struct "scripts", which essentially are little programs, using a built-in language that can be used for repetitive graphing operations and/or mathematical operations. An additional useful feature is the ability to perform a true weighted least-squares fii with user-supplied uncertainties. (Not all plotting software packages have this feature.) Weighted least squares is available through the general curvefit procedure outlined above. If you prefer a toolbar with graphical icons for operations, you are going to be disappointed with KaleidaGraph. All sesections are made via menus, but this requires only a few additional clicks of the mouse. Instead, KaleidaGraph includes a toolbar of icons for adding and modifying plot labels, moving graphics, creating tables, etc. To sum up, this two-dimensional plotting-and-analysis package is very well done and contains most of the plotting features and curve-fitting, statistics, and data analysis tools that you will need for many applications. The price is about half that of competitive programs although they generally supply the three-dimensional plotting that is not available with KaleidaGraph Reviewed by Pete Poston, Western Oregon State College, Monmouth, and Joel Harris, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
SOFTWARE RELEASED Hyphen FemtoScan 7026 Commerce Park Dr., #2 Midvale, UT 84047 801-568-6788; fax 801-568-6821 Version 1.0; $2000
Hyphen ii designed to aaquire, ,rocesss and report information from hyphenated analytical instruments. Features include
cess data from hyphenated instruments as the data are being acquired in near real time; view multidimensional hyphenated data in a number of different display formats; manipulate multidimensional data; and report multidimensional data for subsequent use via direct data display, clipboard transfer, or raster-based printers. It operates under Windows 3.1 wiih Win32s extensions and Windows 95; Windows 3.1 drivers are available for popular data acquisition boards.
TecPlot Amtec Engineering P.O. Box 3633 Bellevue, WA 98009-3633 206-827-3304; fax 206-827-3989; www.amtec.com Version 7.0
the equation that best fits the data from a built-in set of over 3,600 functions. Users can also enter their own functions that can then be fitted and ranked along with the built-in equations. Features include local regression estimation, spline fitting, and smooth spline estimation with seven different spline options, five different residuals, graph formats, output of function and test code, and report generation. Files can be imported in ASCII, Excel, Lotus, Quattro Pro, SigmaPlot dBASE, or DIF format, and exported in ASCII, Excel, Lotus, Quattro, SigmaPlot, or Harvard Graphics format System requirements include a PC with a 486/33 processor 8 MB RAM ,nd a math coprocessor running Windows 95 Windows 3 1 or Windows NT
PeakFit Jandel Scientific Software 2591 Kerner Blvd. San Rafael, CA 94901 415-453-6700; fax 415-453-7769; www.jandel.com Version 4.0 $495; $149 upgrade
TecPlot data visualization software is designed for visualizing and plotting large amounts of data. A wide selection of viewing options, including wire-mesh plots, contour lines, vector fields, light-source shaded plots, and numerous x-y plots, are avaiiable. Multiblock, curvilinear grids can be used to accurately model real-life objects, and unPeakFii automated peak separation and structured finite-element grids, 3-D surface analysis software can be used to smooth, and volumetric modeling, animation, and separate, fit, and analyze up to 100 overlapdata manipulation are also available. TecPlot ping peaks using one of three methods: runs on UNIX workstations under Motif residuals, second derivative, or deconvoluand on PCs running Windows 3.x, Wintion. Automation can be overridden using a dows 95 and Windows NT. fully graphical interface. Features include five different methods foo rata amoothing and manipulation and the ability to view TableCurve 2D results graphically and output customizable Jandel Scientific Software numeric reports. Files can be imported in 2591 Kerner Blvd. ASCII, Excel, Lotus, Quattro Pro, SigSan Rafael, CA 94901 maPlot, AIA Chromatography, dBASE, , r 415-453-6700; fax 415-453-7769; DIF format, and exported in ASCII, Excel, www.jandel. com QuattroPro Lotus or SigmaPlot format Version 4.0 System requirements include PC with a 486 $495; $149 upgrade processor 8 MB RAM and a math ccproTableCurve 2D automated two-dimensional cessor running Windows 95 Windows 3 1 or Windows NT curve fitting program can be used to locate Analytical Chemistry News & Features, March 1, 1997 183 A
