File Exchange > Graphing >    Tangent

How to install and run
Author:
OriginLab Technical Support
Date Added:
8/5/2015
Last Update:
6/12/2025
Downloads (90 Days):
2925
Total Ratings:
234
File Size:
283 KB
Average Rating:
File Name:
Tangent.opx
File Version:
1.82
Minimum Versions:
2016 (9.3)
License:
Free
Type:
App
Summary:

Draw a tangent line at selected point of a data plot.

Screen Shot and Video:
Description:

Purpose:
This app draws a tangent line at selected point of a data plot in a graph. A smoothing option is available for computing the derivative for noisy data.

Installation:
Download the file Tangent.opx, and drag and drop it onto the Origin workspace. An icon will appear in the Apps Gallery window.

Operation:

  1. Click the icon to open dialog. Change dialog settings as desired and press OK. A vertical line will be added to the graph.
  2. Drag the vertical line to select a desired point on the curve. The tangent line will update as you move the vertical line.
  3. Press the triangle button at the top right of the graph to display a context menu. Select "New Output" to add tangent line at currently selected point.
    You can then move the cursor to other points on the curve to add additional tangent lines.
  4. Select "Preferences..." from the context menu to re-open the dialog to change settings.
    When dialog is open, press "?" button, or F1 to open the help file.

Note:

It is best to use this app in Origin 2019B, or higher version. For lower version than Origin 2019B, if the plot is xy-exchanged, the horizontal for selecting data point is not able to be moved vertically by draging the line itself. The way to make this line moved is to drag one of the two handles, and even dragging the handle, the line would not move with the handle together, but it would jump to the position of the handle after the dragging done.

Updates:

5/13/2025 v1.82 Update localization for German
1/20/2025 v1.81 Update localization
11/3/2023 v1.8 New icon for dark mode
3/2/2023 v1.7 Fixed bug of showing wrong point index with hidden data
8/23/2022 v1.6 Fixed tangent line position issue for double-y plot in Origin 2023
6/22/2020 v1.5 Fixed localization issue for Japanese
6/20/2019 v1.4 Change minimum version to Origin 2016
3/19/2019 v1.3 Support apparent tangent and xy exchanged graph
8/16/2018 v1.2 Fixed bug for wrong data with multiple plots, support for Chinese version.
11/17/2015 v1.1 Supports duplicate values in x data.

