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Indicates any special deals by which you can obtain a package at less than the full commercial cost.
Possible entries are -Description gives a very brief summary of what a package is, to give you a quick idea of its intended application area.
Entry is 'Yes' if there is further information in the 'Creative graphics matrix' section, otherwise 'No'.
Entry is 'Yes' if there is further information in the 'Data Driven graphics matrix' section otherwise 'No'.
This entry tells you what sort of machine you need in order to run a package. Platform indicates the hardware, and operating system if relevant - for example Windows', 'Mac', Unix'.
Tells you how much free space you need on your hard disk to install the package. In addition to the amount shown in the matrix, some packages require extra space in the installation process to unpack and assemble the software.
Indicates any special facilities you need in order to get the most out of the package. If extra clipart for instance is supplied on CD, enter 'CD' here.
Is either 'Yes' or 'No'. The network version of a package allows several people to use it simultaneously, as if they had their own copy, and without affecting each other. The package should have network installation options.
This entry tells you about the general overall appearance of each package. User interface is usually 'WIMP' on PCs and Macs - for 'Windows /images/ Menus and Pointer". In this case you can control programs by pointing and clicking with a mouse, and manipulating windows and icons on your computer screen. The main alternatives are menu-based programs - driven by a mouse or the keyboard, and command-driven programs.
Can be 'Yes' if there is any help informatiorr within a package, or 'No'. If 'Yes', the help available is often enough to let you run the package without extensive documentation.
Package supports Object Linking and Embedding. This allows graphics objects created by one piece of software to be embedded in a graphical object created by another but still maintain it's link with the original software - i.e. any changes made to the object will start up the original package and allow you to edit the original object.
Most packages simply use the fonts which are available on their host computer, though some provide extra ones. The type of extra fonts which are available with the package are shown here, i.e. 'Truetype'. (See the entry for typeface in the glossary for a definition of the terms 'font' and 'typeface' as used in the matix.)
Number of fonts supplied.
A great many different formats are used for graphics files, which have evolved over the years. The term 'file format" refers to the way in which a graphic is stored in a computer file. Different programs use differentformats to store thefiles they create.
These entries show you the main ones which each package can import (cope with) or export (produce). The entries here should enable you to deterrnine whether you can swap graphical images between two or more of the packages you want to use.
The sect on 'Using Graphics Files and Images' gives rnore details on this subject. For extra information, you are recommended to consult Graphics File Formats by David C.Kay and John R.Levine, Windcrest/McGraw-Hill, 1992.
It is sometimes adequate to use cut-and-paste for transferring graphics images between applications on a simple machine: this saves you the trouble of choosing a graphicsfile format for the exchange. OLE is another method by which graphics objects may be embedded in a presentation.
| AI | Adobe Illustrator | PCT | MAC PICT |
| BMP | Windows | PCX | CorelPHOTOPAINT |
| CDR | CorelDRAW | PFB | AdobeType 1 Font |
| CGM | Computer Graphics Metafile | PIC | Lotus PIC |
| DRW | Micrographx Draw | SCD | MatrixlImapro SCODL |
| DXF | AutoCAD DXF | SUN | Sun raster file |
| EPS | Encapsulated PostScript | TGATARGA | Bitmaps |
| GEM | GEM Files | TIFF | Bitmaps |
| GIF | Compuserve Bitmaps | TTF | TrueType Fonts |
| HPGL | HP Plotter language | WMF | Windows Metafile |
| JPEG | JPEG Bitmaps | WPG | WordPerfect Graphic |
| PCD | Kodak Photo-CD | XWD | X-windows dump |
Is 'Yes' if the package can show a sequence of images, either under control or unattended, to support a talk or as an unattended demonstration.
Is 'Yes' if you can store general attributes without specific data, to act as templates for future productions; otherwise 'No'.
Is 'Yes' if the package includes a library of graphics images for inclusion in your charts, otherwise 'No'.
Is 'Yes' if you can tell the package to save your work every so often, or 'No' if you have to remember to save it yourself.
Is 'Yes' if the package supports the internationally recognised Pantone system of specifying colours, otherwise 'No'. This feature is particularly important if you need to get the best output from bureaux.
Most Windows and Macintosh packages rely on their host system to deal with printers etc. Any extra facilities provided by individual packages are listed in this secdon, an example of this might be a 35mm type driver.
Either 'Yes' or 'No' - indicates whether or not you can edit your data within a package before display.
Can be 'No', 'simple' (meaning that you can do simple transformations of data), or 'complex' (if you can carry out complex calculations on the data before displaying it - calculations such as those which you can perform in spreadsheets).
Tells you if a change to the data or alteration of the graph is automatically represented by an update of the other (i.e. the data or the graphical display)
Is either 'Yes' or 'No', to indicate whether a package can calculate statistical inforrnation about your data - such as mean and standard deviation.
Indicates the number of variables the package can handle.
Indicates the number of data points for each variable that the package can handle.
Indicates what the package does with missing values in your data. Packages with statistical capability tend to do something sensible with such cases, while other packages might ignore them or substitute a special value.
Indicates that data interpolation methods are available in the package. These vary and only a general indication is given, reference to the documentation should be made for more specific details.
The cell entries may be 'No', '2D', '3D', '2D+3D'.
