Origin: create diagrams - how it works

Especially for scientific work, it is advisable to create diagrams with Origin. Here you have a larger range of functions than with Excel and Co. We will introduce you to the most important diagram types and functions.

Origin: add records

You add the data for the chart in the Book1 window.

• In the header of the columns you can see for which axis the value is to be specified.
• Use "Long Name" and "Units" to define the label for the respective axis. For example, you can enter "mass" and "kg" for the weight.
• If you want to create a new column, right-click in the empty area and select "New column". Then right-click on the column and go to "Settings", you can specify the type of value in the column under "Diagram mapping". This way you can add the values ​​for the error bars.
• You can now enter the values ​​in the white cells.

Origin: Create a scatter plot

There are generally two different scatter charts: the scatter chart and the dot-line chart. In the point-line diagram, only two successive values ​​are connected by a straight line.

1. Select the data you want to display in the diagram.
2. Go to "Draw"> "Icon"> "Scatter Chart". For a point line chart, choose Draw> Point Line Chart> Point Line Chart.
3. You can now freely adjust the display. If you click on a data point first with the left and then with the right, you can specify the size, color and shape of the point using "Drawing details". You can edit the error bars in the same way.

Origin: Output column and bar charts

1. Select the data you want to display in the diagram.
2. For a bar chart, go to "Draw"> "Pillars / Bars / Circle"> "Bar Chart". If you would like to see the respective values ​​above the individual columns, select "Columns + labeling" instead. Here you can also select the item "Bar chart".
3. As with the scatter chart, adapt the design by clicking the bars first with the left and then with the right and going to "Settings". For example, you can define color gradients and the distances between the bars.

Origin: adjust the axes of the diagrams

If you have values ​​that start with 0, for example, the axes may start with a value of -1. To correct this, edit the axes:

1. Click the axis to be machined first with the left and then with the right and go to "Scale".
2. Now you can set which area should be visible in the "From" and "To" fields. With "Increment" you define the interval at which a new value is to be displayed on the axis. If you want to scale an axis logarithmically, switch to "ln" under "Type".
3. In the other points you will find many other settings on how to label the axes and display values. For example, if you go to "User-defined labeling", you can specify under "Rotate" the angle at which the values ​​on the axis should be rotated.

Origin: Define fit functions

To compare measured values ​​with expected results, you can have fit curves drawn in the diagram.

1. Select the data points to be connected with a left click.
2. Go to "Analysis"> "Customize". Depending on the type of function you need now, you can select the respective display. Select "Open dialog" under the desired area.
3. With a nonlinear fit you now have to select the "category", for example a damped sine wave. Confirm the window with either "Fit" or "OK". You will now find the calculated function in your diagram.
4. You can define your own functions by selecting "Nonlinear Fit" and then under "Category" the value "".

$config[ads_text5] not found

You save the created graphics via "File"> "Export graphics".

In addition to the chart types presented here, Origin offers many more. For example, you can create point diagrams in 3D or surface diagrams. The diagrams in OpenOffice are also sufficient for everyday tasks.