Reviews and Comments:
09/09/2026lujiasanYUNYYY

06/08/2026wwt123wwt123111

06/08/2026wwt123wwt123111

05/14/202618049411746好

05/08/2026yghahogood

05/08/20265491ling1

05/07/20262410389148无

04/29/2026sunmuyangood

04/20/2026fuyuda36

04/20/2026fuyuda222

04/14/2026patotegood

04/14/2026patoteit is very good

03/23/2026YyanganiiiNo bug

12/22/20252844076176no

12/19/2025jeetpoplar1

12/19/2025jeetpoplar1111

12/19/2025jeetpoplar1111

12/07/2025jfjkfjkfdskjiaofjjfnsn无

11/23/2025  

11/21/202500000yjh1

11/14/2025wttttttgood

11/05/202521552737081

11/05/202521552737081

11/05/202521552737081

11/05/202521552737081

11/05/202521552737081

11/05/202521552737081

10/28/2025  

10/20/2025  

10/15/20251290716334good

10/15/2025smq123good

06/16/20251914246115NO

06/14/2025147258369lth1

06/02/20251352766230no bug reports

05/27/2025  

05/24/20252051306634verygood

04/27/2025ThsanlineGood

04/25/20251914246115NO

04/25/20251914246115NO

04/25/20251914246115NO

04/23/2025ID0

04/20/2025  

04/20/2025  

04/19/2025123好

03/28/2025hgd1916会让你花

03/26/2025liangbinfeng1

03/25/2025Hejiapingok

03/25/2025Hejiapingok

03/25/2025Hejiapingok

03/25/2025Hejiapingok

03/23/2025lwawa1010great

03/23/2025lwawa1010hao

03/22/2025fanhao8911none

03/17/20252860812522好·

02/20/2025zhangxp1

01/08/2025asmetechnologici got no sliders for red line to choose exact point

01/02/20252178417602Required

12/18/2024  

12/02/2024  

11/09/2024tianxiaoxinrequired

11/09/2024tianxiaoxinrequired

11/05/202423100021027very good

11/05/2024  

10/29/2024jin winter破软件，为何人人都能用，偏偏本宫用不了？

10/29/2024jin winter破软件，为何人人都能用，偏偏本宫用不了？

10/29/202420220118441

10/22/2024july2024good

10/06/2024CalvinSSSgreat app

09/23/2024  

09/23/2024111000111no

08/27/2024  

08/14/2024Rick999Hgreat app, helped me instantly and did what it was designed for. should be preinstalled ;)

08/06/2024c18155536185no

07/07/20242574187021good

06/24/2024fengjh55no

06/12/20243362906m

05/23/2024123456wytgood

05/20/2024  

04/27/2024  

04/02/2024  

03/27/2024  

03/19/2024  

02/18/2024  

12/11/2023zhouhang 

11/25/20231637843308I want to use it.

10/22/2023  

08/24/2023Henau-cc希望添加在指定点求切线的功能

07/07/2023lLetovlFast and usefull

07/03/2023  

06/05/2023OriginLabHi, 蔡志超

这个 app 的作用是为图上存在的数据点绘制切线。如果任意指定点在图上不存在， 是无法绘制切线的。如有需要， 请先自行插值使指定位置存在数据点

OriginLab Technical Support

06/05/2023蔡志超不能求指定一点求切线，一般

06/04/2023ksu45112Nothing

06/02/2023htoultchworks really well

05/28/2023Wu Xueyang 

05/19/2023guangtouludangoooooood

03/25/2023weathersirit works

02/08/2023ilywrf2013It is useful!

11/23/2022123456tj非常好

11/14/2022shifeifeigood

11/03/2022Ding XiaohanVery good

11/03/2022Ding XiaohanVery good

10/31/20223260039675good

10/25/2022lxl11111

10/05/2022ulas.yaprak 

09/26/2022占涵垚 

09/22/2022 成员函数调用错误

09/19/202213822999733ok

09/14/20222018202050067very well

09/10/2022qizhukanyuegood

08/18/2022Wang Yaqi 

07/23/2022billu_kesariyaAwesome add-in. Thanks a ton....:D

06/01/20221145111

05/31/2022Evin1

05/25/2022sk1lno

03/20/202215759973571无

03/19/202218024322540good

03/19/2022luoyangshifanxueyuanhao

03/19/2022luoyangshifanxueyuanhao

03/19/2022luoyangshifanxueyuanhao

12/19/2021  

12/15/2021OriginLabHi yun1105,
Please tell us the details about the issue through
https://www.originlab.com/restricted/support/newticket.aspx
Thanks,
Shirley
OriginLab

12/13/2021yun1105unable to locate data accurately

12/12/2021  

12/02/2021makeroundyyes

11/29/202119861657155ddddddsvs

11/29/202119861657155xfzv

11/20/2021lee1213yes

11/20/2021lee1213no

11/20/2021lee1213no

11/20/2021lee1213no

11/20/2021lee1213no

11/20/2021LTT-05A

11/20/2021LTT-05aa

11/10/2021DHU1Xgood

07/05/2021hhhidgood

06/24/2021  

06/18/2021ydookno

06/14/2021 98

06/14/2021  

06/14/2021 11233334

06/07/2021OriginLabHi jjbrown, did you have some problems with this app? If yes, please feel free to contact us via https://www.originlab.com/restricted/support/index.aspx?c=3

OriginLab Technical Support

06/06/2021849984891no

06/05/2021jjbrown为什么只能移动到16.76的倍数处

05/28/2021郭伟晨 

05/28/2021郭伟晨 

05/06/2021Hermionellxfine

05/06/2021liuzhongjiaono

04/05/2021zhangzhangyang整体还可以，就是如果有详细的使用说明就更棒了

02/25/2021张洳菲 

02/17/2021陈杰That's a great App!

