Grouping Data Plots

When you make multiple range or column selections, then create a graph, Origin groups the resulting data plots in the graph layer. This applies to most 1D (statistical), 2D or a 3D XYY graphs (3D bar, 3D ribbon, 3D wall, and 3D waterfall plots).

Grouping provides for quick creation of presentation-ready graphs because each selection in the group is assigned a differentiating set of plot attributes (line color = black, red, green...; symbol shape = square, circle, triangle...; etc.). Assignments are made by cycling through a pre-determined (user-modifiable) palette of styles. For instance, the first selected range of cells in a set of grouped line plots might be denoted by a black line; the second selected range of cells might be denoted by a red line (the second color in the color list), the third selected range of cells by a green line (the third color in the color list), and so on.

Example: creating a simple data plot group

1. Open a fresh worksheet and click the Import ASCII button on the Standard toolbar.
2. Browse to the Samples\Graphing subfolder in the Origin software folder and Open GROUP.DAT.
3. Drag your mouse across the three Y column headings of the Group worksheet.
4. Click the Line & Symbol button on the 2D Graphs toolbar. Note that line and symbol color and symbol type are automatically differentiated for each data set.

Grouping (or ungrouping) plots manually via the Layer Contents dialog box

1. To open the Layer Contents dialog box, double-click on the layer n icon in upper-left corner of the graph window.
2. To create a group, select the desired data sets from the Layer Contents list (use CTRL + select, SHIFT + select, or simply drag the mouse to select multiple data sets).
3. Click Group. Note that each plot in Layer Contents is now preceded by a gn (for "group1", "group2", etc.).
4. To disable grouping, click on one of the grouped data plots in the Layer Contents list and click Ungroup.

For information on use of Layer Contents dialog box, see Managing Plots with the Layer Content Dialog Box in the Origin Help file.

Grouping (or ungrouping) plots manually via the Plot Setup dialog box

1. To open the Plot Setup dialog box, ALT + double-click on the layer n icon in upper-left corner of the graph window.
2. To create a group, select the desired plots from the Plot List (use the CTRL or SHIFT keys to select multiple data sets).
3. Right-click and select Group. Note that a Group icon now precedes the selected plots in the Plot List.
4. To disable grouping, right-click on the Group icon and choose Ungroup from the shortcut menu.

For information on use of the Plot Setup dialog box, see Plotting with the Plot Setup Dialog Box in the Origin Help file.

Customizing grouped data plots

The settings which Origin uses to differentiate grouped plots, are saved when you save the graph template (if you have a System Theme turned on, this can also affect the way in which grouped plots are differentiated; for more information, see System Themes).

To alter the way in which plot characteristics are assigned to grouped plots, first create your graph, then follow the procedures presented in Editing of Group Incremental Lists. For background information on customizing grouped plots, see Customizing Grouped Data Plots in the Origin Help file.