Stat/Math> Stat> MINITAB> Overview

Minitab Overview

Minitab is a general purpose statistical package designed for easy interactive use. Minitab was originally designed as a tool to be used in teaching statistics. Its interactive features make it well suited to instructional applications, and Minitab's greatest popularity remains as a teaching tool. However, Minitab is sufficiently powerful that it is also used by many people in analyzing research data.

Minitab is supported by UITS as a "Standard Tool". The Student Technology Center consultants can provide assistance in accessing the program from the PCFs. UITS Stat/Math Center (812/855-4724; email: statmath@indiana.edu) can answer basic to advanced Minitab questions. Note: if you are a student using Minitab for a class exercise, questions about your class work should be directed first towards your class instructors.

Minitab for Windows Version 15 is available in the Student Technology Centers. Minitab Version 9.1 is currently installed on Steel.

Minitab Program Functionality:

Breadth of functionality: Good

Minitab has scores of statistical and mathematical functions, scores of statistical procedures, and a macro facility. Data handling capability of Minitab is fairly good.

The following is a brief overview of some of the functionalities of Minitab:

  • Data and File Management: importing/exporting, interface with Lotus 1-2-3, Excel, Quattro Pro, etc., merge, stack, subset, sort, rank, transpose, inverse, etc .
  • Basic Statistics: Descriptive statistics, t-tests, cross tabulations, correlation, analysis of means, etc.
  • Advanced statistics: Regression analysis, ANOVA, MANOVA including factor analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis.
  • Time Series Analysis: Univariate Box-Jenkins ARIMA analysis, Trend analysis, Decomposition, exponential smoothing, moving average.
  • Nonparametrics: Sign test, Wilcoxon test, M-W test, K-W test, Friedman test, Runs test.
  • Graphics: presentation style graphics, graph editing, plots, scatterplot matrix, charts and histogram, 3D surface plot, scatterplot brushing.

Other capabilities include Statistical Process Control, Designed Experiments, Simulation and Distributions.

Reliability and Robustness: Good

Minitab has very few known bugs at this point. Bugs are corrected in a speedy manner as soon as they are reported.

State of the Art: Excellent

Minitab Release 9.0 and higher are considered as state of the art product. Graphical interface, additional procedures, and features incorporated are a few examples of the latest technology in the software. Minitab 13 for Windows has the most advanced features.

User Friendliness: Good

Minitab has a very easy to learn command language. Explanation for keywords and subcommands are available through online help. UITS supports Minitab under Windows and UNIX.

Minitab for Windows: Easy to use. Help is available from each menu and dialog box. The vendor is promoting this platform as the state of the art product. Currently running Release 15.

Minitab on the UNIX: Not as friendly as the versions on Windows. However help is available during interactive access.

Minitab Help Resources:

Network-based help: Good

The Knowledge Base (KB) maintained by the UITS Support Center has answers to few frequently asked Minitab questions. This KB may be searched using keywords (e.g., minitab). Minitab also has an active international newsgroup group (minitab) which has subscription from around the world. There is no local Minitab user's group at IU.

Program's Help System: Good

Minitab offers extensive online help. Minitab for Windows also have extensive help utility.

Minitab Program Availability:

Minitab is available on UITS systems. For details, see the Statistics Software Availability page.

UITS may offer this software for personal and departmental purchases. See the Sales page for more information.

Minitab Training and Support:

Document Availability: Excellent

Minitab software manuals are available for reference at various Software Manual Locations. Documentation is also available for reference at the UITS Stat/Math Center.

Training Availability: Fair

Instructors may request for specially arranged classes for introducing their students to Minitab by contacting the IT Training Education. Minitab User's Guide provide sample sessions for beginners.

User Goup: None

There is no local Minitab user's group at IU. To join the national electronic mailing list, send email to listserv@mailbase.ac.uk with the body of the message:

  subscribe minitab

UITS Consulting Support: Limited Support

Limited consulting support is available from Stat/Math Consulting from 9 am to 5 pm (M-F) via phone, email, and for walkins. Appointment is recommended for walkin consulting. UITS Support Center, and Student Technology Center consultants might answer very basic questions.

Other Consulting Support: Fair

Since UITS is providing only limited support for Minitab, students using the software as part of their coursework should contact their instructors first for help. Registered Minitab users can contact the vendor directly with the number provided with the license agreement. Users can subscribe to the Minitab discussion group and post their questions to the net. Minitab computists can always turn to their colleagues who are familiar with Minitab software for help.