Minitab 17

Advanced Tips and Tricks

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Data and Data Manipulation

Graphics
Statistical Analysis
Additional Tips

Data from http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/

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Unequal Column Lengths

Many procedures (e.g. sorting) and analyses require
equal column lengths
Use

to see if columns are equal

To make columns equal:

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Format Column
Right-click > Format Column to change # decimal places

Other uses for Format Column:

Specify currency symbol
Select % format
Change date/time format

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Exclude Missing Values

Data > Subset Worksheet > Condition to subset
Use MISS() to easily exclude missings

Age = *

Age = *

Age = *

Note: To exclude missing text values, use column=

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Onto some coding examples.

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Coding a Few Text Values

Data > Code > Text to Text

maximum=8 values

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Coding a Few Numeric Values

Data > Code > Numeric to Text

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More Complex Coding

Suppose we want to compare men, women & children
Lets begin by coding males and females
Step 1: Extract Mr, Miss, Mrs, etc.

Step 2: Create table for Mr=male, Miss=female, etc.

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Coding Many Values

1. Choose Stat > Tables > Tally
Individual Variables > Store results
2. Manually create a 2nd column for the
new values
3. Choose Data > Code > Use
Conversion Table

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Coding by Condition
Step 3: Calc > Calculator to code using both
Gender & Age

If Age>=18 MWC = Gender (male or female)

Else
MWC = child

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Now were ready to explore the data

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Data and Data Manipulation

Graphics
Statistical Analysis
Additional Tips

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Who was on board?

What was the distribution of men vs. women vs. children?
Did it vary by class?

3rd class had:

Highest # passengers
Highest child-to-female
ratio
Smallest female-tomale ratio

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Who was most likely to be rescued?

Why so low?

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What were the ages of 3rd class children?

Histogram using a Condition to compare ages of
rescued vs. not rescued

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Layout Tips and Tricks

To put all graphs on one page
Click on a graph > Editor > Layout
Tool

Can resize windows after layout is

created
Click and drag

Add a title
Editor > Select Item > Graph Region
Editor > Add > Title

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Add Tooltip Info to Graphs

Examples:
boxplot quartiles
scatterplot regression
equation

How to:
1. Select region to display tooltip (e.g. specific boxplot
or regression line)
2. Right-click > Copy Text
3. Control-V to paste
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Export to PowerPoint

Right-click to
export graphs (or
Session output)
to PowerPoint

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Navigate from Graph to Data

Use a footnote
Tools > Options > Graphics >
Annotation > My Footnote

OR
Right click on graph
Switch to: [worksheet name]

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Navigate from Session to Graph

Right-click on graph name

> Bring Graph to Front

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Navigate using Project Manager

To navigate anywhere in your project

Stats &
Graphs

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Data

Graphs

Updating Graphs
Available for core graphs and Control Charts
Right-click on icon in upper left corner to update graph
Automatic Updates graph updates anytime data change
Update Graph performs one-time update

Core Graphs and Control Charts

Graph is up-to-date
Data used to create graph
have changed
On-hold, some condition
prevents auto-update

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All Other Graphs

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

Data used to create graph

have changed, and graph
cannot be updated

Data and Data Manipulation

Graphics
Statistical Analysis
Additional Tips

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Display Descriptive Statistics, etc.

Does your output wrap?

Increase the output width:

1. Edit > Command Line Editor
2. OW 132 > Submit Commands
3. Run analysis

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Regression & GLM Stepwise

Need help finding the significant Xs?

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Gage Run Chart

Can you trust your data?
Use this chart to assess:
Repeatability
Reproducibility
Trends

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Control Charts with Stages

Has your process improved over time?

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View Model(s)
What models were used to predict Yield & Cost?
Right-click on graph
> View Model
OR

View model from the

worksheet

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Data and Data Manipulation

Graphics
Statistical Analysis
Additional Tips

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Autofill
Use autofill to create patterned data

Use the Control key

to repeat a pattern

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Keyboard Shortcuts

Control-D
Control-M

Control-Alt-I

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More Keyboard Tips and Tricks

F3

clear dialog

Alt +

copy part of Session output

Control +

zoom in/out of worksheet

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Free Resources
#1 Tip FREE Technical Support
Via phone and online
minitab.com/support

Minitab Blog
Sharing tools, tips and techniques for statistics and
quality improvement at
blog.minitab.com

LinkedIn
Connect with other Minitab users
linkedin.com > Groups > Minitab Network

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Additional Resources

Instructor-led courses

E-Learning

Visit minitab.com for more information or to find contact

information for your local Minitab representative

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