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- _____________________________________________________________________
-
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 22 Feb 1987
- _____________________________________________________________________
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- _____________________________________________________________________
-
-
- ___________
- | Graph | ProntoGraph's "three layer" system lets
- | ___________ you break through the restraints of
- | | Paint | most graphics packages. Make your basic
- | | ___________ graph on the Graph Layer; add a legend,
- | | | Write | boxes, and lines on the Paint Layer; then
- | | | | use the Write Layer to add any additional
- -----| | | text information you want.
- | | |
- -----| | With ProntoGraph you get your graph layered
- | | out the way YOU want it, not the way THEY
- ------------ want it!
-
- _____________________________________________________________________
-
- "On-Disk" Documentation for ProntoGraph Version 1.00
- _____________________________________________________________________
-
- Both the ProntoGraph Program and this documentation are copyright
- 1987 by CSI Design Group, St.Louis, MO. You are permitted to make
- copies of this program and the documentation file as described
- within. Duplication of printed documentation without the express
- written permission of CSI Design Group will be considered a
- violation of copyright.
-
- ProntoGraph is not a free program! It is "share-ware". Please see
- the Registration form within for more information.
-
- (C)1987 by CSI Design Group
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 WELCOME
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Welcome to ProntoGraph. This program grew out of frustration with
- the graphing software that comes with a major spreadsheet program,
- particularly its inability to add needed text and the rigidity of
- its legends.
-
- ProntoGraph is intended to make graphing easy and as flexible as
- possible. The intention is to provide a product that combines the
- features of a simple graph program with rudimentary paint program
- functions. The result has been a big success around our office,
- and we hope it'll be usefull to you as well.
-
- We call ProntoGraph a "Three Layered" package because of the way
- the ProntoGraph images are stored and drawn. At the "bottom" of
- each image is the graph itself. The graph is entirely defined by
- the numbers entered and the menu options selected. The next layer
- is the Paint Layer. This layer is composed of lines and boxes
- drawn using the paint commands. The top layer is the Write Layer.
- This is additional text that you can add anywhere using the Write
- functions.
-
- More than anything else, it is the Write/Paint functions that set
- ProntoGraph apart. While the graphing package itself is rather
- rudimentary, the Write/Paint options let you do things you can do
- in no other single program.
-
- In the future we plan to expand ProntoGraph's basic graphing
- features and add an array of more powerful painting functions.
- We already have an EGA version 90% finished, and as the new super
- high-res cards come on-line, we'll be working on them too.
-
- We hope that ProntoGraph's future will include mulitple fonts,
- mixed plot types, plotter drivers, special print drivers, and more.
- Enjoy ProntoGraph as it is, and with your registration, help us to
- bring it to where it could be.
-
- Data import is another area of planned improvement. Certainly the
- program should have some method of extracting data from .PRN files
- and hopefully from both .DIF and .WKS files as well. We're working
- on it now.
-
- When you register, don't forget to let us know what changes you'd
- like to see.
-
- CSI Design Group
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 ABOUT SHAREWARE
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- By now most everyone has heard of Shareware (also called FairWare or
- Freeware). The Shareware process is one of the great experiments of
- the computer age. While most attention is focused on the enormous
- advances made on the technological front, the Shareware concept
- rates as an equally important advance in marketing and distribution.
-
- Instead of packaging a product and selling it to a distributor, who
- sells it to a retailer, who THEN sells the program to the public -
- Shareware goes straight from the author to you. This eliminates the
- multiple price increases which account for 70% or more of most
- software process. Further cost reduction is possible because you
- reproduce the program yourself, and get no fancy packaging. The end
- result is a product delivered at a price that no store could ever
- hope to match.
-
- In order for Shareware to work, and keep bringing you a tremendous
- variety of software bargains, only one thing is required - honesty.
- More than one software company has gone down in flames from the cost
- of supporting an epidemic of software piracy. Companies which
- support the Shareware concept are particularly vulnerable since they
- freely invite duplication of their programs. Unlike the purchaser
- of traditional software who becomes a 'pirate' as soon as they
- distribute or take illicit copies of a program, simply having a
- Shareware program without paying for it does not make you a
- criminal. Its the person who USES a Shareware program, repeatedly,
- without paying the authors their due reward that is as much a pirate
- as anyone who steals a program from a store shelf.
