4.4.12 Converting Worksheet Data to XYZ

It is common to see three-dimensional spreadsheet data arrayed with X coordinates in the first row and Y coordinates in the first column (or vice versa). If you have such an arrangement and your X and Y coordinate values are linearly-spaced, you can do a direct worksheet to matrix conversion of your data, as a first step in creating 3D plots or performing other analyses on matrix data.

W2xyz example source.png

If the X and or Y spacing is nonlinear (as shown above) then you cannot do a Direct Conversion to matrix. There are two alternatives:

  • Convert data to a "Virtual Matrix" using the X-Function (w2vm)
  • Convert data to an XYZ column format using the Convert to XYZ menu option.


To use the menu option:

  1. Make your worksheet active.
  2. Click Worksheet: Convert to XYZ...

This opens the w2xyz dialog box. This dialog box uses the w2xyz X-Function.

In the Conversion Options branch of this dialog box, you can specify how the original data are arrayed: X across columns, Y across columns, or No X and Y (meaning the X and Y coordinate values are not supplied and Origin should use column and row indices).

Dialog Options

Recalculate

Controls recalculation of results

  • None
  • Auto
  • Manual

For more information, see: Recalculating Analysis Results

Convert Range

Options are Entire Worksheet (default) or Specified Ranges. The Specified Ranges option allows you to define a subrange as Input (by preselecting data or using the interactive range selection control.

Input Worksheet

The input worksheet to convert when Convert Range = Entire Worksheet.

For help with range controls, see: Specifying Your Input Data

Input

The input range to convert when Convert Range = Specified Ranges.

For help with range controls, see: Specifying Your Input Data

Data Format

The format of the source data:

  • X across columns
The X values are across columns.
  • Y across columns
The Y values are across columns.
  • No X and Y
There are no X or Y values in the worksheet. Column and row indices should be used for X and Y coordinates, respectively.
X Values in

When Data Format = X across columns.

  • None
There are no X values in the worksheet. Column indices are used as X values.
  • First Data Row in Worksheet
First data row supplies the X values.
  • Column Label
Column label row supplies the X values.
  • First Data Row in Selection
First data row in selection supplies the X values. Available when Convert Range = Specified Ranges.

When Data Format = Y across columns.

  • None
There are no X values in the worksheet. Column indices are used as X values.
  • First Data Column in Worksheet
First data column supplies the X values.
  • First Data Column in Selection
First data column in selection supplies the X values. Available when Convert Range = Specified Ranges.
Y Values in

When Data Format = X across columns.

  • None
There are no Y values in the worksheet. Column indices are used as Y values.
  • First Data Column in Worksheet
First data column supplies the Y values.
  • First Data Column in Selection
First data column in selection supplies the Y values. Available when Convert Range = Specified Ranges.

When Data Format = Y across columns.

  • None
There are no Y values in the worksheet. Column indices are used as Y values.
  • First Data Row in Worksheet
First data row supplies the Y values.
  • Column Label
Column label row supplies the Y values.
  • First Data Row in Selection
First data row supplies the Y values. Available when Convert Range = Specified Ranges.
Column Label

Only available when X Values in or Y Values in = Column Label. Choose the label row to supply the X or Y coordinates.

Trim Missing

Trim empty rows and columns from the worksheet. Additionally, if during conversion either an X, Y or Z value is missing from the triplet, the point is discarded.

Output

Specify three columns for the output XYZ range. X, Y and Z data can be output to different sheets and books.

For help with the range controls, see: Output Results