Creating a graph suitable for publication in a scientific journal

Welcome to our Forums Technical Support Support Desk Creating a graph suitable for publication in a scientific journal

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  • #3500
    srkoch
    Participant

      Every graph I have ever created has multiple y values for each x, and it is necessary to plot the mean of the y values associated with each x plus error bars showing either the standard error or the standard deviation.  I do not see how to do this with DataGraph.  Is DataGraph suitable for this task?

      #3501
      sandrift
      Participant

        This is definitely possible in DataGraph. If you care to provide some example data or an example chart that shows exactly what you’re after, I’m sure people here can give you more specific help.

        #3502
        srkoch
        Participant

          On the plot there are 3 y values for each x, and the lines are means and the error bars are the standard error of the mean.  The graph is from a Prism file, and I am searching for a less expensive alternative, at least for the graphing.  I don’t see how to upload a sample data table.Sample xy plot

          #3503
          sandrift
          Participant

            This is no problem for DataGraph. You just need one column containing the x-axis, and columns with the y values for each trace, and the error for each trace.  After plotting, you select the column you want to use for the error bars.  The user manual provides explicit instructions on these features.

            Here is an example from my own collection (the colors and styles of the error bars are entirely user-selectable):

            Example

             

             

             

             

            #3509
            srkoch
            Participant

              Ms. Hamilton, do you have a page number?  Do I use the Pivot command?  How do I get the sem across each row?  Do I need to enter the formula?  This is incomprehensible to me.

              #3510
              dgteam
              Moderator

                If you need to calculate the mean and SEM, the Pivot command can do that for you.

                Then you can extract the calculated values back to the data table to graph the points/error bars using the Points command.

                We will post a sample file later today.

                #3506
                jordan
                Participant

                  Here is an example that I think shows you what you would like to see:

                  Test

                   

                  Here is an easy way to accomplish such a plot. It helps if you already have your data formatted like this in columns, and all calculations completed. Here is a screen shot of the definitions table:

                  Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 20.27.39

                  And here is representative screenshot of the data table representing the columns shown above:

                  Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 20.27.56

                  Making the plots is also straight forward using the plot command as the screen shot shows:

                  Screen Shot 2020-04-02 at 20.31.27

                  Just replicate the settings for each of the three lines, making sure to adjust the Y value and the error in Y for each one. This should provide you all the information you need to get your plot ready. Most things you can do in Prism you can do in DataGraph for a much better price.

                   

                  #3514
                  srkoch
                  Participant

                    The price difference is why I am considering DataGraph.  I still do not see how to geet DataGraph to calculate SD or SEM.  Jordan, did you use DG or something else to get the mean and SD?

                    #3516
                    jordan
                    Participant

                      My data usually comes from an Excel spreadsheet that has the calculations built in, but you can definitely do the calculations in DataGraph. This is how I would do it, but it certainly is not the best way.

                      Screen Shot 2020-04-03 at 13.12.51

                       

                      I anticipate that someone from the dgteam will post a better version of what you see here. I anticipate that you can extract the averages and SD out a pivot plot, but I don’t have time to mess with it right now. I will work it tonight if there is not a reply from Pamela or David. It is important to remember that DataGraph may look like a spreadsheet program, it is not a spreadsheet. It straddles the line between database and spreadsheet.

                      #3517
                      sandrift
                      Participant

                        Jordan, your reply posted this morning while I was still crafting a response/example, so thank you for picking this up.

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