-
- The Shareware concept is still on trial. Sure, there are people and
- companies that have made and continue to make money distributing
- Shareware, but others have done poorly with software that deserved
- to succeed. If a company falls from its own failure to predict the
- market, it is their private failure. If Shareware companies fail
- because the computing community was not honest enough to support
- them, it will be a tragedy for us all.
-
- This Shareware program represents skipped lunches; late nights;
- early mornings; hours spent writing, testing, prodding, rewriting,
- and testing again. If you think its worthless, that's your opinion
- and you're free to have it. Certainly, no program can be of value
- to all users. If you use this program, please register. As you'll
- see on the next page, registration is cheap, easy, and carries
- several benefits.
-
- There's a lot of great Shareware out there and computer users
- deserve all the credit. If some of the early experimenters with
- Shareware had not been supported, there would not be the crowd of
- programs there is today.
-
- With the continued support of the community, the next generation of
- Shareware will be even more powerful, useful, and creative than all
- that has come before. Store-bought programs may be in for a race!
-
- OK, enough preaching. Let's get to work.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 REGISTRATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Registering your copy of ProntoGraph will cost you $30.00. After
- registering you will receive laser-set documentation (more complete
- and without the lamentations for money). You will also receive: the
- latest version of the program on disk, notification of program
- upgrades, and the CSI Shareware Newsletter (with info on using this
- and other CSI Shareware programs).
-
- If you don't want the improved documentation and latest version on
- disk, you can register your honesty for $15.00. This registry is
- not eligible for the $5.00 refunds on future registrations.
-
- AN ADDED BONUS! If you pass your registered copy of this program on
- to someone else who later registers THEIR copy of the program, you
- will get $5 back from your registration fee. Get enough people to
- register, and before you know it, you could be making a profit.
-
- The form below can be used as a registration form, or just write the
- info on a 3 by 5 card, paper bag, or any handy scrap of paper you
- can fit in an envelope.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- PRONTOGRAPH VERSION 1.00 REGISTRATION FORM
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Name ______________________________
-
- Address ______________________________
-
- Address ______________________________
-
- City,State ______________________________
-
- Zip Code ______________________________
-
- Where did you get your copy of ProntoGraph? _______________________
- ____________________________________________________________________
-
- Any initial comments or suggestions? ______________________________
-
- ____________________________________________________________________
-
-
- Mail to: CSI Design Group
- 23 Anawood Dr.
- Arnold, MO 63010
-
- Your registered user pack will be in the mail to you in a flash,
- thanks for caring and good graphing to you.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 INTRODUCTION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- == Introduction to ProntoGraph ==
-
- We like to feel that ProntoGraph is so easy to use and operates so
- instinctively that you really won't need to read this, but I'm sure
- that we're only fooling ourselves. No program is perfect, no
- interface is perfect, and good documentation is the staff of life
- for us all.
-
- ProntoGraph operates using a special interface designed at CSI and
- affectionately called "CheapDesk". CheapDesk programs share some of
- the features of the current crop of windows/menus oriented programs,
- but they are designed to get by on minimal systems instead of
- megamemory powerhouse machines. That not to say that this program
- won't perform well on your 80386 based, co-processored, 10 terabyte
- monster - I'm sure it will chew nails in such an environment, but it
- will also run on your creaky old 8088 machine.
-
- The basic system required to run ProntoGraph is:
-
- IBM PC or compatible
- 128K Memory (minimum, 256K is MUCH better)
- at least 1 disk drive
- Graphics card and monitor which support the Color Graphics
- Adapter 'Hi-Res' 640 by 200 mode.
- A graphics capable printer and screen dump software
-
- That looks like a lot of stuff, but its a pretty bare-bones system
- by today's standards.
