Batch Processing when Dragging and Dropping Data into Origin

Origin 2016 introduced a new way to perform batch processing when importing multiple data files into a workbook which is already setup with analysis, graphing, cell formatting, and etc. You can watch this video to see how it works.

This blog will show user how to do an extra step so that such batch processing can be performed when dragging and dropping more data files into such workbook. We will use sample data in Origin installation as an example.

Import 1st Data with Some Customization

1. 1. Start a new project in Origin.
   2. Choose Data: Import From File: Single ASCII…
   3. Check the Show Options Dialog checkbox and in the Origin program folder choose \Samples\Import and Export\F1.dat and click Open.
   4. Set 1st File Import Mode and Multi-File (except 1st) Import Mode to Start New Books. Set Template Name to <clone>.
   5. Expand Import Options -> Header Lines node. Set Long name, Units, Comments From and Comments To to 4, 5, 1, 2 respectively.
      
   6. Click OK. You will get F1 workbook as follows.
      

Note: All import settings are automatically saved in the worksheet so if you import other data into this sheet, the same customization will be used.

Setup the Analysis and Graphing

1. Add a new column D in worksheet. In the Long Name cell, enter Corrected.
2. In F(x) cell of column D, enter formula: col(B)-col(C).
3. Right click the Sparklines cell of Column D and choose Add or Update Sparklines… and accept defaults to make sparklines show for column D.
   
4. Highlight col(D) and select Plot: Basic 2D: Scatter.
5. Double click the X axis line to open the Axis dialog.
6. With Scale tab active, select Horizontal and Vertical on left panel. Set Rescale: Auto. This way if data are changed, the graph will auto update. Click OK.
7. Choose Analysis: Fitting: Sigmoidal Fit…  menu. The NLFit dialog will open with Category preset to Growth/Sigmoidal. Choose Boltzmann as the Function.
8. Set Recalculate drop-down at the top of the dialog to Auto. Click the Fit button to perform the fitting.
9. With the F1 sheet active, right click in gray area of the worksheet and choose Add Graph and add Graph1 as a floating graph.

Now we have a workbook with everything set up. Note: Anytime you want to customize the graph further, you can double click the graph. They key is to have everything included in this workbook.

Batch Processing More Data Files by Dragging and Dropping

1. Show Windows Explorer and Origin side by side. Make sure the F1 sheet of the workbook is active.
2. In Windows Explorer, go to Origin installation folder. E.g. by default it should be C:\Program Files\OriginLab\OriginXXXX
3. Go to the Samples\Import and Export\ subfolder.
4. Select F2.dat and F3.dat, which have similar data structure as F1.dat.
5. Drag these 2 files onto the F1 worksheet. (Note: Don’t just drop it into blank area of workspace since that will not use the import settings of F1 sheet)
6. You will get two more workbooks with F2.dat and F3.dat file imported, column corrected, and sigmoidal fit performed.
   

Note: Origin contains a built-in list of import filter files for drag-and-drop.  If ,in general, your data is well-defined, it can be dropped onto the Origin workspace to import:

1. Choose your import file type (e.g. ASCII), then click the Edit button.
2. You can set 1st File Import Mode and Multi-File (except 1st) Import Mode to Start New Book or Start New Sheet then enter <clone> as Template Name.
3. Click Save As… to call it e.g. ASCII_Clone.oif.
4. Then when you drag and drop new data files to workbook with analysis and graphing setup already, you will be asked to choose which import filter to use. If you choose ASCII_Clone the template will perform batch processing.