AMS 102 Fall 2000
Minitab Basics
NOTE: The instructions here are for Minitab Version 12 for Windows. Some basic Windows acknowledgement is required.

Finding a computer with Minitab.

According to the most recent information, Minitab is available on PCs with Windows in Math Building basement Sinc Site, Harriman Hall room 318 and Main library Sinc site. The schedules of these places are available at this websites. In Harman Hall, you need to login with the common user name ’harguest’, no password necessary. You don’t need to login in either Math building or Main Library.

Getting to Minitab.

Double click the Minitab Icon on the desktop, or go to START, choose PROGRAM, choose Math&Statistics, then open Minitab 12 for Windows, then open Minitab. Getting to Minitab can vary quite a bit from lab to lab. The lab monitors (if present) should be able to help if you are having trouble.

Retrieving a data set.

When you first get into Minitab, there will be a Toolbar, a Session window and a Data window appearing on the screen. There are no data to work with if it’s the first time you enter Minitab. You can type in data or retrieve an existing data set. To retrieve an existing data set, choose the File-->Open Worksheet menu item. This will open a window for you to select the data set that you need. The Minitab data sets (with names like *****.MTW) should appear on the screen. Suppose we want the PERU.MTW data. It may not be on the screen because it is further down in the alphabet. Click on the arrows on the scrollbar to the right of the data set names to move up/down along the list. You can also press the letter P on the keyboard, this will move you down to the data sets that start with P. Once you locate PERU.MTW choose that data set. You should see the data set load in front of you.

Basics of Minitab.

Minitab work is organized in different windows. Besides Session and Data windows, additional windows such as the Info window, History window, Graph windows and dialog boxes may also appear when you use Minitab. Naturally, the data is stored in the data window. You can input, view and edit data using the data editor (the Edit menu item on the top of the screen), which is like a simple spread sheet. The Session window is used to enter Minitab commands and display the results of most commands. If you create a high-resolution graph, that graph will appear in its own window. You can choose to focus your attention on a particular window (which usually means moving that window in front of the other windows) by moving to the Window menu item and choosing the desired window, or by moving your arrow to the desired window and clicking.

Minitab data in the data window are organized in columns which are labeled C1, C2, C3, ... The columns may also be given names such as “height”, “age”. In general, column contains data for one variable, and each row contains all the data for each subject or observation. Constants are labeled K1, K2, K3, etc. Unlike column, constants are just single values, which can be viewed in Info Window.

Minitab commands.

Each time you want to do something with your data (to change or analyze it), you give Minitab a command. There are two ways to give Minitab commands, which are choosing commands from the menus or typing session commands directly into the session window.

For example, to calculate basic statistics like the mean and standard deviation, select the menu item Stat-->Basic Statistics-->Descriptive Statistics and fill in the ``dialog'' box that appears. You can fill in the dialog box by typing in the appropriate boxes (move the arrow to the box you want and click before typing) or by double-clicking on the variables you want to use in the indicated box. To actually run the command you will have to click on the OK box at the bottom of the dialog box. You will notice that after you select a command using the menus, Minitab will usually print the command in the Session window. Once you’ve learned a few command names you may choose to just type them in the Session window at the MTB> prompt. Minitab is not case sensitive.

As a second example, to create a histogram select Graph-->Histogram from the menu. The high-resolution graph appears in a separate window. In addition to the Stat and Graph menus, the Calc menu may be useful for computing the square root or logarithm of a column or for creating artificial data.

Need some help? Just type ``HELP command name'' in the Session window to get information about that command, e.g., HELP INFO.

Saving and/or printing output.

You will want a printout or hardcopy of the Minitab output to be included with your assignments. You may print your output in the lab or you can save your output to a file on a floppy disk for later printing/editing. You can print what's in a particular window (you must make the window active by selecting it from the Window menu or clicking on it with your arrow) by choosing File-->Print Worksheet. A new window will open up indicating how the file will be printed and what printer will be used. Click on OK in this window to start printing. This is especially useful for printing graphs (histograms and scatter plots), which are in their own windows. You can also use this to print the contents of the Session window. It is also possible to print only part of the Session window. Click and drag the arrow over the part of the Session window you wish to print, and then choose File-->Print. You can save the contents of a window into a file using the File-->Save Worksheet As option. Once you have saved your output in a file (perhaps on a floppy that you have brought with you) then you can print the file using the File-->PrintTextFile menu item in Minitab (or print it later after exiting Minitab). You will be asked for the name of the file you wish to print

Printing Problems.

Be sure that your computer is set to print on the printer in your lab. If you have any trouble with print, ask HELP people in computer lab .

Leaving Minitab.

When you have finished with Minitab you can exit by choosing File-->Exit. Minitab will ask if you would like to save the Session window; this is an opportunity to save your work for future printing if you have not already done so. You can also type command “stop” in session window to exit. Be aware that any output you saved on the hard drive of a lab machine might be automatically deleted within a day, so save your files to your own floppy disk every time when you exit Minitab.

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