LARSG%EVA@max.uu.se (Lars-Gunnar Olsson) (02/04/88)
We have suddenly become aware of a fundamental lack in our software
supply. In an effort to recover from this, we would like to make
a gallup research on the not to expensive spreadsheets for VMS that
exists. So if you have any experience from spreadsheet packages in
the not to fancy price classes, we would be very glad if you wanted
to share them with us.
-- l-g
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Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dept. of Statistics, Data Processing and Agricultural Extension
Computer Section EMC, Box 7072, 750 07 UPPSALA, SWEDEN Tel +46 18 172407
PSImail(X.25): psi%240200100206::eva::larsg internet: larsg@eva.uu.se
usenet: enea!eva.uu.se!larsg
-------LARSG%EVA@max.uu.se (Lars-Gunnar Olsson) (02/11/88)
We have suddenly become aware of a fundamental lack in our software
supply. In an effort to recover from this, we would like to make
a gallup research on the not to expensive spreadsheets for VMS that
exists. So if you have any experience from spreadsheet packages in
the not to fancy price classes, we would be very glad if you wanted
to share them with us.
-- l-g
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Dept. of Statistics, Data Processing and Agricultural Extension
Computer Section EMC, Box 7072, 750 07 UPPSALA, SWEDEN Tel +46 18 172407
PSImail(X.25): psi%240200100206::eva::larsg usenet: enea!eva.uu.se!larsg
internet: larsg@eva.uu.se or bitnet/internet: larsg%eva@max.uu.serrk@byuvax.bitnet (02/20/88)
If you want almost free, I understand Portacalc is available from DECUS for the cost of distribution. If PC-VAX compatibility/lookalike is important, I understand that WordPerfect Corp. will soon be releasing PlanPerfect, which is already out on the PC, on the VAX. There were a few others shown at DEXPO this week as well.
EVERHART%ARISIA.DECnet@GE-CRD.ARPA (03/02/88)
As 80rrk@byuvax.bitnet observes, PortaCalc (now called AnalytiCalc) is available from DECUS. The order number is V-SP-24 (in VMS Backup format). It includes the whole thing (sources, object libraries, documents) plus a whole LOT of extras (including src to a relational DBMS, calendar routines, VMS virtual disk, etc. etc.). If PC compatibility is an issue, let me inform you: AnalytiCalc comes with versions for VAX/VMS, PDP11/RSX (and P/OS), IBM PC / MSDOS, and Amiga/AmigaDos. The PC version works just like the VAX version. Addressing limits for VAX are 32,000 by 32,000 (you can increase them by changing a parameter file and recompiling). On Amiga and IBM PC, they are a mere 18,000 by 18,000, and on PDP11 they are 10,000 by 10,000 (address space is a bit more restricted where I and D space is not supported; on I/D space you can make the PDP11 limits bigger). Worksheets can be swapped between VAX and PC versions by just copying from one machine to the other. AnalytiCalc is not a 1-2-3 clone, but has 80 or so built in functions, a complete DTR interface on VAX, multiple equations per cell, "infinite" windowing, cell annotation, formula display for auditing, and lots more. It's also available on various VAX and RSX SIG tapes. I believe AnalytiCalc is at least as capable as any commercial VAX spreadsheet, and reasonably bug free these days. There's also a presentation quality graphics package in the DECUS library which interfaces to AnalytiCalc; AnalytiCalc comes with a simple character graphics package which is OK for some things, but not terribly pretty. On the PC, AnalytiCalc also has some extra graphics programs in Basic which do a better job of graphing data. AnalytiCalc has some weird extra stuff built in, like FFTs and matrix algebra (and may shortly get a few hundred more statistics functions in the VAX version where there's lots of virtual address space for 'em). Also, many functions return several results at once (for instance, the MAX function gives the maximum value of its' range, plus the row and column of the cell that contained the maximum value). This can be handy, but is a different style from many pc sheets which have separate functions to get each of these pieces of information. The extra results are passed in accumulators, so they don't get in the way of "vanilla" usage. They're VERY handy for power applications (such as the project planner examples in the kit). If you're looking for a spreadsheet, you OUGHT to get hold of AnalytiCalc first before paying the (d**n high) prices VAX vendors ask. AnalytiCalc will probably be updated in the DECUS library in the next few weeks; new functions and some speedups are comtemplated. BTW, the DECUS library can be reached at 617 480 3418. Their copying charge for V-SP-24 is $154.00 (or a few dollars more if you're not a DECUS member). SIG tapes are available for about that same price, and they're also available widely via DECUS LUGs, generally free. (Of course, you have to know someone who will copy a tape for you then; the library staff have to earn a salary somehow, which is why there are copying charges...)