Minitab 15 Tips and Tricks

© 2008 Minitab, Inc.

Minitab® 15 Tips and Tricks


Importing and Manipulating DataWorksheetsGraphicsCustomizing MinitabAdditional Tips


Importing Excel Files

In Minitab, choose File > Open Worksheet



In the File > Open Worksheet dialog, use Options and Preview before opening file



Correctly-formatted sheets open into separate worksheets


Importing Data from a Database

In Minitab, choose File > Query Database (ODBC), select Machine Data Source and then your database

Note: Use File > New > Minitab Worksheet to import data into a blank worksheet


Importing Data from a Database

Select the tables and fields that you want to importSelect Use rows… to specify a condition statement


Tally Individual Variables

Use Stat > Tables > Tally Individual Variables to get a list of unique values for a given columnTally will help you easily identify any inconsistencies


Coding and Conversion Tables

Use Data > Code > Text to Text if you need to code up to 8 valuesUse Data > Code > Conversion Table to code any number of text or numeric values

To create a conversion table:1. Use Alt to highlight the

column of values > Copy

2. Paste the column into the worksheet

3. Create a column of the new, coded values


After Data are Coded

Now we can create Pareto charts, get Descriptive Statistics, etc. for the downtime reasons

Count 117 102 42 33 25 20 18 28Percent 30.4 26.5 10.9 8.6 6.5 5.2 4.7 7.3Cum % 30.4 56.9 67.8 76.4 82.9 88.1 92.7 100.0

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Light

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Wait fo

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Final

Test

Reca

librate

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nmen

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400

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100

0

100

80

60

40

20

0

Cou

nt

Per

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Pareto Chart of Reason


Split and Subset Worksheet

Use Data > Split Worksheet to create new worksheets for each unique value in a column

Use Data > Subset Worksheet to create a new worksheet based on a condition, brushed rows or specific row numbers


Value Order

Value order determines the ordering of variablesRight-click on a column and choose Column > Value Order to define an order

HighMediumLow

50

40

30

20

10

0

Speed

Dow

nTim

e

Individual Value Plot of DownTime

Speeds now displayed in a User-Specified Order

MediumLowHigh

50

40

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20

10

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Speed

Dow

nTim

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Individual Value Plot of DownTime

Speeds displayed inAlphabetical Order (default)


Extract from Date/Time

Suppose we want to evaluate the variation across the different days of the weekUse Data > Extract from Date/Time to record date or time components in a numeric or text column


Change Data Type

Suppose you import data and find that a numeric column is incorrectly formatted as textUse Data > Change Data Type > Text to Numeric to change the column format


Formulas in the Worksheet

Use Calc > Calculator to assign formulas to columns in the worksheetColumns update when data in the worksheet change


Worksheet and Column Descriptions

Right-click on a column and choose Column > Description to add notes for future referenceRight-click on to add a Worksheet Description


Worksheet Zooming

Use the Control key and your mouse wheel to zoom in and out of the worksheet


Multiple Undo and Redo

Use the arrows on the toolbar to undo or redo changes made to cells in the worksheet

undo redo


Autofill

Use autofill to create patterned dataUse the Control key to create repeated patterned data


Split Graph into Panels

Right-click on a cluttered graph and choose Panel to reduce the clutter

9080706050403020101

89.5

89.0

88.5

88.0

Index

Wel

d St

ren

gth

Time Series Plot of Weld Strength

50403020101

89.5

89.0

88.5

88.0

90807060

89.5

89.0

88.5

88.0

Index

Wel

d St

ren

gth

Time Series Plot of Weld Strength

After panelingBefore paneling


Brushing Options

We see strength values that are lower than expected and want to do further investigationRight-click > Brush > right-click > Set ID Variables


Brushing Options

Brush multiple groups of points using the Shift keyThe brushing window shows that all lower weld strengths are associated with the third shift


Brushing Options

The Data Options button for any Graph or Control Chart allows you to include or exclude data based on brushed rows


Graph Annotation Tools Toolbar

Choose Tools > Toolbars to enable the Graph Annotation Tools toolbarThe Graph Annotation Tools toolbar is useful for adding text, circles, and arrows to graphs

Select Mode Rectangle Line Polyline

Text Ellipse Marker Polygon


Graph Editing Toolbar

Choose Tools > Toolbars to enable the Graph EditingtoolbarThe Graph Editing toolbar is useful for editing graphs and obtaining graph coordinates

Select List Select Crosshair Add List Zoom

Edit Brush Plant Flag Delete


Graph Editing Toolbar examples

Use the Add List dropdown to add gridlines, reference lines, subtitles and data labels

Use Crosshair mode to explore graphs


In-Place Graph Editing

Double-click on the graph components to change fonts, colors, add a date/time stamp, etc.Right-click on the graph to add titles, gridlines, data labels, etc.

