[net.graphics] want simple 2D graphics package

buck@shell.UUCP (Lester Buck) (02/28/85)

I work in a small group of physicsts who use a VAX-11/750 running
VMS.  For super complicated graphics, we can call upon other
central computers which have Tel-a-Graf and DI-3000 (with
Grafmaker).  What we are looking for is something cheaper
than these without all the whistles and bells.  Our output devices
are Tektronix 4014's and HPGL plotters (7550) - nothing very
unusual.  We need to produce simple XY plots with reasonably labeled
axes - we do not need bar chart or pie chart capability.
The same plot needs to be sendable to the Tek terminal or the HP
plotters.  True interactive graphics is very desirable, i.e.,
"interactive" in the sense of Tel-a-Graf doesn't really help much...
We really need to be able to enter some parameters, plot a data fit,
change the parameters, plot again, ...., so system should be loadable
as a subroutine package in Fortran (the only language we have bought).
We did obtain the GWCORE package from Argonne, and it runs nicely,
but it doesn't have a driver for HPGL plotters, and it is too low
level without writing some axis, tic mark, etc. routines on top
(sort of like Grafmaker).  We do have the HP software that
makes HPGL plotters respond to Calcomp standard plotting subroutine
calls.
	This really doesn't sound all that difficult a set of
specifications, but I haven't been able to find anything at this level.
We can pay in the ~$5000 range for such a program, source very
desirable.  We had effectively this system written locally where
I was a graduate student, but does anybody sell the equivalent?
Please reply by mail and I will summarize to the net if there is
sufficient interest.

Thanks in advance,

A. Lester Buck @ Shell Development Co.
{ihnp4, pur-ee, ut-sally}!shell!buck