-
- Please note that bit about 'screen dump software'. This means that
- if you have a graphics image on the screen, you can press the print
- screen key (PrtSc) and get that image put on paper. This version of
- ProntoGraph depends on that ability for making hardcopies of your
- graphs. If you have an IBM/Epson compatible printer, the program
- 'Graphics' should provide you with what you need. In general, there
- are screen dump programs available that can drive almost any
- graphics capable printer (even some laser printers and pen
- plotters). If you are having trouble finding what you need, let us
- know and we'll try to fix you up. The next version of ProntoGraph
- will include direct support for the most popular printers.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 STARTING THE PROGRAM
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Installation
-
- If you have a hard disk drive you'll probably want to install
- ProntoGraph. There are no special files needed with ProntoGraph, so
- installation is simply a matter of copying the PRONTO.COM program to
- the directory where you want it. The simplest thing to do is to
- copy PRONTO.COM to a directory in your path (like \DOS or \USER),
- where you can access it anytime you want.
-
- Place the disk containing PRONTO.COM into the A: floppy disk drive.
- Type "COPY A:PRONTO.COM C:\USER" and press enter. You can now
- operate ProntoGraph anytime without the use of the floppy disk.
-
-
- Start up
-
- To run ProntoGraph, type "PRONTO" and press enter. The program will
- load and display the MAIN MENU BAR across the top of the screen.
- You're now ready to begin ProntoGraphing.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 USING THE MENUS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
- Most operations in ProntoGraph are controlled through the use of
- drop down menus. When the Main Menu Bar is visible, pressing any
- key will cause the left drop to menu to become visible. A series of
- available commands appear below the menu title. One of these
- commands is printed in inverse characters and is called the
- highlighted command. Using the up and down arrow keys you can move
- from one command to the next. If you go off one end of the menu the
- first item at the other end will be highlighted.
-
- Pressing Enter SELECTS the highlighted command. For example, press
- enter while the "About ProntoGraph" item is highlighted. This will
- display a screen with information about the version and ownership of
- the ProntoGraph program. Pressing any key will return you to the
- menu.
-
- Pressing Esc ABORTS menu selection and hides any visible menu (Not
- used too much in ProntoGraph, but handy for other CheapDesk
- programs).
-
- Pressing the left or right arrow keys will move you between the
- various menus.
-
- As you move around you will notice a few special things about the
- menus. Some items are skipped as you move through a menu. These
- items are INACTIVE and cannot currently be selected. Good examples
- of inactive items are the dashed bars that are used to separate
- items into logical groups.
-
- Some items have a small ">" in front. This means that the item has
- been CHECKED or turned on. You'll find this item mostly in
- conditions that are either yes or no situations. For example, the
- "Show Lines" item under the "Lines" menu. When the arrow is present
- it is checked and means "yes, show lines". If no arrow is present
- the item means "no, do not show lines". Checked items can be
- UNCHECKED by selecting them (moving to them and pressing enter).
-
- Some of the menu items have "C-KEYS". These are control keys which
- execute the command directly without having to go through the menus.
- You'll see these commands on the right side of menu items written as
- "^" and a letter. For example, the Edit Data item ends in "^E".
- Pressing the Ctrl key and E together when no menu is down will
- select the Edit Data item (except when in Display Graph Mode, see
- Display Graph Mode).
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 INFO MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Info Menu contains items which provide information about current
- version of ProntoGraph.
-
-
- _About ProntoGraph_
- This item will display the "About Window" which shows the version
- number and date of production for your version of ProntoGraph.
- Information for registering the program is also provided here.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Data Help_
- Calls up a help window with information about the items under the
- Data Menu.
-
-
- _Graph Help_
- Shows a help window for most of the items found under the Graph
- Window.
-
-
- _Titles Help_
- Provides a help window for using the items in the Titles Menu.
-
-
- _Extras Help_
- Displays a help window with information about the decorative option
- menus: Lines, Points, Spikes, Grids, and Bars.
-
-
- _Patterns_
- Creates a "Pattern Palette" showing the twenty-one available
- patterns and their code numbers. Patterns are available both in
- shading bar graphs and in the paint layer.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Alter Display_
- Various brands of graphics cards (especially EGA compatible cards)
- can cause the display colors of ProntoGraph to change to illegible
- combinations. This option is used to change the graph color by
- entering a number from 0 to 15 as the new drawing color. Experiment
- with this option to find the colors that look best on your machine.
- NOTE: Don't monkey with this after you've begun creating your graph.
- Certain color combinations can make the program unreadable. This is
- hard to fix since you can't see the menus. Play it safe and get
- your color set BEFORE you do anything else.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 DATA MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Data Menu is where things really start to happen in ProntoGraph.
