It is possible to take your data and plot it
as a histogram. You do this by highlighting
the Y column containing the data and selecting Plot: Statistical Graphs: Histogram.The distribution of the data will be shown in the Column plot. You can then visually inspect the shape of the curve to see if it has normal distribution, or you can perform a Gaussian fit.
If you choose to perform a Gaussian fit on the data you must use the following procedures. You can find a copy of this procedure by going to our Knowledge Base and entering the keyword "Histogram" leaving all other settings as the default. You can also use the following link to go directly to this tip:
http://www.originlab.com/www/tech/resultstech.asp?ItemID=522&VersionID=All&TitleID=Fitting+a+Gaussian+Curve+to+a+Histogram+Plot&CatID=Fitting&TypeID=Tip
The histogram plot was redesigned for Origin 6.0. In earlier versions of Origin,
when you selected the histogram plot type, Origin plotted the data as a column plot into a
template that had special 'histogram' controls on it. Now, the histogram is its own plot
type and the histogram controls have been moved to the Plot Details dialog box. Because
Origin now plots your original dataset in the layer instead of the binned data, you can no
longer fit to the plotted data.
There are three options for you if you wish to perform a Gaussian fitting.
1.The binned data is stored in a hidden Bin worksheet. Open Project Explorer to
view the hidden worksheet. You can plot the Counts column of data against the
BinX column as a column plot. When the column plot is active, the Analysis:Fit
Gaussian menu option is now available.
2.You can download a file at http://www.originlab.com/ftp/histogram.exe that will
allow you to plot into the Origin template and give you the old functionality.
The file will extract two files: histgm.otp and custom.ogs. Copy these files to the
Origin directory. The first file is the old template from 5.0 with some script
modifications. The second file programs the custom routine button to create a
histogram plot. To use Origin 5.0's functionality in Origin 6.0, select the data and
click on the Custom button. Go through the same steps as you would have in
Origin 5.0.
3.A Histogram plot is identical to the result of doing a Frequency Count on
your data and plotting the Count column as a column plot.
Highlight your original data and select Analysis : Frequency Count. The
default parameters for the Frequency Count dialog are identical to the defaults
for Histograms. Plot the Count column as a Column plot. You can now use
any fitting with the plot.
Normal Distributions
Posted - 08/04/2000 : 8:26:00 PM
