Minitab Basics

Minitab Notes (Version 15)
1. Basics
Conventions: Word in capital letters Menu choice Word inside < > hit that key or button (e.g., <ENTER>, <OK>)
Starting Minitab
Double click on the Minitab icon. In the computer lab: the Minitab icon is in the folder: Windows Applications. As you get into Minitab, two windows open: The Worksheet window The Session window. Initially, each of these windows occupies half of the screen. The Worksheet window is the spreadsheet where the data are entered, and stored. The Session window is where numerical outputs are displayed, and can be edited. Other windows: Graphs - where histograms, dot plots, etc are stored. (created per graph) History - generally ignore it, unless you want to track errors, etc. Project manager - for an overview and control of the different windows Report pad - where a final output can be compiled.
Moving Between Windows

You may keep the Worksheet and Session windows occupying half a screen each, or you can maximize any one of them to a full screen. Then you can move between the different windows: WINDOW Then choose your desired window from the given list and click on it. The report pad is accessible through the project manager Alternatively, each window is represented by an icon on the top bar. Clicking on the icon will take you to the window right away. In particular, note the icons for Worksheet, Session, and Report Pad.
The Data in the Spreadsheet

The data are entered in the spreadsheet. (I recommend maximizing it when you enter data). Data are entered vertically. Each column represents a variable, and holds the data values for that variable. The columns are labeled: C1, C2, C3, The spaces under C1, C2, etc., are intended for naming the variables. You just type a name. Although not mandatory, it is recommended to name the columns (i.e., the variables).
Entering The Data

There are three main ways to enter data into the Minitab Worksheet: 1. Typing in the values (of a given variable) one by one, and clicking <enter> after each entry. 2. Copying data from text or HTML files (including those on the course web page): Open the file (or web page) that contains the data Highlight and copy the numbers only. Go to the Minitab worksheet. Place the cursor at the top left cell of where the data are to be pasted. Paste the data. (Click the PASTE icon, or EDIT + PASTE CELLS) Sometimes Minitab will ask you to select a delimiter (spaces, tabs, etc.). 3. Opening an existing Minitab Worksheet or an existing Minitab Project. FILE + OPEN WORKSHEET or FILE + OPEN PROJECT Then select the file from the appropriate drive / folder. Minitab files have a yellow icon with MTB written on them. Upon opening the file, the data will appear in the spreadsheet. Note: (i) A new spreadsheet is created each time you open a data file. You can merge the spreadsheets by using: DATA + MERGE WORKSHEETS. (ii) The open file icon defaults to Minitab Project files. To open a spreadsheet only, you need to use FILE + OPEN WORKSHEET. (iii) Data sets from the textbook are available on the CD-ROM attached to the book. They are organized by chapters. (The files may need to be unzipped).
Saving Your Work

To save the spreadsheet only, use: SAVE CURRENT WORKSHEET AS
(then name the file)
If it is already named, and you are just re-saving it, then: SAVE CURRENT WORKSHEET The spreadsheet will be saved as a file type MTB. (name.mtb). It will have a yellow icon In a similar way, you can save the various output windows (such as Session, Report Pad, and graphs), each one separately. But, better yet, you can save everything that you created for a homework assignment, all together as a Minitab Project. (It will include the spreadsheets, session window, graphs, and report pad). FILE SAVE PROJECT AS (or just SAVE PROJECT if you are re-saving it under same name)
Then name the file (if it is newly saved). Recommended names: hw1, hw2, It will be saved as name.mpj (i.e., file type MPJ). After naming it, you can also give it a date and a description (Description), and specify which parts you may not want to save (e.g., the History window) (Options). Then click <Save>
Note: (i) Minitab Project is a different type of file than Minitab Worksheet. (ii) In the computer lab, you need to save files to your own disk or flash drive.
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Editing and Organizing Your Work

Numerical results appear in the Session window. The Session window can be edited, and then printed, but this is not the best way, because: (i) The Session window editor is not very good. (ii) The Session window cannot contain graphs, which means that you will need to print the graph windows separately. (iii) The Session window may contain a lot of garbage. There are two alternatives: 1. Copying results and graphs to the Report Pad The Report Pad is an editor that can handle text and graphs together, and has some more editing capabilities than the Session window. We can copy numerical outputs from the Session window, and graphs from graph windows into the report pad, as follows: To copy a particular output item from the Session window to the Report Pad: Place the cursor anywhere inside the output area. Right-click APPEND SECTION TO REPORT To copy a graph from the graphics window to the Report Pad: Place the cursor anywhere inside the graph. Right-click APPEND GRAPH TO REPORT After the items are copied, you can edit the report pad. In particular, you can organize the results and graphs, modify titles, change fonts, insert comments, answers questions, etc. Then you can print it.. Unfortunately, the report pad editor lacks some desired editing features. For instance, it does not show the page breaks. However, it can be converted to a MS Word file, by saving it separately: When you are in the Report Pad: FILE SAVE REPORT AS (and give it a file name)
It will save as Rich Text Format (rtf). Then, open the file in WORD, and choose file type rtf. You can now edit it as a WORD file, using all the features of Microsoft WORD. 2. The other alternative is to open a blank WORD file, and copy every item from the Session window directly into the WORD file. You can also copy each graph directly into a WORD file.
Downloading Minitab to Your Computer

You can purchase or rent Minitab, and download it to your computer. With a DSL connection, it takes about 5 minutes to download, and a couple of minutes to install. Go to the web site: www.e-academy.com/minitab The price for a semester rental (6 months) is $29.99.
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Minitab Notes (Version 15)

Moving Between Windows

The Data in the Spreadsheet

Entering The Data

Saving Your Work

Editing and Organizing Your Work

Downloading Minitab to Your Computer

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