highlight the worksheet column containing the data set.

2) Choose Delete from the Edit menu.

Method Three:

1) Double-click on any layer icon. The Layer Control dialog box opens.

2) Select the data set from the Available Data box.

3) Click on the Delete button.

In all three cases, the data set and all data plotted from that data set are deleted from the document.

Related Topic:

Removing a Data Plot