medici@dorm.rutgers.edu (Mark Medici) (08/30/90)
Netlanders: I help run some academic computer labs for Rutgers students. One of the areas that we are lacking in is graphics software. While we do offer Lotus 1-2-3, most users find this overwhelming for their simple graphing needs. The majority of our undergrads with graphing needs are computer novices. They will be assigned a project to be completed with the tools they are most familiar with. Often, this means they are using MS-BASIC interpretor and outputting their results to a file. A simple program that could read an ASCII file and produce a limited variety of graphs would save these users from the grief of learning Lotus 1-2-3. The types of graphs required are line, xy, xy1y2..yn, and scatter; though bar, stacked bar, and pie charts would be nice too. The software should provide some title and legend capabilities. Our systems are PS/2 25's, 30's, 50's and 60's with color displays. All systems are attached to NetWare/386 servers, and HP LaserJet III's are the hard copy devices. I know there are a few commercial packages available that would server well, but budget restrictions preclude their purchase at this time. Any suggestions will be gratefully accepted. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Medici/SysProg3 * Rutgers University/CCIS * medici@elbereth.rutgers.edu ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mark Medici/SysProg3 * Rutgers University/CCIS * medici@elbereth.rutgers.edu ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
alan@dmsmelb.dms.oz (Alan Miller) (08/31/90)
In article <Aug.30.12.46.43.1990.25219@dorm.rutgers.edu> medici@dorm.rutgers.edu (Mark Medici) writes: >Netlanders: > >The majority of our undergrads with graphing needs are computer >novices. They will be assigned a project to be completed with the >tools they are most familiar with. Often, this means they are using >MS-BASIC interpretor and outputting their results to a file. A simple >program that could read an ASCII file and produce a limited variety of >graphs would save these users from the grief of learning Lotus 1-2-3. > >The types of graphs required are line, xy, xy1y2..yn, and scatter; >though bar, stacked bar, and pie charts would be nice too. The >software should provide some title and legend capabilities. Our >systems are PS/2 25's, 30's, 50's and 60's with color displays. All >systems are attached to NetWare/386 servers, and HP LaserJet III's are >the hard copy devices. > >I know there are a few commercial packages available that would server >well, but budget restrictions preclude their purchase at this time. Can I recommend CoPlot. A powerful and very flexible graphics package which is sold for US$99. It will produce all of the graphics you have specified - and contour plots - and those 3-D hairnet plots. It includes a range of fonts including a range of scientific symbols and the Greek alphabet. There are parallel packages called CoStat & CoDraw for stats & drawing. I don't recommend the stats. package but I have found CoDraw useful. You may be able to get a quantity discount for student use. It's produced by: CoHort Software P.O. Box 1149, Berkeley, CA 94701, USA Phone: (415) 524-9878 Of course, you could throw Lotus away and use AsEasyAs - a Lotus 2 compatible spreadsheet which is easier to use, and is shareware, but CoPlot has much better graphics. CoPlot has an option, in its data editor CoPlotEd (included with CoPlot) for accepting data from Lotus spreadsheets and dBase III/IV files. Lotus WKS and WK1 files can be read, but possibly not WK3 files.