What is Saved with the Workbook Template?

The following workbook/worksheet attributes are saved when you save an Origin workbook template (.OTW):

• The number and names (Short + Long) of columns in the worksheet.
• The number and names of sheets in the workbook.
• Row column heading information -- Units, Comments, etc.
• Any style-related information -- fonts, colors, cell borders, etc.

In addition, there are potentially a number of other settings that could be saved with the workbook template:

Worksheet Properties dialog box

Settings in the Worksheet Properties dialog box are saved with the workbook template:

• Displaying/hiding of row and column heading labels.
• Displaying/hiding of worksheet grid lines.
• The number of rows and columns in the worksheet.
• Auto addition of worksheet rows, when needed.
• Creation and naming of worksheet column heading user-defined parameters.
• The order of worksheet column heading row labels.

To open the Worksheet Properties dialog box:

1. Double-click in the empty cell in the upper-left corner of the worksheet.

or

1. Right-click on the empty area of the workbook and choose Properties from the short-cut menu.

For more information, see Reference: The Worksheet Properties Dialog Box.

Column Properties dialog box

Settings in the Column Properties dialog box are saved with the workbook template:

• Edit column Short Name, Long Name, Units and Comments.
• Enter a Formula which sets column values (note that the Set Values dialog box accomplishes the same and offers more power -- see below).
• Set column width.
• Specify how column data are to be treated when plotting (as X, as Y, as Label, etc.), column data Format (text, numeric, date, etc.), how column numbers should Display (decimal, scientific, engineering), the number of column Digits and data storage requirements.

To open the Column Properties dialog box:

1. Select Format: Column when a worksheet column is selected.

or

1. Double-click on the title of a worksheet column.

To learn more, see Reference: The Column Properties Dialog Box.

Origin Import Filter (*.OIF) file (optional)

When you use the Import Wizard to import data, you have the option of creating and saving an Origin Import Filter. These filters contain parsing instructions for header information and data and may contain instructions for handling variables associated with a file and/or post-import data processing instructions. Such filters can be saved as a standard OIF files, or -- as concerns in this case -- they may be saved with an Origin workbook template. This template would be configured specifically for importing your data files.

To learn more, see Import Wizard and Saving Import Wizard Filter Files.

In addition, you may want to review Origin's Drag-and-Drop Data File Support for Worksheets.

Set Values dialog box

Column formulae created with the Set Values dialog box are saved in the workbook template.

To open this dialog box:

1. Select a worksheet column, then select Column: Set Column Values.

To learn more, see Using Formulae to Set or Transform Worksheet Column Values

Worksheet Query dialog box

The equations in the Worksheet Query dialog box are saved with the template.

To open this dialog box:

1. Select Worksheet: Worksheet Query.

To learn more, see Worksheet Query.

Dialog boxes associated with any worksheet annotations

As is the case with graph windows, you can add annotations (text, drawing objects, buttons) to the worksheet. Any annotations along with the settings associated with the following dialog box controls, are saved with the workbook template.

• the Programming Control dialog box.
• the Object Properties dialog box.

Scripts associated with the workbook/worksheet

Scripts can be associated with the worksheet in several ways. One is to annotate the worksheet and associate a script with the annotation (via the Programming Control dialog box), as described above. Alternately, you can associate scripts with the worksheet by entering them into:

• the Worksheet Script dialog box.
• the worksheet Script Panel.

Database access queries

A key feature of the new ADO (database connectivity) tool is that it allows you to save a query with the worksheet. When you do so, you have the option of saving the query with the workbook template. This allows you to open a copy of your worksheet template, connect to your database, and automatically import only the data that you want.

For more information on creating and saving a query with the ADO tool, see Building and Saving a Query.