Overview

Deltagraph is an all-purpose charting program, available for both the Macintosh and Windows platforms, that offers a spectacular choice of chart options (more than 80 chart types and 200 chart styles). Examples of its capabilities can be viewed at the SPSS Web site. A wide variety of graphic file formats is supported, as are files from Excel 98, Word, QuarkXPress, PageMaker, and Photoshop. The Pantone color-matching system for press-ready color is now included in version 4.5. (Macintosh), which also features compatibility with Mac OS 8.5 and QuickTime, as well as AppleScript support.

A Deltagraph file is an integrated document that contains charts, layouts, numerical data, and text information. The information within each document may be viewed in four different ways that partially overlap with each other in terms of content. Switching from one view to another is accomplished by clicking on icons or using a drop-down menu. Changes to data are automatically corrected in other views.

Rather than walk through features as described in the manual, I used DeltaGraph (Windows and Macintosh versions) to display real data from a flow cytometer, a spectrofluorimeter, and a reporter-gene assay, and to generate charts describing experimental projects. In each case, I was well satisfied with the performance of DeltaGraph.

Available platforms	Macintosh (version 4.5); Windows 95 (version 4.0)
System requirements	Macintosh System 7.5.5 or later, 68030 processor or later, 8 Mb RAM, 20 Mb disk space. DeltaGraph 4.5 is compatible with Mac OS 8.5. Windows 3.1 386DX or better, 8 Mb RAM, 8 Mb minimum disk space Windows 95/NT 486DX, 16 Mb RAM color VGA graphics card and monitor
Test platforms	450 MHz Pentium II running Windows 95, with 64 Mb RAM, 17" monitor 300 MHz Macintosh G3, Princeton Graphics EO900 19" monitor, 128 Mb RAM, Mac OS 8.5 200 MHz PowerBook 3400, 48 Mb RAM, 14" active matrix monitor, Mac OS 8.5 120 MHz PowerPC 5400, 16 Mb RAM, 15" Apple monitor, Mac OS 8.1
Price	$299

How Long Did It Take to Learn to Use It Productively?

Three days. A new user should allow one day for simple graphs, two weeks for comfort with the program, and about two months to become an expert user.

Product Quality

Customizability

Excellent.

Ability to Program in Scripts, Add Extension Modules, etc.

Version 4.5 for Macintosh supports AppleScript to enhance automation procedures when working with large numbers of graphic files. In addition, the Internal Command Language (ICL) provides for the generation of command scripts that can automatically import text from the clipboard, create charts, and copy them back into the clipboard for transfer back into the original application.

Ability to Import and Export in Different File Formats

MacPaint, QuickDraw GX, Adobe Photoshop, Silicon Graphics, GIF, BMP, PNG, Targa, PICT, EPSF, TIFF, QuickTime, and JPEG files can be imported into the Macintosh version. AutoCad, CGM, HPGL, PCX, DRW, WMF, and WPG graphics files can be imported into the Windows version. The Macintosh version allows exportation as Adobe Illustrator, EPSF, and PICT files, while the Windows version generates EPSF, PICT, Paintbrush (PCX), TIFF, BMP, and WMF files. The manual provides some suggestions on selecting a format, and it describes problems with certain formats.

Useful or Unusual Features

• A notably large selection of fine-tunable output styles and formats
• The ability to record preferences, customize, automate procedures, and dynamically update files through linking
• Use of the industry standard Pantone color-matching system (Macintosh)
• The integrated approach to storing chart information

Limitations

Initially, there was an apparent lack of intuitiveness in design: it was difficult to guess how to accomplish my goals until I consulted the manual. On a minor note, the data, layout and outliner views are not aesthetically pleasing. With the Windows version, there was an instance when switching from logarithmic to linear axes resulted in a double image that could not be dragged away and was also seen in printouts. Rebooting the computer and creating the chart again took care of the problem.

Although well written, the manual needs to be updated. For example, DeltaGraph 4.5 is described as being able to export to Adobe Illustrator 3.2 and newer Illustrator formats. This statement does not inspire confidence, since Illustrator is currently at version 8.0.1. However, an updated manual is being issued with version 5.0 for Windows, which is scheduled to be released later this year.

DeltaGraph is superior to other general-purpose graphing packages that I have used. This is largely because it offers both choice and capability, as well as the convenience of integrated documents, linking, and dynamic updating.

Technical Support and Documentation

The manual is well written, comprehensive, and easy to understand. As mentioned above, a comprehensive update would be a good idea, but the essentials are clearly conveyed. Technical service is also available by telephone and email.

Target Users

DeltaGraph is an excellent choice as a general-purpose charting program for experimental biologists as well as for those who teach.

Comments

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