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In an XY table, every point is defined by both an X and a Y value.

Analyses performed with XY data

Linear regression

Nonlinear regression

Correlation (Pearson or Spearman)

Cubic spline & LOWESS

Smooth curve

Area under curve

Example of an XY table



The first optional column is for row titles to label individual subjects or samples.

The next column ("X") is for X value. There is only one X column per table. If you choose to enter X error values, then there will be two subcolumns (one for X, one for the error value).

Each remaining column ("A", "B", ...) defines a treatment group.

Subcolumns are for replicates in a treatment group. Prism uses these to calculate error bars.

Blank cells represent missing values.

Blue italics values are excluded from graphs and analyses.

An XY data table can contain 256 data set columns and as many as 256 sub-columns.

XY tables can be configured to enter dates or times into the X column, instead of numbers. Choose when you create table.


Error bars

Prism will compute and graph error bars from replicate values placed in side by side subcolumns as shown (triplicate values) in the table above. Specify the number of subcolumns when you create a new XY table.

You can also choose to create subcolumns formatted for entry of error values computed elsewhere.


data xy4

Prism can also plot horizontal X error bars. You must enter X error values directly; Prism cannot compute them. You can only enter one value for X errors, so X error bars are always symmetrical.


Entering multiple sets of data that don't share X values

Each data table has a single column for X and up to 104 sets of Y values. What should you do if you have different X values for each set of Y values? There are two ways to solve this problem.

The best approach is to stagger the data entry. You don't have to start entering data in the first row. This example shows three data sets with different X values.

data xy5

An alternative approach is to enter each data set on a different table. The disadvantage with this method is that you lose some analysis choices. You must enter all the data sets on one table in order for Prism to compare linear regression lines, to compare best-fit values from nonlinear regression, and to compare survival curves. Another minor disadvantage is that Prism will automatically make a different graph for each table. However, you can delete the unneeded graphs and include data from all the data tables on a single graph.




