Path: utzoo!yunexus!maccs!cs3b3aj
From: cs3b3aj@maccs.McMaster.CA (Stephen M. Dunn)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Wanted: Graphing Software
Summary: Not perfectly suited to scientific applications
Keywords: suggested way around problem
Message-ID: <2405@maccs.McMaster.CA>
Date: 11 Apr 89 17:34:57 GMT
Article-I.D.: maccs.2405
References: <649@jarthur.Claremont.EDU> <617@eeg.UUCP> <49021@philabs.Philips.Com> <2373@maccs.McMaster.CA> <7854@pucc.Princeton.EDU>
Reply-To: cs3b3aj@maccs.UUCP (Stephen M. Dunn)
Organization: McMaster U., Hamilton, Ont., Can.
Lines: 33

In article <7854@pucc.Princeton.EDU> BVAUGHAN@pucc.Princeton.EDU writes:
>Harvard Graphics has two other drawbacks that prevent me from using
>it as my only graphing program:
>   1) It cannot plot an equation.
>   2) It has only four line types: thin solid, thick solid (not very
>distinguishable from thin solid), dotted and dashed. If you plot more
>lines than that on one graph, you have to use point markers (of which
>there are 13 to choose from) to distinguish the lines. If the points
>are close together, as they would be if you try to simulate the plot
>of a nonlinear equation, this is unacceptably messy looking

   I've never had trouble distinguishing thick from thin lines, but I
guess it probably depends on your output device and resolution.

   As for not being able to plot an equation, that's a good point (although
Harvard was intended for business applications rather than scientific
ones).  What I usually do in this case is to use Symphony to create a
spreadsheet with the X and Y co-ordinates to whatever resolution I
need, and then import it into Harvard.  Then I plot it with the "Curve"
option (tries to draw a smooth curve through as many data points as
it can).  Of course, this is not as pleasant an experience as using a
graphics package that can directly plot functions, I'm sure, but it's
an idea I use from time to time.

DISCLAIMER:  These comments are purely my own opinion as one who has used
  Harvard and Symphony.  I have no affiliation whatsoever with any of the
  companies involved.

-- 
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! Stephen M. Dunn, cs3b3aj@maccs.McMaster.CA ! DISCLAIMER:           !
! This space left unintentionally blank - vi ! I'm only an undergrad !
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