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Chapter 6: Importing and Exporting Data
Importing
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If your data file contains zero-padded data (data with leading zeros), select the Support Numbers with
Leading Zeros check box to properly import the data.
When importing a file, Origin looks at the contents of the first few cells to determine if a column contains
numeric or non-numeric information. The When Non-Numeric is Found in Numeric Fields drop-down list
selection controls how Origin proceeds if non-numeric information is encountered in a numeric column
after the header. Select an option from the associated drop-down list.
The File Header Group
The number of lines that should be ignored before Origin starts importing data is specified in the Skip
Main Header, Number of Lines text box. Select the Auto Determine to Skip more Header Lines radio
button to cause Origin to skip lines until it encounters a consistent and recognizable file structure. You can
also select a specific number of sub-header lines to skip by selecting the Specify Known Subheader Lines
(0,1...) radio button and editing the associated text box.
You can store text from the file header in the worksheet’s column labels. This option is provided by the
“Max # of Lines to Store in Column Labels” text box. By default, up to seven lines of header text can be
stored in the column labels.
The # of Columns Group
When the Unknown radio button is selected, Origin imports all columns in the file. You may also specify
x number of columns for Origin to import. If the file you want to import contains more than x columns,
only the first x columns import. If the file contains less than x columns, the entire file imports. Origin does
not create additional worksheet columns.
The Import Into Worksheet as Drop-down List
This option determines how the imported data is added to the active worksheet. The New Data option
enables overwriting of the existing worksheet data. The New Columns option adds new columns to the
right of the current columns in the worksheet, as necessary, to accommodate the data. The New Rows
option adds new rows to the bottom of the worksheet, as necessary, to accommodate the data.
Note: If you are importing your data into new columns and a column name in your file duplicates a
column name already used in the worksheet, you can append the file’s column name into the worksheet
column’s label field. To do this, open the Data Import Options for Worksheet dialog box
(File:Import:Other Options), and select the Create Column Labels from Header check box. Now when
you plot your data, Origin will automatically include the column label information in the graph legend.
The Import Now Button
Click Import Now to import the ASCII file after you are satisfied with the dialog box settings. Origin
updates the worksheet and opens the Import ASCII dialog box, from which you select an ASCII file. The
file is imported using the current dialog box settings.
The Update Options button
Click Update Options to save the current settings into the active worksheet and close the dialog box.
