Software Reviews : Graphwriter 4.3 Staff review Publisher: Graphic Communication Inc.,200 Fifth Avenue,Waltham,MA 02254 (telephone: [phone]) Year of Publication: Version 4.3,1985;orig. 1983 Materials: Locked program disk with capacity to make one backup;nine additional unlocked program disks;426-page manual in three-ring binder,case;24-page Format Selection Guide booklet;22-page Instant Graphwriter booklet;set of chart-preparation worksheet xerox masters Price: $595;a "Basic" version with limited functions is available for $395,though upgrade to the "Extended" set of functions then costs another $395 Machine 5peciricity: IBM PC / XT / AT System Requirements: 192K memory without and 256K memory with printer plots;two 360K disk drives;IBM or Hercules graphics card (note: the Hercules card doesn't allow output to an image recorder);printer,plotter,and/or Polaroid Palette slidemaker recommended. Effectiveness: Excellent User-Friendliness: Good Documentation: Excellent

Abstract

This is a complex graphics package capable of making presentation-quality charts and signs of many varieties. Though three-dimensional graphics are not supported, a wide range of bar charts, pie charts, line charts, scatterplots, and text fonts are. Moreover, the user has almost total control over the placement and variation of graph elements, including font, color, location, rotation, size, page orientation, and symbols. Data may be input from spreadsheets or databases which use the STLK or DiF interchange formats, such as Lotus I-2-3 and VisiCalc. This package could eliminate the need for professional artwork in many publishing situations, not to mention aid faculty in preparing outstanding visuals for presentations.