"Insufficient Data" error when gridding or doing variogram analysis in Surfer

The "Insufficient data in worksheet" error can be a common hurdle when visualizing or analyzing information. This is usually a sign that the data in your spreadsheet needs a quick check to ensure it meets the minimum requirements for analysis. For accurate XYZ plotting, you'll need at least three unique data points, with X, Y, and Z values neatly organized into three separate columns. Double-checking that your data is in a numeric or date/time format is also key. By ensuring your data's integrity from the start, you can avoid this error and unlock valuable insights.

 

Table of Contents

Minimum Requirements for XYZ Plots Fixing Text-Based Numeric Errors Other related "Insufficient Data" errors

 

Minimum Requirements for XYZ Plots

This "Insufficient data" error can mean that the system needs more data or the current data isn't in the expected layout. For XYZ data to be processed correctly, you need at least three unique points, each defined by an X, a Y, and a Z coordinate, and these coordinates must reside in separate columns.

 

Beyond the amount or layout of your data, the type of data is crucial. The "Insufficient Data" error can also occur if your X, Y, or Z values are text instead of numbers, or if your data file contains numbers that are incorrectly formatted as text. To resolve this, you can:

1. Open the file in the Surfer worksheet.
2. Highlight the column of numeric data that is formatted as text (you can tell this if the numbers are left justified in the cells).
3. Click Data | Data | Text to Number.
4. Save the updated data file.

 

Other related "Insufficient Data" errors

• Collinear |  There are four gridding methods in Surfer that support gridding collinear data. If you are encountering the error "Insufficient data (collinear)" in the Grid Data dialog, select one of those four gridding methods instead of the current selected gridding method. Resolve gridding error "Insufficient data (collinear)" in Surfer