01/17/2021jjbrown 

01/01/2021kangyuncong...

12/25/2020OriginLabHi 295981920,

Please click the triangle button at the upper right corner of the graph when you add a vertical line to the graph, then select Change Data from the context menu and select the data you want to calculate the value of tangent.

OriginLab Technical Support

12/24/2020295981920Hello,I just wonder how to use origin tangent to make tangent of another curve.

12/16/2020OriginLabHi jumping_ball,

Please note the minimum version is Origin 2016. Please consider to upgrade your Origin.

Hi 何奥亚,

Pease tell us the details about your problem.

Hi jjbrown,

Would you please tell us which version of Origin you are using? This app has a limitation on Origin Version, the minimum version is Origin 2016.

Thanks,
Shirley
OriginLab

12/16/2020jumping_ball为什么origin8pro安装以后没有图标啊

12/15/2020何奥亚没用，给不了切线

10/24/2020于飞 

10/24/2020于飞 

10/22/2020jjbrown为什么不能下载使用

10/13/2020孙娟 

09/27/2020OriginLabHi wanghantechnion, you can drag the red vertical line to select another data point on the curve.

09/27/2020wanghantechnionWhen I click the "Tangent", a vertical line appears, but it shows "invalid tangent point", there is no desired point or chosen point appear. How should I do?

09/03/2020OriginLabHi 123-321,

Once you have gotten the slope value using this app, you can add the perpendicular line by selecting "File: New: Function Plot: 2D Function Plot" and enter the function body below in the Create 2D Function Plot dialog:
Y(x)=y0-1/s*(x-x0)

Select "Add to Active Graph" at the left-bottom corner and click OK button.

Thanks,
OriginLab Support

09/03/2020123-321Hi! Can anyone suggest how to draw a normal from a point on a curve (i.e., a perpendicular to a tangent)?

08/31/2020OriginLabHi ruhmblogger, you can drag and drop the *.opx file to the grey area once you launch Origin. Or you can select menu Tools: App Center and search this app to download and install it directly.

OriginLab Tech Support

08/30/2020ruhmbloggerI ve got no idea in which exact folder I should drag the .opx - there is no folder named: workspace in my applications. and I dont know forwhich symbol I need to look for.

08/15/2020Ke Wang 

08/11/2020  

07/31/2020sandrishagood

07/05/2020  

06/11/2020OriginLabHi @junhee, you can move the cursor to the point by dragging the square at the bottom or top.
OriginLab Technical Support

06/11/2020junheehow to move exact point???

05/24/20201240702676好

12/04/2019DeadBanana 

12/02/2019snowli@nguyendun, could you email details of which part isn't clear to tech@originlab.com?
Thanks, Snow

12/01/2019nguyendunPoor description. Cannot understand or apply

11/13/2019fuckregisterGJ

10/17/2019刘泽源 

07/23/2019hxczsbVery gooood!

05/17/2019OriginLabHi ncepu2011ncepu,

Yes, this upgraded app requires Origin 2019b as a minimum version. It doesn't support running in Origin 2018. You can download our 2019b trail to try this app, https://www.originlab.com/index.aspx?go=Downloads/OriginEvaluation
Thanks,
Shirley
OriginLab

05/16/2019ncepu2011ncepuCan only the latest version of origin use this APP? What about the 2018 version? Where can I download APP without updates?

04/25/2019OriginLabHi anaalv, this app has been updated and the minimum version of Origin needs 2019b, which is the latest version, newer than 2019

04/24/2019anaalvI cannot get it to download even though I am currently running Origin2019. Help please.

04/20/2019Zzhj1998111

04/02/2019shinzanthank you

03/26/2019pyd160Very good

03/23/2019ishfaq333Good

03/12/2019snowli@origin111666,
Please see Minimum Version field. This App is only supported in Origin 2016 (9.3) or higher.

