Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!lll-winken!uunet!fed!m1jah01@fed.frb.gov
From: m1jah01@fed.frb.gov (Jo-Ann A. Holden)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: graphics packages
Message-ID: <39@eafs1.fed.FRB.GOV>
Date: 4 Apr 89 20:25:25 GMT
Sender: news@fed.FRB.GOV
Reply-To: m1jah01@fed.frb.gov (Jo-Ann A. Holden)
Organization: Federal Reserve Board
Lines: 21


I need some help identifying good, presentation-quality graphics packages.
I do graphics for the Federal Reserve Board.  The charts I produce go 
directly to the Board each week.  They are designed to go along with text
written by economists.  The charts are multi-panel, with each panel's 
content varying from one time series, to possibly eight or nine time series.
We use line charts, bar charts, scatter diagrams, and tables.  Whatever package
we decide on must take time series and arrays, must be user-friendly, must be
compatible with SUN workstations, Unix etc...  Data will be retrieved from
various databases (personal dbs, and the main Fed db), occasionally I plot 
simple arrays as well.  Unfortunately, I am not well versed in the technical
side of things, so I am not sure how much programming we are capable of here
in terms of making a generic package suitable for our needs.  Keep in mind:
high-quality presentation, quick and easy manipulation of data, changes must
be able to be made quickly as well.  Everything must be able to be stored.  
Finally, I rarely do the samething twice, so the package must be able to
produce a vast range of charts.  Panel size and placement changes with
each new chart, so I have to be able to manipulate these things as well.
Sounds like alot to ask huh?  Any help would be appreciated!!!!!!
                              
                                       - Jo-Ann