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Import Wizard

Summary

The Import Wizard allows you to preview your ASCII file. This is especially helpful when you are importing a file with many lines of header, and want to extract variables from both the file name and file headers for use in annotating a graph.

Minimum Origin Version Required: Origin 8.0 SR6

What you will learn

This tutorial will show you how to use the Import Wizard.

Steps

The Import Wizard allows you to import complicated ASCII files, extract variables from the import file name and header (for reuse in Origin), specify custom delimiters and date formats, or handle post-processing of your imported data using a custom LabTalk script. Another chief advantage of using the Wizard to import your data files is that you can save your custom settings to a filter that can be used repeatedly to import the same or similarly-structured files.

 

  1. Create a new workbook. Click File, point to Import, and then click Import Wizard to open the Import Wizard dialog. Click the browser button Image:Tutorial_Import_005.png to the right of the File box. Browse to the \Samples\Import and Export folder and open the file F1.dat. Click Next to navigate to File Name Options page.

  2. Make sure the worksheet with file name box is checked to rename worksheet by imported file name. Click Next to navigate to Header Lines page.

  3. This page enables you to easily customize the worksheet headers. For example, to specify the worksheet long name, place your cursor on the relevant line in the lower panel, and then click the button next to Long Names.

    Image:Tutorial_Import_006.png

    Similarly, specify the Unit line and select <None> for Comments.

  4. Click Next twice to go to the Data Columns page. Select XYYErrXYYErr from the Column Designations drop-down menu and click Apply.

    Image:Tutorial_Import_007.png

  5. Click Next twice to go to the Save Filters page. To use these settings again, you can save this import procedure as a filter. Select the Save filter check box and type a filter name in the Filter file name text box (MyFilter in this example).

    Image:Tutorial_Import_009.png

    Click Finish to import the data.