Minitab's Online Documentation

Real Help When You Need It

When it comes time to apply statistics to a quality improvement project, many people would like a little extra guidance. They might worry about choosing the right analysis or doing it correctly, or they might be concerned with properly explaining their results to colleagues once the analysis is complete.

The good news is that Minitab offers a wealth of online documentation to help you effectively address your concerns. And unlike many software Help systems that offer limited content or are useful only to master users, Minitab documentation gives you an impressive breadth and depth of information in a way anyone can understand.

In this brief overview, we'll show you how Minitab's online documentation can help you at every phase of your project.

Getting started

Minitab includes several introductory tools to get new users up and running.

Meet Minitab Meet Minitab is a printed guide that introduces you to the most commonly used features in Minitab by walking you through a real Minitab project with real data. This is a great place to start if you are new to Minitab.
Tutorials Once you have a basic understanding of how Minitab works, you can follow the step-by-step tutorials to learn more about areas that interest you.

Performing an analysis

Questions often arise when filling out dialog boxes. Is my data set up properly? Should I use any of the available options? Will I be able to interpret the results? Do I really understand what this analysis will tell me? With just a click, Minitab Help delivers answers to these and other common questions for every tool offered in Minitab. Here are two examples of the types of Help available to you:

Examples show you how it's done Data sets are included with Minitab so that you can step through example analyses and interpret key results.
Jargon-free explanations Through illustrations and examples, glossary entries like this one define statistical concepts in practical terms you can relate to.

Interpreting output

Minitab won't leave you hanging once you click OK. After running a procedure, you can consult Minitab's StatGuide if you need statistical guidance. The StatGuide helps you understand and interpret your own results by explaining Session window and Graph window output in a practical, easy-to-understand manner.

Digging deeper into Minitab

Minitab also offers specialized Help for a deeper understanding of how Minitab works. Resources include methods and formulas for statistical procedures, a reference guide for using session commands rather than menus to run Minitab, and a macros reference to assist in automating Minitab processes.

Help is only a click away

Even though Minitab Help includes a vast amount of information, you won't have to go hunting for the information you need. Accessing helpful guidance targeted to the tool you're using couldn't be simpler.

During an analysis From any dialog box, simply click the Help button and Help for that dialog box appears. This Help is a gateway to just about anything you need to know regarding the analysis, from data requirements to the special options that will optimize your results.
After an analysis You've got your output – now what? Simply click on the toolbar or right-click the output and choose StatGuide to learn what each piece of output is and how to interpret it.
Any time If you need to find information but don't know where to begin, try choosing Help > Help. The Help home page acts as a site map from which you can access most online resources.

Using Help: a case study

Here's an example of how Minitab Help can guide you from the beginning to the end of your analysis.

Suppose you are a new Green Belt running your first project, and you've been advised to run a 1-sample t-test. While filling out the dialog box, you realize you're unsure whether you have samples in columns or summarized data. Click at the bottom of the dialog box. From the Help topic, you realize that you have data in columns.
While reading this Help topic you notice a link to more information on confidence intervals – a term you aren't familiar with. Click the confidence interval link. A glossary definition appears with a simple, vivid explanation, giving you a solid understanding of the concept.
Once you've performed the analysis, StatGuide can help you interpret your results. Click on the toolbar. Detailed explanations of each portion of your output give you the help you need to explain your results with confidence.

Putting online guidance to use

Finding the right information at the right time can make data analysis infinitely easier. When you are at a point where you need information, remember that Minitab online guidance is right at your fingertips. Just click Help or choose Help > Help.

Visit Accessing the Power of Minitab for additional tutorials on the many time-saving features and functionality available in Minitab Statistical Software.

Learn more about Minitab 15.

Purchase or upgrade now