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Multiple Data Columns

When you have multiple data columns, Quantum XL creates one chart with one box per column, letting you compare distributions side by side.

Goal

Compare measurement distributions across three production lines to see which line has the most variability and whether any lines have outliers.

Sample Data

Download BoxPlot_MultipleDataColumns.xlsx

Excel Protected View

When you open downloaded files, Excel displays a Protected View warning. You must click Enable Editing before you can use Quantum XL with the file.

Alternatively, you can copy the sample data from the table below and paste it directly into a new Excel workbook.

Line A	Line B	Line C
48.2	55.1	30.1
51.3	62.4	30.5
49.7	58.7	29.8
50.8	67.3	30.3
47.5	53.2	30.0
52.1	60.8	29.9
49.0	56.5	30.2
50.4	64.9	30.4
48.9	59.1	29.7
51.6	70.2	35.6

Each column represents measurements from a different production line. Line A is centered around 50, Line B is higher with more spread, and Line C is very tight around 30 with one potential outlier at 35.6.

Steps

1. Launch the analysis

   From the Excel ribbon, select QXL Stat Tools → Analysis Tools → Box Plot.

2. Select your data

   Select cells A1:C11 (the header row plus all 10 data rows across all three columns).

3. Configure the analysis

   In the Box Plot dialog:

   • Data Columns: "Line A", "Line B", and "Line C" should all be checked

   Click Finish to generate the chart.

Result

Quantum XL creates a single chart with three boxes — one for each production line. Each box is labeled with the column header and sample size (N = 10). At a glance you can compare:

• Line A has a narrow box centered near 50, indicating consistent measurements
• Line B has a much wider box centered near 60, indicating more variability
• Line C has an extremely tight box near 30, but the value 35.6 likely appears as an outlier or suspected outlier well above the whisker