[comp.sys.mac] Request for Charting program...

323ELLIOT%ECD1.SPAN@STAR.STANFORD.EDU (07/04/89)

Hi Mac-netters!

I have an interesting problem: I'm responsible for designing a proposal to the 
European Space Agency for our organization and I need a program that will let me
graphically design the work packages.  Basically, it should look like a tree 
chart with the ability to split each box in two: one part is for the title of 
the work package, the other for the work package number (ideally, there should 
be a line drawn between the name and number).  Ordinarily, MORE II would be 
sufficient.  In fact, I want something that functions like MORE II in outline 
mode (so that I can drag the various packages around and reorganize them as I 
see fit), but numbers each box automatically (this is probably practically 
impossible, but it doesn't hurt to ask :-).  The main drawback of MORE is that 
when it generates the tree chart, it won't do boxes in this format:
__________
| main    |
|_________|
|  __________
|-|   sub    |
| |__________|
|  __________
|-|   sub    |
  |__________|
  
except in the bottom most level currently shown.  I.e., I can't do this:

__________
| main    |
|---------|
| 1000    |
|_________|
|  __________
| |   sub    |
|-|----------|
| |  1100    |
| |__________|
| |  __________
| | | sub-sub  |
| |_|----------|
|   |  1110    |
|   |__________|
|  __________
| |   sub    |
|_|----------|
  |  1200    |
  |__________|
 
In fact, MORE isn't designed to do this kind of thing at all (only org charts, 
really).  So if anyone knows of any program that CAN do this, I would be most 
grateful...

While I'm on a wish list, each work package would, of course, have a full 
description.  It would be REAL interesting if there was a page-layout-type of 
program that could generate the above tree chart from an outline and then use a 
template to let me fill in what each work package actually is.  As I change an 
order, name, or number in the outline, it would automatically be updated in the 
tree chart and document wherever it is referenced.  We have a piece of software 
that will in effect do this on our big ibm mainframe, but as you all well know, 
graphics and user-friendliness are not big blue's forte.

So, if you have any ideas or suggestions please respond to me personally and I 
will summarize...

Thanks in advance,
Elliot Bennett
DLR
Cologne, West Germany

Please send replies to:
elliot@star.stanford.edu  (or ecd1::323elliot for SPAN people)


Disclaimer: building a better space program so you don't have to.