- Here you can enter data for a new graph, save your work to disk, or
- call up and old graph for editing or printing.
-
- _Edit Data_
- The number one most essential item in ProntoGraph. This calls up
- the DATA ENTRY TOOL. The data entry tool is the only way to enter
- or edit your ProntoGraph data (the Graph Layer). Since the data
- entry tool is so important, a separate page has been devoted to its
- use following this page.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Open Graph_
- This allows you to recall a previously saved graph and restores all
- three layers of the graph, as well as all the menu settings and
- scaling options. A DIRECTORY BOX will show all files in the current
- directory which end in ".PG1". Type the name of the file you wish
- to open. You can access graphs saved in other directories by typing
- their full name. For example, "\BILL\PROJECTS\COSTBAR.PG1". (NOTE:
- The very next version will feature a 'point-and-shoot' interface.
- This version doesn't as another incentive to register.)
-
-
- _Save Graph_
- Saves a graph to file. All three layers are saved along with the
- current menu settings and scaling options. When saving a graph it
- is best to end the file name in ".PG1" so it will show up when you
- do an "Open Graph".
-
-
- _Clear Data_
- This clears all information from the bottom "Graph Layer" of the
- program. Data must now be entered, either by opening a saved graph
- or typing it into the data entry tool, before the graph can be
- displayed.
-
-
- _Clear Paint_
- Clears the middle "Paint Layer" of the graph. This is the best (and
- presently about the only) way to remove lines or boxes that have
- been placed or shaded incorrectly.
-
-
- _Clear Write_
- This clears all text from the top "Text Layer". Text can be
- reentered only in the graph display mode.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Quit_
- Selecting this item will end the program. NO WARNING TO SAVE DATA
- WILL BE GIVEN! SO be careful to save anything worth keeping before
- selecting quit.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 DATA ENTRY TOOL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The data entry tool is used to enter all the data that defines the
- graph layer of a ProntoGraph.
-
- Select the data entry tool by selecting the item "Edit Data" from
- the "Data" menu. A window will appear with a line of numbers down
- the left side and a bar drawn along the right. The numbers on the
- left show the DATA POINT NUMBER. The bar on the right shows the
- DATA PAGE NUMBER. The page number is also noted in the upper right
- corner of the window.
-
- Each line on the page represents a single data point. For each data
- point you can specify a Y VALUE (which determines the vertical
- placement of that data point and is used by all graphs), an X VALUE
- (which determines the horizontal position of the data point and is
- used only by X-Y Graphs), and a PATTERN NUMBER (defines the fill
- pattern of a bar, used only by bar graphs). The column headings at
- the top of the window show which column is used for each type of
- data. Data is entered by typing it into the correct column in the
- form.
-
-
- -- Navigating in the Data Entry Tool --
- The tab key moves you from one column to the next.
- Enter moves you to the next data point and stays in the same column.
- The up arrow moves you up one line.
- Page up moves you up 20 lines (up one page).
- Page down moves you down 20 lines (down one page).
- Delete removes the current data point.
- Insert creates a new data point at the current location.
-
- The PageBar on the right of the window will show where you are in
- relation to the total data entry area. Up to 200 data points (10
- pages) can be entered.
-
- NOTE: Only numeric keys and the decimal place character will be
- accepted in the data entry tool. Scientific notation (such as
- 2.54E21) is NOT supported. The range of values that you can enter
- is -99999999 to 999999999. The smallest value accepted is
- 0.0000001. It is strongly suggested that you try to make the
- numbers used as small as possible. For example, if all your numbers
- are in millions, use millions as your base unit instead of ones.
- Smaller numbers will look much better in the data entry tool and on
- the graph. There is plenty of room for explanation of your scale on
- the graph.
-
- The Format options under the "Format" menu allow you to change the
- appearance of values in the data entry tool. This is especially
- important when working with very small or very large numbers. See
- the FORMAT MENU page for details.
-
- When you've finished entering your data, press the Esc key to leave
- the data entry tool.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 GRAPH MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Graph Menu contains the options that give you the visible
- results of ProntoGraph. When you use any of the "Draw ... Graph"
- items the current graph is displayed. The program then enters the
- Paint/Write mode which is described fully on the next page.
