Defining Variables for X-bar and Variability Chart - Quick Tab
Select the Quick tab of the Defining Variables for dialog box to access the options described here.
Note: Analyzing Raw Data vs. Aggregated Data
With Statistica, you can create X-bar and R or S charts from raw data as well as aggregated data. In many quality control applications, the measurement devices or data bases that collect the measurements for critical variables will automatically aggregate the raw data, and only report (store) the sample means and ranges (or standard deviations). The options for analyzing aggregated data are only available for variable control charts of means (X-bar charts), and not for charts of individual observations (where this option is not applicable).
Input is raw data (Compute means, etc.)
Select this option button if the input data consist of raw measurements; for X-bar and R or S charts, the program will then compute the sample means and ranges or standard deviations from the data, and plot those statistics in the requested quality control charts.
Input is aggregated data (Data contains means, etc.)
Select this option button if the input file already contains aggregated summary statistics, (sample means and ranges or standard deviations). In this case, in the results dialog, various options for charts and other results tables that require access to the raw data will not be available. On the other hand, if for your QC application you are already storing the respective summary statistics in a database (which you are accessing via this module), then creating charts from aggregated data will be more efficient and may be faster.
Variables
Click the Variables button to display a standard variable selection dialog box. The specific variable(s) that you need to select from this dialog depends on whether the input data for the analyses is raw data or aggregated data.
If the input data is raw data, you can select Variables with measurements, Variables with sample identifiers, and Variables with part identifiers (optional for short run charts).
If the input data is aggregated data (for an X-bar and R or S chart), you can select Variables with measurement Sample means, Sample ranges (for R charts; or Sample standard deviations for S charts), optionally with Sample sizes, and Part identifiers (optional for short run charts).
Constant sample size
Select this check box if 1) you are analyzing raw data and do not have a variable with sample identifiers, or 2) you are analyzing aggregated data and do not have a variable with sample sizes (sample N's). Specify the sample size for variable control charts by typing the number in the box or by adjusting the number with the microscrolls.
Constant number of samples per part
If this check box is selected and no part identifier variable is selected, you can specify here a fixed number of consecutive samples for each part. For example, if your input data consist of batches with different specifications (i.e., different parts) from which a fixed number of samples is automatically drawn, then you can select this option so that on reading the data each "chunk" of k consecutive samples is automatically assigned to the same part.