In terms of quality, I haven't used Grapher but I have used Surfer which is very good so I would expect Grapher to be similarly good. However, Golden Software's website lists Grapher at $299. Probably a bit much for your average student - unless there is a whacking discount!
If you already have Excel but aren't happy with the graphing capabilities what about using the built in macro language (Visual Basic for Applications) to modify or create diagrams from your own data? Admittedly there is a learning curve with any programming / scripting language but the advantage with VBA is that there is a macro record button that will write the code for you as you create a graph or some other plot and help teach you the syntax. There is also a scripting language with Grapher although you can actually control Grapher using Excel's VBA. Another advantage is that learning VBA can be very useful for all sorts of data manipulation / presentation problems and can lead to significant savings in time and lost hair.
Regards
Tim Wynn
-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Needham [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 29 October 2002 10:32
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: MS Excel in publications
I agree, Grapher has a very user friendly interface, links well with Excel
and can produce good quality figures.
Tim
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dr Tim Needham
Rock Deformation Research Group
School of Earth Sciences
The University
Leeds LS2 9JT
Tel: +44-(0)113-343-1934 (direct) or +44-(0)113-343-5208 (general)
Fax: +44-(0)1132-456233
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Web-site: www.rdr.leeds.ac.uk
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Tectonics & structural geology discussion list
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Andrea Billi
> Sent: 28 October 2002 17:06
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: MS Excel in publications
>
>
> Dear Devarajan,
>
> instead of Excel (although Excel is fine in my opinion) you can
> try Grapher
> and related software (www.goldensoftware.com).
> For stereonets, rose diagrams and statistical analyses you can try Daisy
> 3.0 package (ask Prof. Salvini at [log in to unmask]). Also,
> check Salvini
> et al. 1999, J. Struct. Geol. 21, 1731-1749, for applications.
>
> Ciao and good luck
>
> Andrea
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> At 19.55 28/10/02 +0530, you wrote:
> >Can someone suggest me a free Windows based menu driven software for
> >statistical analysis of geological data which can produce
> journal quality
> >graphs and is compatible with Excel (other than the stereonet
> programmes)?
> >
> >Thanks in advance
> >
> >M.K.Devarajan
> >Earthquake Geology Division-I
> >Geological Survey of India
> >Central Region
> >Seminary Hills, Nagpur, India 440 006
> >[log in to unmask]; [log in to unmask]
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: Bruce Bathurst <[log in to unmask]>
> >To: <[log in to unmask]>
> >Sent: Wednesday, October 23, 2002 10:13 AM
> >Subject: Re: MS Excel in publications
> >
> >
> >> I'm also not aware of any technical or
> >> ethical problem with using Excel or any
> >> other proprietary application to
> >> accomplish scientific research. As
> >> mentioned, the printer may have a
> >> problem. The only other problem I could
> >> imagine is offering science to the
> >> public in only a format that requires
> >> proprietary software, since this would
> >> violate its definition.
> >>
> >> Bruce Bathurst
> >>
> >
> >
> ________________________________________
> Dr. Andrea Billi
> Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche
> Universita' Roma Tre
> L.go S. L. Murialdo 1
> 00146 Rome ITALY
> voice: +39 0654888016
> fax: +39 0654888201
> e-mail: [log in to unmask]
> ________________________________________
>
|