2.9 FAQ-416 How do I extract Long Names and Units from same header rows when importing ASCII?

extract-longname-from-units

Last Update: 10/9/2017

There are some circumstances when the variable names and units in ASCII files are kept in the same header rows. But it is possible for you to extract variable names from the units in the same rows according to the auto-detected delimiters when importing these ASCII files into Origin worksheet.

Origin 2018 and Later

Choose File: Import Single ASCII or File: Import Multiple ASCII. Select your ASCII file(s) and make sure that Show Options Dialog is checked. This opens the impASC dialog, where you can choose your data import handling options.
Under the Header Lines branch, set Composite Header Line No. to 1 - 9 or type a number into the box.
Make a selection from the Composite Pattern list. If you select <auto>, the import code will scan for recognized delimiters and will parse the line accordingly.

Note that Origin's Import Wizard has a similar feature. See the next section for more information.

Origin 2015 through Origin 2017

Suppose you are using Import single ASCII (or Import Multiple ASCII ) to import file. To start with, click File: Import Single ASCII(or File: Import Multiple ASCII ). Select the ASCII files and open impASC dialog. Then select the checkbox of Extract Long Name and Units from Same Line under Import Option: Header Lines section. Click OK to close the dialog.The variable name would automatically be arranged in Long Name header row and units in Units header row.

Similar operation is also supported in Import Wizard. The checkbox of Extract Long Name and Units from Same Line is also available in Header Lines page of Import Wizard dialog.