2.77 FAQ-839 What should I do when Origin becomes slower as more data is imported?

Large-Dataset-Import-Project-Speedup

Last Update: 2/20/2022

When you import large number of files(by using Data: Import From File), you may find Origin becomes slower and slower along with more and more data is imported. It may often happen when you use LabTalk or OriginC scripts to import a large number of data files. It is probably caused by

• sparklines stored in the worksheet (displayed or hidden)
• file information will be recorded in the workbook to enable Re-Import (you can find all the imported file path and names listed in the Workbook Organizer after import)
• the mechanism to enable Undo of importing (if you are using OriginC or LabTalk to import multiple files in a loop)

You can try the following solutions to speed up the system.

Turn off Sparklines

If you are running LabTalk scripts,

Add the following option to the import code:

options.Sparklines:=0

If you already import data files with sparkline enable

Run the following scripts to delete all sparkline graphs, and then resave project.

StringArray sa;

doc -e P
{
	if (%H == "sparkline*")
		sa.Add(%H);
}

int nn = sa.GetSize();
for (int ii=1; ii<=nn; ii++)
{
	win -c %(sa.GetAt(ii)$);
}

Turn off Save File Info in Workbook

Or,

Set system variable @npi to 1 to prevent recording the import files information into the workbook. See this page for detailed steps of change system variable value.

If you are running LabTalk code,

Add the following option to the import code:

options.Miscs.SaveFileInfo:=0

Note: Without saving the import information, you cannot use Data: Re-Import menu to reimport the data. Please keep this in mind when you turn off "Save File Info in Workbook".

Turn off Undo Temporarily

Set the system variable @UN to 0 before importing and restore it afterwards.

If you are running Origin C code,

Use similar functioni to this examplen:

void DoImport()
{
    // This class sets a system variable to a new value
    // while storing the old value.
    // When the instance of the class goes out of scope,
    // the instance is destroyed and the system variable
    // restored to it's previous value.
 
   LTVarTempChange junk("@UN", 0);

   // Perform all importing in same scope as above class instance until done.
}

If you are running LabTalk code:

// Save current value of @UN.
int nOld = @UN;

// Turn off Undo.
@UN = 0;

// Perform all importing until done.

// Finally restore previous value of @UN.
@UN = nOld;

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