-
-
- _Draw Bar Graph_
- Draws the graph with each data point represented as a bar. The bars
- are spaced and sized to fill the graph area. Each bar is shaded to
- match the pattern number entered in the data entry tool.
-
-
- _Draw Line Graph_
- This item displays each data point as a point connected by lines to
- neighboring points. Data is spaced to fill the graphing area. Data
- points are posted at regular interval. The style of lines, points,
- and other options are determined by the decorative menu settings.
-
-
- _Draw X-Y Graph_
- This item draws a graph very similar to the Line graph except that
- data is spaced according to the values entered into the X Value
- column of the data entry tool. Decorative items which apply to the
- line graph also affect the X-Y graph.
-
-
- _Draw Pie Graph_
- Draws a pie graph based on the values in the Y value column of the
- data entry tool. A pie graph cannot be drawn if there are more than
- 10 data lines. To "explode" a pie slice, place a value in that data
- line's X Value column.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Manual Y-Scale_ When this item is checked it means that the Y-
- Scale is in Manual Mode. If it is not checked the Y Scale is in
- automatic mode. In Manual mode the Upper and lower limits of the
- scale are determined by the user. In Automatic mode they correspond
- to the limits of the data.
-
-
- _Manual Y-Minimum_
- Allows the user to set the lower value of the Y-Axis when the Y
- scale is in manual mode.
-
-
- _Manual Y-Maximum_
- Sets the upper limits of the Y axis for manual Y scale.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 WRITE / PAINT
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- After choosing one of the "Draw" items from the Graph menu the
- program moves to Write/Paint mode. (Also called GRAPH DISPLAY MODE
- in earlier documentation). In this mode the menu bar is hidden and
- you can alter the graph by adding additional text or graphic items.
-
- The cursor is usually kept invisible in this mode so that it
- won't obscure the graph, but it flashes when moving. All Write /
- Paint options begin at the current cursor position.
-
- To move the cursor use the arrow keys. You can also use the enter
- key to move to the left edge of the screen, End to go to the lower
- right corner, or Home to go to the upper left corner.
-
- Typing any of the 'standard' keys (letters, numbers, and symbols)
- will type that character onto the screen. This character is now
- part of the Write Layer. NOTE: You can use almost any IBM ASCII
- character by holding down the Alt Key and typing the character's
- ASCII code number. Pressing the Delete key will remove the
- character under the cursor, but if this character conflicts with
- the Graph or Paint Layers the corrected version will not be seen
- until you leave the display mode and redraw the graph.
-
- The function keys are used to control the Paint options. The
- features currently provided are :
-
- F2 : Draw Line
- F3 : Draw Open Box
- F4 : Draw Filled Box
-
- Other F keys are reserved for future use. (Get your votes in today
- for the additional functions you'd like to see!)
-
- After selecting the paint function with the appropriate F key you
- can manipulate the object you have chosen. For all Paint objects
- the following keys apply:
-
- Down Arrow - Move point down
- Up Arrow - Move point up
- Left Arrow - Move point left
- Right Arrow - Move point right
- End - Change ends (on boxes toggles between lower right and
- upper left corners)
- 1 thru 9 - adjust the rate of movement (in pixels)
- Esc - Cancel the object
- Enter - Accept the object
-
- After pressing Enter on filled boxes, you will be asked to enter a
- pattern number ( 0 to 21 ) for the fill pattern.
-
- After an object has been accepted by pressing Enter, it can only be
- removed by erasing the Paint Layer with the "Clear Paint" item
- under the "Data" Menu.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 TITLES MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The Titles Menu allows you to place a centered MAIN TITLE at the
- top of the graph, a vertically oriented Y-AXIS TITLE along the left
- side of the graph, and an X-AXIS TITLE along the base of the graph.
-
- Because of the difficulty in typing them correctly, you will
- probably use the Main Title and Y-Axis Title on most graphs, but
- the X-Axis Title is often easier to just type on in write mode.
-
-
- _Main Title_
- This item clears the top line for the entry of the Main Title. The
- title is left justified as it is typed, but will be centered when
- displayed at the top of the graph.
-
-
- _X-Axis Title_
- This item allows you to type the X-Axis title in the place it will
- appear at the base of the graph. Keep in mind that the Write and
- Paint planes will overwrite the X-Axis title and may obscure it.
