Evaluation copies
"Cannot find license information"
"You must have write access to your computer's registry"
Activation codes
Six Sigma menu
"BY" variables
Transforming data
Performing a weighted analysis

1. When installing STATGRAPHICS Centurion, I am asked for a serial number. What if I am installing an Evaluation Copy and have not yet purchased the program?

Leave the serial number field blank if you are installing a 30-day evaluation version.

2. After  installing STATGRAPHICS Centurion, l am attempting to run it for the first time. Upon loading the program, it immediately takes me to the License Manager. When I push the Upgrade button, the message "Cannot find license information" appears in a small window.

When installing the program, it must be done using the computer on which the program will be run (unless you have purchased the special network version). During installation and during the first execution of the program, you must have write access to the registry. If you install it without write-access to the registry, or copy the program files from another computer without running the installation program, the license information will not be placed in the proper location in the registry. To correct this, use regedit.exe to add the following key to the registry:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
      SOFTWARE
         Statgraphics
            STATGRAPHICS Centurion XV
               15.2.0.0

It should then run properly.

3. After  installing STATGRAPHICS Centurion, l am attempting to run it for the first time. A window is displayed with the following message: "You must have write access to your computer's registry when you first run this program. This normally requires administrator rights. Please correct and try again."

When running STATGRAPHICS for the first time, it stores important information in your system's registry. This requires that you be running as an administrator. If you are using Windows Vista, you must click on the STATGRAPHICS desktop icon with the RIGHT mouse button and select "Run as administrator" in order to have the proper access to the registry. If your organization limits administrator access to the IT department, you must have them run the program the first time (and later if your enter an activation code). After that, administrator rights are not required.

4. I installed STATGRAPHICS Centurion and entered a serial number. The program is now requesting an "activation code". How do I get one?

To obtain an activation code, go to the "Help" selection on the main menu and select "License Manager". On the License Manager dialog box, push the button labeled "Get code" and follow the instructions that are displayed. You must obtain an activation code within 30 days after first installing STATGRAPHICS or the program will stop running.

5. When I started STATGRAPHICS Centurion for the first time, it asked whether I wished to use the optional Six Sigma menu. Does that menu give me access to different procedures?

Both the Six Sigma menu and the standard menu access the same set of statistical procedures. The only difference is the organization of topics on the main menu. The Six Sigma menu arranges topics under the DMAIC headings (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control) used in Six Sigma, while the standard menu follows the normal STATGRAPHICS structure. You can switch between the two menu structures by accessing "Preferences" on the "Edit" menu.

6. Does STATGRAPHICS Centurion have the equivalent of a "BY" variable that allows you to repeat an analysis for each level of a selected factor?

One of the features of the StatWizard is the ability to create analyses automatically for each level of a selected variable. Load your data into a datasheet and invoke the StatWizard by pressing the wizard's cap on the main  toolbar. On the first dialog box, choose "Select Analyses Based on Type of Data." Specify the variables to be analyzed on the second dialog box. On the third dialog box, select "Each Unique Value of" and enter the name of the "BY" variable. The desired analyses will be run at each level of that variable and placed into a separate window.

7. How do you transform data in STATGRAPHICS?

The easiest way to transform data is "on-the-fly". On any data input dialog box, you can type an expression such as "LOG(column name)" where you would normally enter the name of a column.  This will transform your data for the current analysis without disturbing the datasheet. Alternatively, highlight an empty column in a datasheet and select "Generate Data" under "Edit" on the main menu. You can then enter the desired expression and have the transformed data placed in that column.

8. Suppose I have two columns of data: one named X with different data values, and a second named Frequency with the number of times each value of X occurred. How can I compute a weighted average of the data values?

You should select the One Variable Analysis procedure and enter the following expression in the Data field: REP(X,Frequency). This will expand the data column so that each value of X occurs with the corresponding Frequency and gives you the results you desire. This type of expansion works in any procedure.