Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research

Pageplot Using Minitab

A Minitab macro is available that emulates the old VAX version of Pageplot:
 

• Useful in dendrochronology for easily plotting many times series
  • Useful when using various strategies of detrending measured ring widths
  • An important check and analysis step
  • Right click here to download the macro file, which is just an ASCII text file
  • Right click here to download the macro file for Minitab version 13
  • Right click here to download the macro file for Minitab version 14
  • Right click here to download the macro file for Minitab version 15
• This version of Pageplot runs on recent versions of Windows-based Minitab, with following instructions:
  • Data must be in column format, with leftmost column being the year markers; this is the typical output of the YUX program of the Dendrochronology Program Library
  • Represent missing values for any series with an asterisk (*)
  • Within Minitab, do a standard File—Open Worksheet of the column file
  • From the MTB> prompt, type this: %directory_tree/pageplot C1-C##;
    • The % tells Minitab that a macro is being run
    • The directory_tree is the exact subdirectory where you downloaded Pageplot.mac
    • Pageplot is the name of the macro, followed by a space
    • C1-C## are the columns that are "sent" to the macro; the ## is typically the number of columns in the data set
    • End this command with the semi-colon
  • You'll get a SUBC> prompt, where you type this: title 'your title goes here'.
    • Put your title between the single quotes
    • End this subcommand with the period
  • You'll be prompted interactively for four options:
    • Number of overlay plots?: Enter 2, for example, if you want raw data plotted with the trend line
    • Number of plots per page?: Enter any number to tailor your output
    • Include mean line in plots?: Useful if plotting index series
    • Output for screen or printer?: Different line weights are used depending on this preference
• Extra hint: If the command and the subcommand are typed into Minitab's Command Line Editor, this macro can be run easily many times, changing the title and choosing different interactive options

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Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona 85721 USA
Main Office: (520) 621-1608, Fax: (520) 621-8229
Comments to Paul Sheppard: sheppard @ ltrr.arizona.edu

Copyright © 2000-2008, Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, University of Arizona
Revised — April, 2008
URL: http://tree.ltrr.arizona.edu/~sheppard/pageplot/pageplot.htm