--- title: New INDEX operator added to latest build of Statgraphics Centurion description: New Statgraphics Centurion Operator INDEX allows you to retrieve values from data columns at different locations. image: https://www.statgraphics.com/hubfs/Graphs/pie_chart_for_INDEX.png --- [![stat19plain-01-1](https://www.statgraphics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/stat19plain-01-1.png?width=2324&name=stat19plain-01-1.png "stat19plain-01-1")](https://www.statgraphics.com) - [Products](https://www.statgraphics.com/product) - [Learn](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistics-library) - [Training](https://www.statgraphics.com/training-and-consulting) - [Product](https://www.statgraphics.com/product) - [Centurion XVIII](https://www.statgraphics.com/centurion-xvii) - [Sigma Express](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-sigma-express) - [Online](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-stratus) - [Web Services](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-web-services) - [Learn](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistics-library) - [Statistics Library](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistics-library) - [Six Sigma & Lean](https://www.statgraphics.com/six-sigma-lean) - [Instructional Videos](https://www.statgraphics.com/instructional-videos) - [Applications/ Case Studies](https://www.statgraphics.com/application) - [Training & Consulting](https://www.statgraphics.com/training-and-consulting) - [Statpoint Seminars](https://www.statgraphics.com/statpoint-seminar) - [Statpoint Instructors](https://www.statgraphics.com/statpoint-instructor) - [Training Partners](https://www.statgraphics.com/training-partners) - [Webinars](https://www.statgraphics.com/webinars) - [Support](https://www.statgraphics.com/customer-support-overview) - [Blog](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog) - [Store](http://store.statgraphics.com) ### Statgraphics ## [Centurion](https://www.statgraphics.com/centurion-overview) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/centurion-overview) ### Statgraphics ## [Sigma *express*](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-sigma-express) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-sigma-express) ### Statgraphics ## [*Stratus*](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-stratus) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-stratus) ### Statgraphics ## [Web Services](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-web-services) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statgraphics-web-services) ## [Statistics Library](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistics-library) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistics-library) ## [Six Sigma & Lean](https://www.statgraphics.com/six-sigma-lean) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/six-sigma-lean) ## [Instructional Videos](https://www.statgraphics.com/instructional-videos) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/instructional-videos) ## [Applications/ Case Studies](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistical-applications) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statistical-applications) ## [Statgraphics Seminars](https://www.statgraphics.com/statpoint-seminar) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statpoint-seminar) ## [Statgraphics Instructors](https://www.statgraphics.com/statpoint-instructor) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/statpoint-instructor) ## [Training Partners](https://www.statgraphics.com/public-seminar) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/public-seminar) ## [Webinars](https://www.statgraphics.com/webinars) #### [LEARN MORE](https://www.statgraphics.com/webinars) ![bloglogo3-01](https://www.statgraphics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/bloglogo3-01.png?width=400&height=101&name=bloglogo3-01.png "bloglogo3-01") Jun 30, 2015, 8:00:00 AM ## [New INDEX operator added to latest build of Statgraphics Centurion](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/new-index-operator-added-to-latest-build-of-statgraphics-centurion) ![](https://www.statgraphics.com/hs-fs/file-2017572828-jpg/website-assets/neil-polhemus.jpg?width=50&name=neil-polhemus.jpg) By: [Dr. Neil Polhemus](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/author/dr-neil-polhemus) Published under: [INDEX](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/topic/index), [chi-square test](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/topic/chi-square-test), [frequency tables](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/topic/frequency-tables), [Golf Analytics](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/topic/golf-analytics), [Data analytics](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/topic/data-analytics), [putts gained per round](https://www.statgraphics.com/blog/topic/putts-gained-per-round) The next build of Statgraphics Centurion Version 17 (scheduled to be released in early July) contains a new operator named INDEX which allows you to retrieve values from a data column at specific locations. For example, the expression INDEX(X,6) gets the value from column X located in row #6. If K is a second column containing a collection of indices, then the expression INDEX(X,K) will return the data values at each of the indices. The motivation for INDEX came from an analysis of data I was doing for a “[skins](http://www.golfdigest.com/blogs/the-loop/2014/11/throwback-thursday-when-the-sk.html)” game we play in our local golf league. During the round, if anyone in the league does better on a particular hole than everyone else, they get a skin for that hole. I took all of our rounds since the beginning of the year and created a column called SKINS with the hole number for every skin that was awarded. That gave me a column of 179 numbers between 1 and 18. I then did a tabulation of the column and ran a statistical test to determine whether skins were awarded significantly more often on some holes than others (they weren’t). A second test I wished to perform was whether skins were awarded at different rates on par 3, par 4, and par 5 holes. To do this, I needed to count the number of skins for each value of par. I soon discovered that there wasn’t an easy way to do that. So we created the INDEX operator. This let me create a new column named PAR which had 18 values in it giving the par for each hole on the golf course. I then tabulated the data using the expression INDEX(PAR,SKINS) which gave me exactly what I wanted. Here’s a piechart showing the tabulation: ![pie_chart_for_INDEX](https://www.statgraphics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Graphs/pie_chart_for_INDEX.png?width=475&name=pie_chart_for_INDEX.png) I then used the [Frequency Tables](https://www.statgraphics.com/categorical-data-analysis#Frequency%20Tables) procedure to compare the observed distribution of skins to a multinomial distribution with probabilities (4/18,10/18,4/18). You can see the results below: ![Bar_chart_for_INDEX](https://www.statgraphics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Graphs/Bar_chart_for_INDEX.png?width=475&name=Bar_chart_for_INDEX.png) ![Goodness_of_fit_test_for_INDEX](https://www.statgraphics.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Graphs/Goodness_of_fit_test_for_INDEX.png?width=484&name=Goodness_of_fit_test_for_INDEX.png) The chi-square test indicates that the observed distribution does not deviate significantly from that expected if there were no difference in the chance of getting a skin on par 3, par 4 and par 5 holes. I also did a comparison of skins on the front nine versus the back nine and using the handicap assigned to each hole. More on that if anyone is interested. # Something to say? ### Subscribe to our blog: The Statgraphics Blog is designed to share knowledge and ideas amongst all members of the Statgraphics community. We welcome your comments and suggestions regarding the topics posted. 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