Thanks, Snow

03/12/2019origin111666我是originpro8,安装了这个插件，但是没有任何反应，求解

03/11/2019snowliHi @Huang Huaiwei, if u r using Origin 2019, with graph window active, click the Start icon on bottom-left corner of Origin workspace and type "tangent", u will see it. Click it will launch the app. See https://www.originlab.com/Index.aspx?go=Support/VideoTutorials&pid=3326 about how to use Start menu

The the icon also shows in in Apps gallary which is located on right side of Origin workspace. The following video shows old way of adding and launching app from Apps gallary https://www.originlab.com/Index.aspx?go=Support/VideoTutorials&pid=3213

Thanks, Snow

03/10/2019Huang Huaiwei找不到图标在哪？不知道在哪里打开？怎么使用？

02/20/2019OriginLabHi Wannabe233,

You can expand the App Gallery(if you can't find it, please select "View: Apps" menu to show back) which should be docked at the right-bottom corner of the workspace, and scroll down to the bottom of the window to check if the app is there.

https://www.originlab.com/doc/Origin-Help/Apps-on-File-Exchange#The_Apps_Gallery
If still problem, please let us know!
Thanks,
Shirley

02/19/2019Wannabe233拖进origin里他就说安装好了，然而我找不到使用的地方，tangent的图标在origin里的哪里呀

12/23/2018123456789haihao

12/23/2018123456789haihao

12/23/2018123456789haihao

12/23/2018123456789haihao

12/23/2018123456789haihao

11/20/20181063753700ssssss

11/20/20181063753700dddddd

11/15/2018OriginLabHi litengkun,
If you want to change the target curve to get its tangent line, you can click on the triangle button at the right-top corner to select Change Data fly-out menu to switch the curves.

11/14/2018litengkun不能选点，如果有两个峰怎么处理，选不到底下的峰？

10/16/2018OriginLabHi 562481113, if you use Exchange X-Y Axes option, it will not work. We will fix it in the next version.

10/15/2018562481113请问如果x y轴互换呢

09/14/2018leiwang99good

09/11/2018418322I have some data that I need to draw a tangent to complete

08/16/2018OriginLabch1124858780 用户，你好。实用 Tangent App 时， 不需要先选取一个点再按“Enter”键。 你只需要选择图形为当前窗口，然后点击 Tangent App 的图标。在弹出的对话框中，点击 OK 按钮，Tangent 工具将会显示在图形上。 然后你可以拖动垂线（默认是红色的）到你所需要作切线的点。想了解更多具体的说明，可以在打开的对话框时，按F1键，查看帮助文件。

08/14/2018ch1124858780为什么我用在2018上的时候 选定了一个点 摁enter 出现无效对象错误 无法做出切线

05/19/2018s_clooneyfr

04/10/2018Alkarimi85good

04/10/2018Alkarimi85good

04/10/2018Alkarimi85good

04/08/2018123456789123456789

02/16/2018OriginLabHi uleyy, thanks for the suggestion. We will look into updating the App.

02/16/2018uleyyonly works with linear axis, I need it for double-log axis!

01/29/2018originlab2018 可以用

01/28/2018Huaisheng Wu2018可以用吗

12/28/2017liyanjiangustb很强大

07/27/20171184839913good

04/27/2017lululu3500very good

04/10/2017luocaiwei1212good~

02/09/2017rixcannot drag-and-drop into the interface

12/15/2016luocaiwei1212赞一个!

12/15/2016luocaiwei1212nice

12/14/2016lpk0912good

11/30/2016rcsubediDoesn't work for OriginPro 2015

11/25/2016zghydxhxgzcVery good! Thanks for sharing!

11/23/2016caobinThe only problem is that I can not preserve the tangent function equation

06/07/2016wangshanshan goog

05/18/2016Geneva

05/11/20161085622700

03/29/2016fotis_1995

12/29/201518435130410 very good