JMP Essentials. Curt Hinrichs
one active data file can be analyzed at any one time. You can double click on any item in this panel to activate it and bring it to the forefront.
While the Home Window enables you to navigate directly to a file or result, each data table and results window also provides shortcuts back to the Home Window. At the lower right of each window, select the icon that looks like a house to return to the Home Window (Figure 1.12).
Figure 1.12 Shortcut Back to the Home Window
A results window has a second icon, which is also the same icon used to denote “.jmp” formatted files called JMP Data Tables. Click on a Data Table icon and you will be taken to the corresponding data table for that results window (Figure 1.13). Note that if you are looking at a data table, you will not see this second icon because you are already in the data table window.
Figure 1.13 Shortcut Back to the Data Table
The check box with the down arrow button next to it enables you to combine multiple results windows or graphs into a single window or “dashboard.” We will discuss creating dashboards in Chapter 7.
1.3 JMP Menus
At the top of the Home Window, you will see a series of menus (File, Edit, Tables, and so on). These are the menus that we use to illustrate the concepts in this book. They are also the same menus that we refer to as JMP’s native menus because they have been present in JMP since its first release.
These menus serve to open or import data, to edit or structure it, and to create graphs and analyses of your data. They are also a valuable source for assistance through the Help menu, which is discussed later. The menus are logically sequenced from left to right (Figure 1.14).
Figure 1.14 JMP Native Menus
● File is where you go to open or import data and to save, print, or exit JMP. It is also where you can customize the appearance or settings within JMP through Preferences (explained in Section 1.5).
● Edit will appear when needed and provides the usual cut, clear, copy, paste, and select functions, as well as undo, redo, and special JMP functions.
● Tables provides the tools to manage, summarize, and structure your data. (See Section 2.6.)
● DOE contains the Design of Experiments tools. These tools are used to design experiments that are then used to collect data to eventually analyze. In this book, we assume you already have data in some form and thus will not cover DOE. For more information, see Help JMP Documentation Library DOE Guide.
● Analyze contains the analysis tools that generate both graphs and statistics and serves as the home for all of JMP’s statistical tools from simple to advanced (Chapters 5 and 6).
● Graph contains graph tools that are independent of statistics (at least initially). Graphs in this menu include basic charts to advanced multivariable and animated visualization tools and maps (Chapters 3 and 4).
● Tools enables you to transform your cursor into a help tool, a brushing tool, a selection or scrolling tool, and much more (Section 7.2).
● View provides options to control which windows, menus and toolbars are visible including the JMP Starter (Section 8.3).
● Window helps you manage windows within JMP.
● Help provides resources for learning and using JMP. Let’s start with an introduction to the Help menu.
| Note |
| Additional menu items including “Add-ins” and “SAS” may appear if and when you have tools of these types installed. |
The Help Menu
The Help menu (see Figure 1.15) provides access to learning resources that you can use as you expand your knowledge of JMP features, learn about statistics, and learn how to interpret results. These resources include searchable indexes, guided tutorials, tips of the day, and links to printable books including Using JMP. Data tables used in this book and in all JMP documentation are included in the Sample Data directory. Chapter 8 covers the features of the Help menu in greater detail.
Figure 1.15 The Help Menu
JMP also features context-specific help, meaning that when you use the JMP Help Tool in any graph or statistical result, you are directed to the right spot in the online documentation to assist you in understanding the result. For more information about the JMP Help Tool, see section 8.1. In statistical results, JMP provides Hover Help that reveals context-specific interpretation of statistical results. See Chapter 5 for more information.
Interpretation can be straightforward for descriptive graphs or basic summary statistics, but as you dig deeper into an analysis or use more advanced methods, it is vitally important that you understand the meaning of the results, particularly when they are shared or presented. The documentation under Help JMP Documentation Library includes over 6,000 pages of reference material in fourteen books that address the needs of professional statisticians and analysts. If you encounter results that you do not understand, however, we strongly recommend that you seek assistance from experienced data analysts.
The Analyze and Graph Menus
Because most graphs or statistical results begin with the Analyze and Graph menus, let’s explore the structure within these two menus a little bit more.
Click the Analyze menu at the top of the window. Glance at the choices on the menu. Top-down, the platforms are organized from the basic to more advanced tools. Next, click the Graph menu at the top of the window. Glance at the graph choices. The menus in JMP – specifically the Analyze and Graph menus (see Figures 1.16a and 1.16b) – are designed to provide both a description and visual cues for analyzing, graphing, and exploring data.
| Figure 1.16a The Analyze Menu | Figure 1.16b The Graph Menu |
Note that each entry under these menus has both a name and an icon (on the Mac, the icons will not appear). The icons next to the Graph menu options give you a preview of each graph. From the Analyze menu, the icons depict the description or relationships that you will see in graphs and statistical results (Figure 1.17).
Figure 1.17 Visual Cues Provided for Basic Analysis
| Note |
| The Analyze menu items produce both graphs and statistical results, while the Graph menu items produce only graphs, at least initially. |
Framework of the Analyze Menu
There is a problem-solving framework to the Analyze menu that we will discuss in detail in Chapter 5. As mentioned in the introduction, your exploratory objective will translate to these menu items. This structure streamlines the analysis process; in order to select the correct menu item, you only need to count how many columns you are interested in and know whether you are trying to describe, compare, or understand their relationship. (See Figure 1.18.)
Figure 1.18 Framework of the Analyze Menu
This framework cues you to the correct analysis choice on the menu without exposing you to many statistical terms until you need them. Make no mistake; you still get the