Dec 092017
 
Great pull-down grapher, like lotus.
File PRONTO.ZIP from The Programmer’s Corner in
Category Printer + Display Graphics
Great pull-down grapher, like lotus.
File Name File Size Zip Size Zip Type
AREADEMO.PG1 3649 425 deflated
BARDEMO.PG1 2910 376 deflated
BARDEMO1.PG1 2910 376 deflated
LINEDEMO.PG1 3607 405 deflated
PIEDEMO.PG1 2504 287 deflated
PRONTO.COM 53154 29362 deflated
PRONTO.DOC 41103 12709 deflated
SCATDEMO.PG1 3460 279 deflated
XYDEMO.PG1 2974 281 deflated
XYDEMO1.PG1 974 199 deflated

Download File PRONTO.ZIP Here

Contents of the PRONTO.DOC file



_____________________________________________________________________

ProntoGraph Version 1.00 22 Feb 1987
_____________________________________________________________________



PPPPPPPP
PP PP
PP PP
PPPPPPPP RRRRRRR OOOOOO NN NN TTTTTTTT OOOOOO
PP RR RR OO OO NNN NN TT OO OO
PP RRRRRRR OO OO NN N NN TT OO OO
PP RR RR OO OO NN NNN TT OO OO
PP RR RR OOOOOO NN NN TT OOOOOO


GGGGGGGGG
GG
GG
GG GGGGG RRRRRRR AAAAAA PPPPPP HH HH
GG GGGGG RR RR AA AA PP PP HH HH
GG GG RRRRRRR AAAAAA PPPPPP HHHHHHH
GG GG RR RR AA AA PP HH HH
GGGGGGGGG RR RR AA AA PP HH HH


_____________________________________________________________________


___________
| 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









 December 9, 2017  Add comments

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