Before Editing After Editing

321

89.5

89.0

88.5

88.0

Shift

Wel

d St

reng

th

Boxplot of Weld Strength

3

2

1

89.589.088.588.0

Shift

Weld Strength

Boxplot of Weld StrengthFebruary 26 - March 30


Make Similar Graph

Sat

Fri

Thu

Wed

Tue

Mon

Sun

89.589.088.588.0

Wee

kday

Weld Strength


Use Editor > Make Similar Graph to create a similar graph using different variable(s)

3

2

1

89.589.088.588.0

Shif

t

Weld Strength



Layout Tool

To combine multiple graphs into one window, choose Editor > Layout Tool

3

2

1

89.589.088.588.0

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ift

We ld Str ength

S at

F ri

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Wed

Tue

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Boxplo t o f Weld StrengthF ebruary 26 - M arch 30


Updating Graphs

Available for core graphs and Control ChartsRight-click on icon in upper left corner to update graph

• Automatic Updates – sets graph to automatically update anytime data in worksheet change

• Update Graph – performs one-time update

Core Graphs and Control Charts All Other Graphs

Graph is up-to-date Graph is up-to-date, but cannot be updated

Data used to create graph have changed Data used to create graph

have changed, and graph cannot be updatedOn-hold, some condition

prevents auto-update


Tools > Options

Use Tools > Options to set default preferencesFor example, specify a default file location that Minitab will go to when using File > Open Project


Tools > Options > My Footnote

To easily keep track of which worksheet was used to create each graph, set a footnote to automatically display the worksheet name

321

89.5

89.0

88.5

88.0

Shift

Wel

d St

ren

gth

Boxplot of Weld Strength

Worksheet: Initial Study


Tools > Options > Descriptive Statistics

Select the statistics you need when using Stat > Basic Statistics > Display Descriptive Statistics


Tools > Options > Capability Analysis

Display Benchmark Z’s by default instead of Cp and Pp


Tools > Options > Residual Plots

Display the Anderson-Darling Normality Test results on normal residual plots for regression, ANOVA and DOE


Exec macros

If you need to conduct the same analysis on a regular basis, consider creating an Exec, a type of macro, to easily re-run the same analysisClick to go to the History window and highlight the desired commands


To save an Exec

To save the commands as an Exec, right-click on the highlighted History commands and choose Save As…

Save the *.MTB file to your hard-drive


To run an Exec

Run the Exec at any time using File > Other Files > Run an Exec > Select File and browse to your *.MTB


Tools > Customize

Use Tools > Customize to:• Move, add, edit, or delete any item on a toolbar or

menu• Create a new toolbar or menu• Set custom keystrokes for frequently used

commands• Add a button to call your Exec file


Tools > Customize to move or add

To move or add toolbar or menu items, choose Tools > Customize and then click and drag


Tools > Customize to create new toolbars

To create a new toolbar, use the Toolbars tab > NewTo add functions to a new toolbar, use the items available under the Commands tab


Tools > Customize to create new menus

To create a new menu, use the Commands tab > New MenuTo add items to a new menu, click and drag the items available under the Commands tab


Creating a Profile

To save all of your customizations, create a profileClick to create a new profileUse Tools > Manage Profiles to import or export a profile


Using the ReportPad

Use the ReportPad to write a report

Right-click on a graph and choose Append Graph to Report

Right-click on Session output and choose Append Section to Report

Click on the toolbar’s to open the ReportPad


Saving and Exporting the ReportPad

Save Report As saves the report as a .RTF or .HTML Move to Word Processor moves the ReportPad contents to your default word processor (i.e. cut and paste)Copy to Word Processor copies the ReportPad contents to your default word processor (i.e. copy and paste)


Help

Help includes a glossary, methods and formulas, and examplesAccess Help from the Help menu, the toolbar, or from the Help button found in every dialog box

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StatGuide

StatGuide provides examples and their interpretationAccess StatGuide from the Help menu or the toolbar

Minitab 15 Tips and Tricks

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