Origin is a graphing and analysis software used by many scientists. Making many plots by hand can be tedious, so sometimes it's better to automate the process. The Origin software is packaged with its own programming languages such as Origin C and LabTalk. But they are difficult for users to learn and implement. Origin also provides python APIs such as the automation server, PyOrigin, Originpro and OriginExt, which intend to provide access to Origin from python. However, none of these tools support full plotting functionalities, and it is often necessary to first create a graph template, then send data from python to be plotted. This adds time and inconvience in plotting.

PythonOrigin is a python tool that makes use of Origin C, LabTalk, and OriginExt that allows plotting graphs in Origin from python possible and easy to do.

This module enables plotting Origin graphs from the ground up, without relying on using any template.

Clone the repo:

git clone https://github.com/chrislauyc/PyWrapOrigin.git

In the cloned directory:

python setup.py sdist

pip install .

Import Library

from PyWrapOrigin.PyWrapOrigin import PyWrapOrigin

Connect to Originlab. This will take several seconds to open Origin and import the OriginC code.

pwo = PyWrapOrigin()
pwo.connect()

Some arbitrary data in a pandas dataframe to feed into Origin

import numpy as np
import pandas as pd
x1 = np.linspace(0,2)
y1 = np.exp(x1)
y2 = np.exp(2*x1)

data = {
    'x1':x1,
    'y1':y1,
    'y2':y2
}
df = pd.DataFrame(data)

Create a new worksheet and send df into Origin

ws = pwo.new_WorkSheet('sheet1','book0')
ws.from_df(df)

Create a new graph page

gp = pwo.new_GraphPage('Graph1')

A new graph pages already has 1 layer. To add a new layer on the right:

gp.new_GraphLayer('right')

The layers can be accessed through the layers attribute of the graph page object.

lay0 = gp.layers[0]
lay1 = gp.layers[1]

Create new data plots in each layer.

dp0 = lay0.new_DataPlot(ws,0,1,'scatter')
dp1 = lay1.new_DataPlot(ws,0,2,'scatter')

Layer and data plot settings.

# Settings of the first layer
lay0.y_title('Exp(x)')
lay0.y_title_size(20)
lay0.x_title('x')
lay0.x_title_size(20)
# first data plot
dp0.symb_type(2) #circle
dp0.edge_color(0,0,255) #RGB
dp0.face_color(255,255,255) #RGB
# Second layer
lay1.y_title('Exp(2x)')
lay1.y_title_size(20)
# Second data plot
dp1.symb_type(2) #circle
dp1.edge_color(255,0,0) #RGB
dp1.face_color(255,255,255) #RGB

Figure plotted.

Reference lines can also be added to the figure

# List of x axis values as the reference line positions
lay0.reflines_ver([0,1,2])
# Can fill the space between two reflines with colors
lay0.refline_fill_ver(0,1,128,172,242)

Python version tested: Python 3.7

Operating system tested: Windows 10

Origin version tested: OriginPro 2018

Requires OriginExt, numpy, and pandas

Requires OriginLab installed

Requires win32com python package (https://anaconda.org/anaconda/pywin32)

Feel free to open issues and pull requests

https://github.com/jsbangsund/python_to_originlab