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Count Frequency

When your data includes counts that need to be aggregated by category, use a Count column as the frequency. Quantum XL automatically sums the counts for each category: you don't need to pre-summarize your data.

Goal

Create a Pareto chart from defect counts where the same defect type appears multiple times. Quantum XL will aggregate (sum) the counts for each category automatically.

Sample Data

Press Copy for Excel, then paste the table into a blank worksheet.

Defect Type Count
Scratch 35
Dent 8
Scratch 25
Crack 2
Scratch 18
Dent 4
Scratch 12
Crack 1
Scratch 7
Scratch 3

Notice that "Scratch" appears 6 times, "Dent" appears twice, and "Crack" appears twice. This is typical when data comes from multiple sources, time periods, or inspection batches. Quantum XL will automatically sum the counts:

  • Scratch: 35 + 25 + 18 + 12 + 7 + 3 = 100
  • Dent: 8 + 4 = 12
  • Crack: 2 + 1 = 3

Steps

  1. Put the data in Excel

    Press Copy for Excel above the table, click cell A1 in a blank worksheet, and press Ctrl+V. The header row lands in row 1 and the 10 data rows in rows 2 through 11.

  2. Launch the analysis

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

  3. Select your data

    Select cells A1:B11 (the header row plus all 10 data rows).

  4. Configure the analysis

    In the Pareto Analysis dialog:

    • Deselect "Count" under Data Columns (if auto-selected)
    • Check "Count" under Frequency Data (Optional)

    Click Finish to generate the chart.

Result

Quantum XL aggregates the counts by defect type and creates the Pareto chart:

  • Scratch accounts for 100 defects (87% of total 115)
  • Scratch + Dent together account for 112 defects (97% of total)
  • All three defect types total 115 defects (100%)