2D indicates support for 2D data. - i.e. parametric interpolation etc., similarly 3D indicates support for 3D data - i.e. irregular data converted to regular grid etc.
Indicates if error bars supported - applies to line charts. Entries may be 'No', 'X-axis', 'Y-axis', 'Both'. Sometimes error-bars are also applied to other types of graphs, in such cases an entry (R) will appear in the 'Graph Type' cell., i.e. a bar/column chart supporting error-bars would have an (R) entry.
Shows there are curve fitting options. These vary and only an indication 'Yes' or 'No' is given, reference to the documentation should be made for more specific details.
Indicates if maths functions be plotted direcdy, for example from an equation. Entry is 'Yes' or 'No'
Indicates that adjustment of the viewing position for 3-D graphical objects supported. Entry is 'Yes' or 'No'.
If the value of data points be displayed by clicking at a position on the graph entry is 'Yes' otherwise 'No'
The Axis topics refer to the actual line which makes up the axis, and the positioning of axes.
The Axis labelling topics refer to the various text items with which you can embellish an axis.
The Tick mark topics concern the appearance and labelling of the tick marks along the axis.
Is 'Yes' if the package allows you to adjust the size of the chart, otherwise 'No'. It is useful if you can do this: while it won't make any difference to what you see on the screen, you get the best quality when adding a graphic to a printed document if you get its size right in the graphics package, rather than having to adjust its size in the printed document.
Gives you an idea of what backgrounds you can add to your chart. The main choices are 'coloured' (a plain coloured background), 'bitmap' (meaning that you can import a picture, logo or other graphic to have as a chart background), 'pattern' (to have the package generate a background pattern), or 'graduated' (for a variably-shaded background). The presence of a background facility in a package doesn't tell you if it is 'easy' or 'difficult', just 'possible'.
Is 'Yes' if the package allows you to put a frame around the chart, otherwise 'No'.
Is 'Yes' if the package lets you create and group several charts on a single page, otherwise 'No'.
The range of styles and widths are indicated by a general indication :-
1 ---- no choice
<5 --- limited to five or less choices
5+ --- more than 5, reasonably unlimited
If the package allows the user to produce a customised linestyle or
variable width a (u) is added after the entry.
Shows you how many different symbols a package can use in a chart. The range is :-
1 ---- no choice
<5 limited to five or less choices,
5+ more than 5, reasonably unlimited
If the package allows the user to produce a customised symbol or
change the size of an existing symbol a (u) is added after the entry.
Tells you the sort of fill styles which the package supports, for
example to fill an area such as the segment of a pie chart or the area
under a line graph. The range is :
C ---- Coloured Solid fill
G ---- Graduated fill
P ---- Pattern or Hatch fill
B ---- Bitmap texturing
M ---- Fill area may be patterned with repeating Symbols
If the package allows the user to produce a customised fill pattern a (u) is added after the entry.
Gives you an idea of how many different colours are pre-defined in package. Colour range is more important in Creative graphics, a large range of simultaneously available colours is necessary to create realistic effects. The actual range of colours may be lirnited by the Graphics Card, in which cases dithering may be used Additionally the user may be allowed the specify their own colour choice from a palette. in such cases a (u) is added after the entry. This will almost always be the case for Creative Graphics facilities.
Most of he entries in this section of the matrix are self-explanatory, just indicanng the presence or absence in a package of the rnost useful creative graphics tools. Many of these items are illustrated in Figures 7 and 86 in chapter 4, others are listed below.
This allows the line thickness to be varied with the speed at which you move the mouse or by other such methods
This section of the Matrix covers the available attributes of the graphical objects that may appear in a presentation. They are the 'Creative' counterpart of the 'Chart Object Attributes' in a data driven graphical chart. In composite packages they may in fact be the same facility.
The number of transparent separate planes on which objects can be placed. The range may be unlimited for many packages.
The range of styles and widths are indicated by a general
indication :-
1 ---- no choice
<5 --- limited to five or less choices
5+ --- more than 5, reasonably unlimited
If the package allows the user to produce a customised linestyle or variable width a (u) is added after the entry.
Tells you the sort of fill styles which the package supports, for
example to fill an area such as the segment of a pie chart or the area
under a line graph. The range is :
C ----- Coloured Solid fill
G ----- Graduated fill
P ----- Pattern or Hatch fill
B ----- Bitmap texturing
M ----- Column/Bar type graphs may be substituted by Symbols
If the package allows the user to produce a customised fill pattern a (u) is added after the entry.
Gives you an idea of how many different colours are pre-defined in package. Colour range is more important in Creative graphics, a large range of simultaneously available colours is necessary to create realistic effects. The actual range of colours may be limited by the Graphics Card, in which cases dithering may be used. Additionally the user may be allowed the specify their own colour choice from a palette. in such cases a (u) is added after the entry. This will almost always be the case for Creative Graphics facilities.
This section of the Matrix covers the special effects that ma be applied lo graphical objects
Two objects can be blended through a series of steps. Objects for example could be lines of different width, different polygon shapes or simply two objects of different colour.
A selected object can have a number of concentric shapes radiating away from or towards the object's centre. This could for instance be used for a graduated fill.
Envelopes allow you to distort the shape of an object or group of objects.
This command allows you to project surfaces from an object to give it a three dimensional appearance.
Graphics Multimedia Virtual Environments Visualisation Contents