Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.milw.wisc.edu!uxc!iuvax!rutgers!att!mhuxu!wtj
From: wtj@mhuxu.UUCP (W. T. Jones, AT&T Bell Labs)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Scientific Graphs
Message-ID: <9045@mhuxu.UUCP>
Date: 27 Jan 89 23:30:09 GMT
References: <27744@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Reply-To: wtj@mhuxu.UUCP (W. T. Jones, AT&T Bell Labs)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill
Lines: 63

In article <27744@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> tim@mote.Berkeley.EDU (Tim Quinn) writes:
>Does any one know of a good program to do graphs with the mac.
>I would like to do multiple graphs on the same page, connect
>points in a sequence I specify, add text to the graph, add
>arrows and boxes etc.  The works.
>
>I have found Cricket Graph unsuitable for a number of reasons.
>
>Thanks in advance



We've been very happy so far with a program called KaleidaGraph (from the
people who brought you VersaTerm, and VersaTerm Pro...).
I think that it would handle many of your requests. Specifically:
  Up to 32,000 data points in a window.
  Numeric and text data entry.
  Enter data with the keyboard, clipboard or text file.
  Read user specified data formats including fixed/variable data widths
     and read/skip capability.
  Select data from multiple windows for plotting.
  Data is saved as binary or text.
  VERY FAST data entry and plotting (much faster that Cricket Graph)
    read a 20,000 data point file in less than a minute.
    (it plots 5-10 times faster than Cricket Graph too...)
  It has a formula entry window for entering algebraic equations for 
     data manipulations. 
  1000 step programmable RPN calculator.
     8 level stack
     100 memory registers
     execute a program on a data window selection.
     directly access any data position
     Conditional testing, Subroutines, nested loops... 
     Store up to 20 programs in a menu.
  12 plot types (Line, Scatter, Histogram, Box, Probability (sampled and x-y),
     Double-Y, Percentile, Polar, Column, Stacked Column, Pie.)
  Selectable markers, patterns and colors.
  Log or Linear axis.
  Selectable axis limits and tic marks (inside, outside or both)
  Customized labels and legends
  Linked data/plots for automatic updating.
  Highlight data points or labels with arrows, lines and boxes
  Identify points
  Graphically select data regions for plotting.
  User selectable error bars.
  Linear/normal probability distributions plots.
  Curve Fits (linear, polynomial, exponential, logarithmic, power and 
    weighted.)
  Save plots for later use as templates or as MacDraw/MacPaint documents.

As you can probably tell, we like it. KaleidaGraph is fast, very solid 
program for analyzing data and creating plots. If you want to plot 
large data sets quickly, print at the full resolution on the LaserWriter, 
directly input non-TAB separated text data, or write your own custom macros
to analyze data; take a look at KaleidaGraph.

Bill Jones                      (215) 939-6195
AT&T Bell Labs                   att!mhuxu!wtj
2525 N. 12 St.
Reading, Pa

Disclaimer: I speak only as a satisfied user of KaleidaGraph and have
    no connection with Peripherals, Computers and Supplies.