The following computer labs have machines which support Minitab/win Release 12:

Killam Library

B260

B271

B400

Life Sciences

LSC 200

To access Minitab 12 on the Dalhousie machines, using the left mouse button
1. Click on Start
2. Click on Programs
3. Click on Math and Statistics
4. Click on Minitab 12

This procedure is often summarized like this:

Start > Programs > Math and Statistics > Minitab 12
(> means click with the left mouse button)

You are now in MINITAB and you see two windows, the Session Window in the top half of the screen and the Worksheet below. Only one window is active at a time. The inactive window has a gray banner across the top while the active window has a blue banner across the top. To activate a window, click anywhere in the window with the left mouse button.

There are two ways to enter data
1. Using the Session window
2. Using the Worksheet

To enter data using the Session Window, first activate the session window. You will see the Minitab prompt ( MTB >). After the MTB prompt, type SET C1 (This may be in either upper case or in lower case letters). When you press enter, the data prompt (DATA >) will come up. After the data prompt type in the following 11 numbers of the data set separating the numbers by at least one space or by commas :

2.49

2.57

3.41

1.25

1.62

3.83

11.64

6.41

8.34

When you have finished entering the data, press enter and another data prompt will come up. Type END at the prompt and press enter. The MTB> prompt will appear.

You will notice that the data is automatically in the worksheet in C1 (column 1).

To enter data directly into the Worksheet, first activate the worksheet .

Set another column C2 with the mortality rates. To start click in the appropriate cell (in this case row 1 of column 2). Type in the first data point and press enter, the cursor now moves to a new cell and you can enter another number.

Look at the top left hand corner of the worksheet and you will see an arrow. If the arrow is pointing down, the cursor will move down to the next cell when you press enter. If the arrow is pointing sideways, the cursor will move across the row when you press enter.

You want to enter a column of data so the arrow should be pointing down. If it is not, click on the arrow to change its direction.

Now enter the second data point in row 2 of column 2 and press enter. Continue in the same way until the whole data set is entered. Be sure to press enter after the last data point has been entered. The cursor will move to the next empty cell.

C1 now contains the value for index of exposure (x) and C2 contains the corresponding values for cancer mortality (y). You are now ready to do part a of the practice question.

Be sure to first activate the Session Window.

If you wish to print what you have done, with Session Window activated click on the printer icon at the top or the screen. Another way to print the session is to click on FILE at the top of your screen. Now click on Print Session Window and finish the print procedure by clicking on the appropriate boxes.

If you are working in LSC 200 your work will be printed in that room. If you are working in any of the other computer labs, your work will be printed in B433 (Learning Laboratory in the Killam Library). To get your printout you need to know the number of the computer you were using. This is printed on a label on the tower or the terminal of the computer. The printouts cost 10 cents a page and you will need a debit card which you can purchase at the LRC window in B433. To get your printout follow the instructions on the wall by the printer.

Since it costs 10 cents a page to print your session, you will probably want to edit your session so only the important parts of the session are included in your printout. To delete lines from your session, in the Session Window go to the beginning of the first line you wish to delete. Press the left mouse button and move it down to highlight the part of the session you wish to remove. Then release the left mouse button. The part you want to remove should remain highlighted. Now press the right mouse button and a menu comes up. With the left mouse button, click on delete and all the highlighted material will be deleted. Alternatively, you can just hit the 'delete' button after highlighting the lines you wish to remove.

If you wish to save what you have done, put your floppy disk in the slot in the tower, click on File at the top of the screen and then click on Save project. Look at the Save in menu. Where it says Minitab 12, click on the down arrow. A menu comes up. Go to the top of the menu and click on 3Floppy (A): A little screen comes up. In the box next to File name, type in the filename you want to give your project. Then click on Save. You will get a message in the Session Window which ends

Saving file as: A:\filename.MPJ (MPJ means Minitab project).

Your project will be saved on your floppy disk. To remove your floppy disk, press the button on the tower and the disk will be ejected.

You have now saved your worksheet and your session and may retrieve them at another time.

When you have finished your work and have saved or printed it, you can leave Minitab by typing STOP at the MTB prompt. This will take you back to Start. (Another way to leave Minitab is to click on the File at the top of the screen and then click on Exit at the bottom of the File menu.)

If you wish to retrieve your project, when you come back to the computer for another session, insert your floppy disk in the tower. Go into Minitab. Click on File and then click on Open Project on the File menu. A small screen comes up. In the Look in menu click on Floppy (A): . A list of the saved projects will come up. Click on the project that you want to work on. Its name will come up in the Filename box. Click on Open. The Session Window and Worksheet will appear as they were when you saved the project. You are ready to continue work.