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-2022.   
(see PDF 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.  Then go and download the newest version from https://www.originlab.com/demodownload.aspx and after running that installer it will use your existing license. Then finally please check for updates from within the software via Help->CheckForUpdates

Departmental 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
- the hostname and IP address of the computer
(Start:Run cmd C:\> hostname; C:\> ipconfig )

Mac computers: Although Origin is designed to work under Microsoft Windows operating systems, it may be possible to use Origin on a Mac running Cross-Over Mac which can be downloaded for £25 (no support). You will need to talk to IT staff to get the origin installer and license and access code.   (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 in that case there is more resource requirements in terms of disk space and time requirements in terms of keeping the operating system updated, even if only to run Origin. Note in Parallels you may need to Ctl-Shif-click to RunAs Administrator in order to obtain a license from the OriginLab website.)  Alternatively ask IT staff about Medical Sciences Division pricing for Graphpad Prism.

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.
 

Troubleshooting

Laptop users please be aware the the Origin license was renewed in August 2019 for a further 3 years. If you existing installation of Origin complains about licensing, please see PDF 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.