🚀 go-pugleaf

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From: Scott Barvian <barvian@dart.ece.cmu.edu>
 
Check MacWorld 7/90 for a basic discussion.  It convinced me to buy DeltaGraph.
I have basically been happy with it, but:
 
1) it's really a "color" Mac program- to use it on B&W screens (I use both)
   you have to keep straight the difference between "colors", "grayscales"
   and "fill patterns".  Not tough but annoying at first.
2) The "formula evaluation" capabilities are limited.  Suppose I have two
   columns, of x data and y data.  I plot them, and then I use their "curve
   fitting" feature to get a least-squares-fit line formula.  I can't directly
   plot that line on my graph, but I can go back into the "spreadsheet" and
   calculate it. And it's not even that easy, because all the spreadsheet
   can do is process one operation at a time. That is, if the formula I have
   is "y=3x+5", the "3x" and "+5" are two separate operations.  And it's not
   like Excel either, if I decide to look at "y=2.9x+5" I have to repeat the
    whole process, I can't just change the coefficient and hit "recalculate".
   For scientific/engineering use this is DG's biggest weakness.  They do
   offer an Excel macro which is supposed to "hot link" the 2 programs, but
   I found that it doesn't always work.
 
Hope this helps.
 
                                       
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From: abosse@reed.reed.edu
 
Here at Reed College, we use three different graphing programs. Each
has its own strengths and weaknesses, so I'll try and summarize:
 
CricketGraph:
 
This was one of the first packages to come out on the mac, and it
shows. Data entry is primitive, as are import and analysis.
Presentation is not that great either. It will let you manipulate the
numerucal data fairly easily. Very easy to learn, does not require a
Mac II.
 
DeltaGraph 1.3
 
A good choice for business. Presentation is its strong suite, with a
host of different options for attaching labels, using user-defined
symbols as data points, and so forth. Good import facilty. Reasonable
analysis tools, but still not good enough for serious scientific
work. Fairly easy to use, and fast. A good step forward after CG.
 
Igor 1.24 (?)
 
Without a doubt, the best graphing package available on the Mac.
Amamzing. Incredible. magnificent, what more can I say? Insane number
of highly flexible analysis options, built in automatic macroeditor.
Very flexible presentation options. Fast. Geared for the working
scientist. Downside: be prepared to spend a goodly amount of time
learning how to use it. The manual is well written, but dense.
Support and response to user-suggestions is excellent.
 
If your business has much of its data stored in spreadsheet files
already (Wingz, Excell) I suggest you stick with the graphing tools
attached to those packages. If you need a general duty, stand-alone
graphing program, get DeltaGraph. If you need to do scientific
analyses of data sets, and have the extra time, get Igor. By the way,
none of the three packages mentioned so far is particularly strong in
econometrics. If you need those kind of cpapabilities, stick with the
spreadsheets, or get a standalone statistics program.
 
Hope this helps,
 
Arno Bosse
Reed College
abosse@reed.edu
 
ps. The views expressed above are entirely my own, and not that of
Reed College.
 
 
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From hedstrom@sirius.uvic.ca Sun May  5 23:44:54 1991
 
I've found found Igor very good for engineering and scientific type
graphs.