hallett@gemed (Jeff Hallett x5163 ) (01/10/90)
Howdy folks.
Information request time. This item was slightly discussed a few
weeks ago (so I'm told) but I missed that discussion and require the
information now.
I am looking for a good scientific graphing package. If I were to
define a list of requirements it would be as follows:
1. Input format just like Cricket Graph (row = (x,y1,y2,...) with
first row indicating labels for data items if starts with *). Tab
delimited. In the very least, ASCII input formats must be available.
I might even go so far as to ask that a default graph type can be
specified in the file and even that some of the plot characteristics
can be specified with the data.
2. Moveable and editable axis labels. User-defined major and minor
ticks. All labels may have font,style and point size independently
adjustable.
3. User-controlled displayed axis limits (data curves are cropped if
limit set lower than maximum value).
4. Plot area adjustable (ie. I can make the graph bigger if I want
to without influencing the axis limits.)
5. Printing like Cricket Graph's - I can determine what graphs print
on a page and where on the page they print.
6. can save graphs as PICT/PICT II files.
7. 3-d graphs and graphs with depth a must.
8. No need to transform data itself, but I want to be able to compute
"statistics" on the graph. Things like derivatives (first and
second), want to be able to compute integral (numeric area under
curve), things like that. Further, I should be able to define the x
ranges with placeable "fences" to bound all of these functions. Other
functions might include polynomial fitting (and other regression
analysis+surface fit under 3d), mean,median,std dev, least squares,
exponential fits, etc.
9. Must support log (any base preferrable), semi-log, cartesian,
polar, plus bar charts, pie charts, etc. A number of available
formats, plus error bars, overlays. For 3D I want contour maps, mesh
with and without hidden line removal and shaded surfaces.
10. Fast redraw. Cricket Graph redraws its graphs point-by-point
making it slowly. It should just redraw the update region.
11. Fully selectable curve options - color, pattern, point symbol etc.
12. In general, should be able to generate presentation quality
graphics, although if it gives me the above things I can always pop it
into Canvas to add annotation, etc to "prettify" it.
Maybe I'm really reaching on some of this stuff. Mathematica can do
some of this, but I'm looking for just a graphing package, not a data
manipulation package. I would appreciate getting mail on this and I
can summarize the results.
Thanks in advance.
--
Jeffrey A. Hallett, PET Software Engineering
GE Medical Systems, W641, PO Box 414, Milwaukee, WI 53201
(414) 548-5163 : EMAIL - hallett@gemed.ge.com
"Non Sequitor - Your facts are uncoordinated"; "I am Nomad: I am perfect."paul@aucs.uucp (Paul Steele) (02/09/90)
I would like to hear from people who have had experience with any of
the graphing packages "Igor", "Kaliediscope", "Passage" and "D-Science".
A prof here in biology wants to get a new graphing package that supports
time-series, smoothing, integration/differentiation, and the ability
to make publication quality graphs. Cricket Graph is what he's currently
using and it is woefully inadequate for his needs.
Any information/personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.
--
Paul H. Steele UUCP: {uunet|watmath|utai}!cs.dal.ca!aucs!Paul
Acadia University BITNET: Paul@Acadia or PHS@Acadia (preferred)
Wolfville, NS Internet: Paul@AcadiaU.CA
CANADA B0P 1X0 (902) 542-2201x587