For a novice JMP 14 user, what is the easiest way to compute a moving average on a column of data?

[#1]

I have seen suggestions for using a COL(  ) [with arguments I do not comprehend] and another by right clicking on the column heading, then new formula column, then row, and then moving average. However, after a number of trials through the Weighting, items before, and items after boxes, I never get the results I want. Surely JMP has something as straight forward as Excel provides. Suggestions with very plain instructions would be much appreciated.

Steve

[#2]

First, welcome to the community.  This is perhaps not what you are looking for, but if your data is in time order and in one column, you can do this: Analyze>Quality and Process>Control Charts>IR   (Not exactly sure if this is the sequence as I'm on V16, but I think it is). Then enter the name of the column with the data in the Process window, select OK and you will get an individual chart of the data and a moving range chart.  The MR chart is quite useful as you can detect unusual data points (e.g., special cause variation, Deming) easily. I always recommend looking at the data with various plots before using any summary statistics.

I know others will have an easier process to get what you want.

[#3]

The function you want to use, is

Col Moving Average()

The example from the Scripting Index

Names Default To Here( 1 );
Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.jmp" );
Row() = 40;
Col Moving Average( :height, 1, 5, 0, :sex );

Calculates the Moving Average for column height(:height), weighting each value in the calculation as the full value (1), include the previous 5 rows of data (5), do not include any rows after the current row (0), and do this separately for Females and Males (:sex).;

The JSL also indicates to do this just for row 40, (Row() = 40;)

If you want to create a new column that contains the moving average for each row you would simply use the Col Moving Average() function in a formula for the new column.

Names Default To Here( 1 );
Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.jmp" );
New Column("Moving Average",
formula(
     Col Moving Average( :height, 1, 5, 0, :sex );
) );

[#4]

You want the col moving average function in a column formula.  Here's an example for a 5-row moving average on the "# defects" column:

dt = open("$sample_data\Quality Control\Braces.jmp");

dt << New Column( "Defect MA", Numeric, "Continuous", Format( "Best", 12 ),
		Formula( Col Moving Average( :name("# defects"), weighting = 1, before = 5 ) )
);

Try running this code and you'll see how it works.

For your table, click on Cols > New columns...

Give the new column an appropriate name, and select Column properties > Formula

Double-click on the blue box labeled no formula, then click the little box in the upper right to maximize the editor.

Paste this formula in: Col Moving Average( :name("# defects"), weighting = 1, before = 5 )

Substitute the column to be averaged for # defects, and set the before parameter to how many rows you want to average.

Click OK and OK and you're all set.