Origin

Origin is powerful data analysis and graphing software for scientists and engineers. http://www.originlab.com/.

Origin is designed for Microsoft Windows operating systems.

Origin is site-licensed for the whole university, recently renewed until 4-Aug-2025.   
(see old   Origin license renewal instructions as below)

The site-license is paid equally by Chemistry+Physics+Materials+Divisional Software Licensing Group.

Installation instructions for Department of Materials

Two different licensing methods exist:

• license server for desktops (requires network connection to license server)
• personal registration for laptops/home-use (can work without network, but requires annual re-activation)

Laptops or Home Computers: If you wish to install Origin software on a home computer or any laptop please visit http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/origin and follow the installation instructions. Make sure you register with your @materials email address.  Note that the origin webpage is restricted, and only accessible from the Oxford University network, so if you are on wireless or elsewhere you will need to connect into the Oxford University network using VPN software in order to view the webpage instructions for downloading origin. 

Note you will initially need to follow through the instructions using the old Origin2017 installers to get Origin working and licensed for your computer.  Next download the newest version of Origin from https://www.originlab.com/demodownload.aspx  and after running that installer it will detect and use your existing license. Finally remember to check for updates from within the software via Help->CheckForUpdates.

Department of Materials Desktops:  

Most departmental computers on the wired network have the Software Center  which provides single-click installation of our standard software packages.

Alternatively if you wish to have Origin software on a Department of Materials desktop, please email itsupport@materials.ox.ac.uk  to request that IT staff deploy Origin onto your desktop, stating your email address and phone number and the hostname and IP address of the computer (Start:Run cmd C:\> hostname; C:\> ipconfig )

Other Desktops:

Chemistry users should refer to http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/origin  or seek assistance from Chemistry IT staff for installing on departmental desktops.

Physics users should refer to https://www2.physics.ox.ac.uk/it-services/origin  or seek assistance from Physics IT staff for installing on departmental desktops.

Other departments (e.g. Engineering) can also deploy Origin and their IT staff should refer to guidance at https://wiki.it.ox.ac.uk/itss/DeployOrigin  Note that in August 2022 the license server changed so the  license file on previous installations at "C:\ProgramData\OriginLab\License\USE_SERVER.lic" may need editing to change flexlm.nsms.ox.ac.uk to flexlm.it.ox.ac.uk

Mac computers: 

Origin is designed to only work with Microsoft Windows operating systems. Mac users should consider alternative software such Graphpad Prism which is licensed via Medical Sciences Division (MSD). Contact Materials IT staff who manage a small batch of licenses via MSD currently costing £27.50/year. 

Older versions of Origin could run under Cross-Over Mac but this option no-longer seems to work. Alternatively, and less desirably, there are various methods for running Windows on a Mac either as a virtual machine  in Parallels or as dual boot, but these require increased resources both in terms of disk space and in terms of time keeping Windows updated, even if only to run Origin.

Information about Origin

See the Help menu for getting started with Origin, for help with Programming and for several useful Tutorials. Currently IT services does not run any courses about Origin.
 

• Tutorial videos: short tutorial videos that cover subjects right from the basics getting started to coverage of more advanced topics such as curve fitting and automation. You can see what is available to view here - https://www.originlab.com/index.aspx?go=SUPPORT/VideoTutorials

• Summary booklet:  explore all the features in new Origin 2019 with our 48 page summary booklet - https://www.originlab.com/ftp/dist/Origin2019/Origin-Booklet-ENG.pdf 

• Graph gallery:   sample graphs with links to corresponding Origin project with data used to create the graph https://www.originlab.com/www/products/graphgallery.aspx 

• The nitty gritty: You can read the full Origin feature list here - https://www.originlab.com/index.aspx?go=Products/Origin&PID=1029 

Troubleshooting

Laptop users please be aware the the Origin license was renewed in August 2022 for a further 3 years. If you existing installation of Origin complains about licensing, please see these old  Origin license renewal instructions or the official Origin license renewal instructions. Alternatively download the latest version of origin from http://www.chem.ox.ac.uk/origin.

Queries about the site license should be addressed to Paul Warren.

Queries about the chemistry webpages and chemistry license server should be addressed to Tom Bradshaw.