- You'll often find it easier to use the Write option to add X-Axis
- titles. The X-Axis Title is limited to 70 characters.
-
-
- _Y-Axis Title_
- This item clears the top line for the entry of the Y-Axis title.
- When the graph is drawn the Y-Axis Title will be displayed
- vertically along the left side of the graph. Due to this
- orientation the Y-Axis Title is limited to 22 characters. You may
- find it necessary to add spaces at the beginning of the Y-Axis
- Title to get the placement you want on the graph. Experiment until
- you get the hang of Y-Title placement.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 GRIDS MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Grids are dotted lines used to divide your graph and make it easier
- to read. When ProntoGraph is started, the default condition is "NO
- GRIDS". This can be seen by the ">" beside the "No Grids" item at
- the top of the "Grids" menu.
-
-
- _No Grids_
- Selecting this item turns off both X and Y grids. Selecting this
- item when it is checked WILL NOT turn grids on. This item is only
- a convenience for turning off both grids at once.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _X-Grid_
- If this item is checked dotted lines will be drawn from the top to
- the base of the graph at regular intervals along the X-Axis. In a
- bar graph the lines will be drawn between each bar. In a line
- graph the dotted lines will pass through each bar. The X-Grid is
- not shown in an X-Y graph.
-
-
- _Y-Grid_
- Checking this item causes the graph to be divided into five equal
- pieces by dotted lines running from the left to the right of the
- graph area. Operation of the Y-Grid is the same in all three major
- graph styles.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 LINES MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The lines menu affects the way that lines connecting data points
- are drawn in the line and X-Y graphs. This menu has no effect on
- how bar graphs are drawn.
-
-
- _Show Lines_
- When this item is checked lines will be drawn according to the LINE
- STYLE option checked below. The default condition is Show Lines.
- If this condition is unchecked, the line and X-Y graphs become
- scatter graphs instead.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Narrow Lines_
- When this item is checked the data points will be connected by a
- line of one pixel thickness. This is the default condition.
-
-
- _Bold Lines_
- Checking this item thickness the lines between data points. Since
- the graphics display of the CGA does not have square pixels, the
- lines will appear to vary in thickness depending on their angle.
-
-
- _Fill Below_
- This item will cause the entire area below the line to be filled in
- a solid pattern. This option is incompatible with Spikes and the
- Show Spikes item will be unchecked if this item is selected.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 POINTS MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- This menu determines the appearance of points in Line and X-Y
- Graphs. This menu does not affect the appearance of Bar Graphs.
-
-
- _Show Points_
- When this item is checked data points are plotted, if unchecked
- they will not be plotted. Checked is the default condition. Why
- you would want to uncheck this option we don't know, but you can if
- you want.
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _Dots_
- Checking this item causes data points to be displayed as single
- pixels. This is the default condition. This style of point is
- best used when you have a great deal of data.
-
-
- _Squares_
- If this item is checked, data points will be shown as a small box
- with the actual data point at its center. This option is best if
- you have data that is not too tightly packed.
-
-
- SPECIAL TIP: For nifty scatter charts try setting Show Lines to
- unchecked, Point style to Squares, Show Spikes to checked, and
- Spike Style to From Bottom.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 SPIKES MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- Spikes are solid lines running to or through data points on Line
- and X-Y graphs. The Spikes menu does not affect the display of bar
- graphs.
-
-
- _Show Spikes_
- This item determines if spikes will be displayed. The default
- condition is unchecked (don't show spikes).
-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- _From Top_
- If this item is checked, spikes will be drawn from the top of the
- graph down to the data point.
-
-
- _From Bottom_
- When checked, spikes are drawn from the base of the graph up to the
- data point. This is the default spike style.
-
-
- _CrossCuts_
- When this item is checked, solid lines are drawn through the data
- points from the top of the graph to the base.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 BARS MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- This menu affects the style of bars drawn on a bar graph. The
- options on this menu have no affect on the appearance of line or X-
- Y graphs.
-
-
- _Standard_
- When this item is checked bars are drawn with a single thickness
- line on all sides and the top of the bar represents the Y value.
- This is the default bar style.
