4.6.10 Named Range

Named-Range

Names in Origin2022 Named Range for Fitting Parameters

From Origin 2022, you can define a range variable by directly naming a single cell or (part of) column in the worksheet. The named range can be used to refer to a cell/column in X-Functions, Set Column Values formula, analysis templates, LabTalk scripts etc.

Beginning with Origin 2022b, use named range values as X "From" and "To" values, initial parameter values, lower and upper bounds and fixed parameter values, in the linear fit, nonlinear fit (NLFit), polynomial fit and multiple linear regression dialog boxes.

Define a range

There are several places in the Origin user-interface where you have the opportunity to define a named range.

by Define Name menu

1. Select a single cell or column in the worksheet.
2. Select menu Data: Define Name (Ctrl+L).

This will open the New Name dialog.

Name	Enter a meaningful name for the range variable. Avoid using something like "AAA1", which conflicts with SCN notation. Naming rules: Starts with a letter. At least 4 characters. Space or special characters are not allowed. Not case sensitive.
Scope	The named range can be 3 scope levels: Worksheet, Workbook, or Project. Range of Worksheet/Workbook/Project scope is saved with the worksheet/workbook/project, respectively. In the same scope level, the name must be unique. If a named range is defined as sheet/book scope, when you use this range as inputs in the X-Function or LabTalk scripts, the sheet/book must be active.
Define as Function	When a Y column is selected, check this checkbox to use this column and its corresponding X column as a function. That means, the named XY range can be used to interpolate/extrapolate Y from the given X. The X to interpolate on can be a single value or a dataset. X must be monotonical. The default interpolate method is line. You can optionally specify spline/bspline method as the second argument of this function. Refer to LabTalk Guide Interpolation document for details. For example, suppose we defined range “alpha” as col(B). Run following script in the Script Window to get interpolated Y value at x=0.15 . alpha(0.15,spline)=; Now we add two more XY columns and fill col(C) with X values we want to interpolate/extrapolate, and define it as range “beta”. In F(x)= of col(D), enter formula: alpha(beta); to fill it with interpolated/extrapolated Y values from col(C).

Preventing conflicts in named ranges: When duplicating a sheet: sheet-level named ranges are duplicated. Book and project-level named ranges are not duplicated. When duplicating a book: book- and sheet-level named ranges are duplicated. Project-level named ranges are not duplicated. When dragging sheets between books: if there is duplication of a book-level named range, keep only the named range of the destination book. When appending a project: if there is duplication of a project-level named range, keep only the named range of the project being appended to and discard the named range in the project being appended.

by Formula Bar

1. Select a single cell or column in the worksheet.
2. Select menu View: Format Bar to turn on Formula bar.
3. In the left most edit box, enter the range name to define a range.

Note:

• the scope of named range added by this way is Book by default.
• Selecting from drop-down list an existed named range will jump to that range.

by Mini Toolbar

1. Select a single filled cell in the worksheet.
2. Select Define Name button from the mini toolbar that appears. This will open the New Name dialog.

If there is a naming-rule satisfied text on the left of the selected cell, the text is auto-picked as the range Name.

by Name Manager menu

1. Select menu Data: Name Manager (Ctrl+F3).
2. In the Name Manager dialog that opens, you can add, modify or remove a named range. Refer to the next section for details.

Manage Named Ranges

Named Range Manager

1. Select menu Data: Name Manager (Ctrl+F3).
2. In the Named Range Manager, you can
   • Change names, scope, and edit Comments of an existed range.
   • Right click to insert a new range.
   • Right click to delete an existed range.
   • Multi-selection is supported: press Ctrl key and click rows to select multiple rows; press Shift key and click rows to select a continuous range.

Display in Object Manager

Named ranges list under the worksheet in which they are defined.

• The assigned range appears beside the range name.
• The named range icon indicates scope.
• A single-click on a named range will highlight the assigned range in the worksheet.
• Double-clicking will open the Named Range Manager with the named range highlighted.

Using Named Range in Label Rows

A named range can be defined for data row or column label row (header row) cells. Use of named range in label rows is useful in the following applications:

• Column/Cell Calculations: Named ranges can be used in Set Values or when defining a cell formula.
• Defining Reference Lines: Named ranges can be used in the Reference Lines dialog when Value Type = Value or Expression.
• Defining a Function Plot: Named ranges can be used when defining a function plot expression (e.g. for 2D Function Plot).

Pay attention to scope when defining your named range. For instance, if you want to use a named range only within certain sheet or book calculations, you can limit scope to Sheet or Book. This allows to use the same Name in a different sheet or book. However, to use a named range throughout the project -- as you would need to do for reference lines or function plots -- you'll need to set Scope = Project. You can always change the scope of a named range using the Named Range Manager.

Quick tutorial

See these OriginLab blog posts for more examples of usage: Named Range in Origin 2022 Named Range for Fitting Parameters

Below is a simple story of making an analysis template with named range.

1. Create a new workbook. Select menu Data: Connect to File: Text/CSV to import sample data <EXE folder>\Samples\Signal Processing\Signal with High Frequency Noise.dat with default settings.
2. Click the connector icon and check Exclude Imported when Saving from the context menu.
3. Add two more columns, col(C) and col(D). In C1, enter text npts. In D1, enter number 10. Click on D1. Select Define Name button from mini-toolbar that appears.
4. In the New Name dialog, “npts” is auto-filled in Name edit box. Click OK.

   

5. Highlight col(A) and col(B). Select menu Analysis: Signal Processing: Smooth. In the dialog, set Recalculate to Auto. Enter npts to Points of Window.

   

6. Save this book as an analysis template by menu File: Save Workbook As Analysis Template.