Numbers in Origin

The following provides a general discussion of how numeric values are handled in Origin.

How numbers are stored in Origin

Origin workbooks and matrix books support the following Data Types:

For more information, see these topics:

• Controlling How Numeric Data Display in the Worksheet Column
• Dates and Times in the Worksheet
• Matrix Object Data Properties

Displayed cell value vs. actual cell value

When you import or type your data into a workbook or matrix book, Origin uses a combination of user-specified settings to determine how to display the data in each cell. Note, however, that what displays is merely a visual representation of the data value and that the actual data values are stored with the full precision allowed by the dataset's Data Type, as noted above. When you perform calculations, it is the actual data values that are used and not the displayed values.

For more information, see these topics:

• The (Options) Numeric Format Tab
• Controlling How Numeric Data Display in the Worksheet Column
• Matrix Sheet Data Display Options

Display of numbers that exceed cell width

If a workbook or matrix book contains data that exceed the cell (column) width, Origin displays values as series of pound signs (######). This is to avoid confusion caused by the truncated display of cell values. Cell values that display as ###### will revert to numbers when you enter cell editing mode.

This feature is controlled by a LabTalk numeric system variable (@wc) and can be toggled on and off, as needed. To toggle the # sign display on or off, open the Command Window and enter one of the following at the prompt:

If you do not see a change when you reactivate the worksheet or matrix, click the Refresh button.

To change the width of a cell (column):

1. De-select the column (if it is currently highlighted).
2. Point to the space between the column headings.
3. When the pointer becomes a double-headed arrow, drag the edge of the column heading.

or

1. Double-click on the column to open the Properties dialog box.
2. Enter your value in the Cell Width text box. This text box value is in units of characters.

Missing values in the worksheet or matrix sheet

When spreadsheet programs first appeared it was recognized that there was a need for a special number that was Not-A-Number which would - when used in a calculation - generate itself. Origin has such a number and its internal value is:

-1.23456789E-300

Because Origin recognizes this value as a special value, it can be used to enter a missing value into a worksheet (or matrix) and it can be used in calculations or scripts (for instance, to return a missing value unless some condition is met).

Origin displays missing values in a worksheet or matrix sheet as "--". However, you shouldn't confuse this display (output) with what you enter as a missing value (input).

• If a worksheet column Format is set to Numeric, typing any text (for example, "missing" or "--") will set the cell's value to a missing value.
• For worksheet columns of Format other than numeric, you must manually enter missing values by typing something that Origin recognizes as invalid for that column type (For example, Origin displays "--" when you type "13" into a cell of a column with Format = Month).
• To set a missing value in an equation (for example, in the Set Column Values dialog box), divide anything by zero.
• If you leave cells blank between the first and last values in a worksheet column, Origin automatically sets those cell values as missing values. To view the "--" display, you may need to click the Refresh button on the Standard toolbar.

Decimal, scientific and engineering notation

You can opt to display workbook or matrix book data in Decimal:1000, Scientific:1E3, Engineering:1k, and Decimal:1,000 notations. Apart from manually choosing to display workbook or matrix book data using scientific notation, you can also specify that when certain thresholds are crossed, the elected data display option is overridden and numbers are automatically displayed using scientific notation. By default, these scientific notation threshold values are set to 6 (upper) and -3 (lower). When upper and lower values are 6 and -3, respectively:

• Values in the range of 1x10^-3 to 1x10^6 will display using the setting specified in the Display drop-down list in the workbook or matrix book Properties dialog box (Decimal, Scientific, or Engineering).

• Values that exceed either the lower or upper thresholds (less than 1x10^-3 or greater than 1x10^6) will display in scientific notation, regardless of the setting in the Display drop-down list.

Controls for automatic display in scientific notation are located on the Numeric Format tab of the Options dialog box.

Dates and times in Origin

Origin interprets dates based upon the Gregorian Calendar. Time is interpreted in hours:minutes:seconds. Origin supports the following date ranges:

• When entering four digits for the year, Origin supports a date range of:

  1/1/0100 to 12/31/9999.

• When entering two digits for the year, Origin supports a date range of:

  0 to 44 = 2000 to 2044

  45 to 99 = 1945 to 1999

Origin's mathematical system for dates and time is based on Astronomical Julian Day Numbers. This defines -4712 January 1, 12 hours Greenwich Mean Time as zero. Origin uses a 12 hour offset in order to have 0 hours coincide with midnight. No assumptions are made about time zones or any time shifting scheme (such as Daylight Savings).

In this system, for example...

11 June 1998 at 21:23:01

... has an Origin Julian Day Number of ...

2450975.890984.

Add .5 (Origin's 12 hour offset) to get the Astronomical Julian Day Number of 2450976.390984.

For more information, see these topics:

• Dates and Times in the Worksheet