-
-
- _3-D Style_
- Checking this item causes bars to be drawn with shading to
- represent boxes with some "Z axis" thickness. The top line of the
- "front" of the bar represents the Y value. This option is best
- used when you don't have an overwhelming amount of data.
-
-
- SPECIAL TIP: Bar graphs begin to look kind of messy with more than
- 25 or so data points. If you have a large amount of data consider:
- using a line graph, condensing the data, making more than one
- graph.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 FORMAT MENU
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- The format menu controls the way numbers are displayed in the data
- entry tool and along the axes of your graph.
-
-
- _Y-Values_
- Select this item and enter the number of decimal places to display
- for Y values in the data entry tool.
-
-
- _X-Values_
- Select this item to set the number of decimal points for X-values
- in the data entry tool.
-
-
- _Y-Axis_
- This item determines the number of decimal places shown in the
- values posted at the top and bottom of the Y-Axis.
-
-
- _X-Axis_
- This item sets the number of decimal places to be shown at the left
- and right ends of the X-Axis. This option affects only the X-Y
- style graph. No X-Axis values are shown on Bar or Line type
- graphs.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 HARD COPY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ProntoGraph presently depends on the "Print Screen" function for
- hardcopy output. Screen print programs are widely available and it
- is much more difficult for us to obtain screen dump software for
- every graphics printer that it is for you to pick up the software
- you need for your particular printer.
-
- Recently some commercial software has become available that allows
- you to send a screen dump to a laser printer or even a plotter.
- Graphs sent to a laser printer in 150 or 300 dpi modes have a very
- crisp look. Some of the plotter software is fair, some is amazing.
-
- If you have having difficulty locating software to drive your
- printer, drop us a line and we'll fish around and see what we can
- find for you.
-
- It is presently our intention to include direct support for many
- popular printers in the next release of ProntoGraph. Those who
- register now will have the first crack at this new release.
-
- Here are a few more idea you might find helpfull:
-
- GRAFplus, from Jewell Technologies, is a screen dump program
- that supports a bundle of dot matrix printers. Included is
- support for several color printers and the EGA board. Jewell
- even states that if you let them know of a printer they don't
- support, they'll add support for it. Give them a call at
- 206/937-1081 or write to them at: Jewell Technologies, Inc.,
- 4302 Southwest Alaska St. Suite 207, Seattle, Washington 98116.
-
- Hotshot, by Symsoft, allows you to save a screen image for later
- printing or pasting into a desktop publishing system. It also
- has some drawing, manipulation tools that can be pretty handy.
- You can reach Symsoft at 415/962-9500.
-
- DataCam 35, from Photographic Sciences Corp., is about the
- cheapest way to get your screen images made into slides for
- presentations. Instead of a high priced film recorder, the
- Datacam is a specially designed camera that takes a pictures of
- your screen. Very easy to learn and use, its a must for slides
- on a tight budget.
-
- There are probably many others out there just as good. Let me know
- if you've got a product you think would be helpful to ProntoGraph
- users and we'll add it to the next version's documentation. Aslo
- if you've got a printer, plotter, or other output device you'd like
- ProntoGraph to support directly. Please send me as much info on it
- as you can and we'll try to squeeze it in.
-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
- ProntoGraph Version 1.00 RECOMMENDATIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- We want your help in making ProntoGraph as good as it can be. What
- does it really need? More data points? Better use of 3-D? A
- different interface? More speed? You tell us.
-
- Registered users will receive the next program update as soon as its
- ready. Comments are also welcome from non-registered users. Good
- bug reports are a must if we're going to stamp out all those little
- pests. Let us know where it went wrong, and as much as you can
- think of that might have affected it.
-
- Even if you think its a piece of trash and not worth a cent, let us
- know why. On the other hand, if you really like it be sure to tell
- us. We need all the encouragement we can get.
-
-
- CSI Design Group
- 23 Anawood
- Arnold, MO 63010
-
- If you REALLY need to call us, the office number is 314/731-1650 and
- the main programmer's home number is 314/296-9026. Hours for both
- these numbers are quite unpredictable.
-
- Be watching for other CSI Design Group ShareWare programs (Macintosh
- owners already have a few to play with). Also look for some CSI
- products on the shelves of your local software store (various
- publishers for various machines).
-
- Stay tuned, its gonna get better.
-
-
- 22 Feb 1987
-
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