#Spreadsheets
27 messages in this thread
Michael,
I have concentrated on the spreadsheet 'engine' itself so far (over a year
now) and have that almost ready. I've just started getting into the
graphics part. I know I've got a LOT of work to do there, but I have many
ideas in my head… (grin)
The spreadsheet part is _very_ powerful and FAST… as I'm sure my beta
testers will confirm. 😉
Khalid.
Khalid:
Well, best of luck with the new program… I can't wait to see it.
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
I can certainly confirm that 🙂 Even on an A1000, with no hardware math
support, it is fast.
Mike (Whapping from the UK)
Khalid,
I humorously suggested to a friend the other day a spreadsheet that could
save charts as 3-D objects. I know that would mostly be a novelty use but
I might use it as an Arexx tutorial.
Gerard Menendez
How about a spreaddsheet that builds and saves graphs in ANIM format?
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Michael, that is a good idea, actually…. (grin)
Khalid.
I have done some spreadsheet graphic anims. I wanted to plot how the yield
difference among government bonds of various maturities (aka the Yield
Curve) has changed over the past ten years. MS-DOS spreadsheets allowed
macros to display multiple graphs but in a slideshow, not an animation,
context.
I printed the tabular yield data to a file and brought it into the Amiga
via CrossDOS. I wrote an Arexx macro to read that file and convert the
data points into appropriate screen coordinates for my graph. Using
DigiPaint I drew a graph background as my base image then extended the
macro to include the appropriate DigiPaint Arexx drawing commands. The
Arexx macro drew each line on the base image and saved each frame before
drawing the next. Once I got the kinks worked out I fed the whole mess 10
years worth of monthly data and let it crank. I used the PD MAKEANIM to
assemble the frames. Worked beautifully and made for a fairly interesting
view of some otherwise dry data.
HAM mode was wasteful in terms of processing time and resulting ANIM size
but at the time DigiPaint was the only paint package with Arexx support. I
put it to good use though by including a vibrant blue gradient fill
background to the graph. It made for a very professional appearance.
So….my 2 cents: Spreadsheet anims have some use. Also, existing Amiga
'sheets have IFF export ability. You migh provide IFF *IMPORT* ability to
allow snazzy backgrounds to your graphics and even the tabular worksheet
data. — Art
Art,
I hate you.
No, really, I'm impressed with not just your vision, but your ability to
implement it. How about writing an arexx module to do just what you've
described. Instead of Khalid allowing his spreadsheet to import iff images
as backgrounds, it would be great to have an arexx script that took data
from any spreadsheet, and used MAKEANIM to animate it on the background of
your choice. Is this possible?
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Michael, I see nothing to stop you from using my spreadsheet's macro/ARexx
facilities to built sophisticated graphs. (well, other than the fact that
it's still a few months away from release 🙂
Khalid.
"…nothing to stop [me] from using [your] spreadsheet's macro/ARexx
facilities…"
Other than the fact that I couldn't tell you the difference between ARexx
and T-Rex? 🙂
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Michael … although ARexx can be a programming language, it is principally
a unified method of passing messages from program to program. As far as
having two ARexx-equipped applications is concerned, you can do as much as
you like without ever knowing a thing about the ARexx language!
All you need to know is what the commands are within the applications ..
now, if only HiSoft Basic had an ARexx port, it would be so very easy even
to write your own ARexx-driven programs 🙂
Mike (Whapping from the UK)
Mike:
Thanks for the ARexx info… I think 🙂
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Michael, you don't need to learn much about ARexx. In fact, very little.
Most of the commands are quite simple and logical. It's harder to learn
Lotus macros, in fact.
Khalid.
> It's harder to learn Lotus macros…
And it's MUCH more difficult to understand Lotus macros.
Over the flight pattern… – via Whap!
Are you not in touch with the publishers of HiSOFT? Have you asked them to
include AREXX in their upcoming release? Know any more about when 2.0 will
be released?
Betty
Yes, I am in touch with the HiSoft crowd … and I have already suggested
an ARexx interface but was told that nobody could possiby ever want such a
feature! (admittedly that was some time ago 🙂
I might rattle their cage again and see what is happening.
As for release of 2.0 … it was supposed to out a while ago, but still
hasn't made it … the only response I can get on that question is that it
is still not even ready for testing.
Mike (Whapping from the UK)
Frankly Khalid, I wish I had the ability to write that module for you…
(an animated graphing feature for a top notch spreadsheet)… it would be a
very impressive business presentation tool.
I really envy pianists, painters and programmers!
– Whapping from the North Coast Michael
Khalid,
saving in Anim format could have some nice uses!
Brian J. Bartlett
Will this spreadsheet have the "3-d" capabilities like Lotus 3.3 or Quattro
Pro 3.0–allowing users to link multiple spread sheets in calculations?
Craig Glaser (Software Etc Milwaukee) – via Whap!
Craig, suffice it to say that I haven't overlooked the importance of that
feature. (grin)
Khalid.
Oh yeah. 3D surface plots. I love surface plots. QPro does 3d graphs but
they fall into the "cute, but superfluous" category. Surface plots are
sorely lacking, IMHO. — Art
Excellent idea! Hmmm. Good video project.
Gerard Menendez
I'd buy this one, too!
Jonathan
Jonathan – from Albany, NY, via whap!
Why is saving a chart or graph as a 3D object humorous? Can you see the
applications? An AWESOME presentation tool to be combined with the Toaster,
Sculpt 4D, etc. I think it's a great idea.
Khalid, are you listening?
Darin
– via Whap!
I think that idea of a spreadsheet that could interface with a paint or
rendering engine sounds amazing. I purchased BGraphics for presentations,
and ended up heavily doctoring the crude graphics it produces…how about
something with included AREXX modules to do the data/file transfers for
applications that recognize AREXX – or even those that don't. Make users
buy them ala carte – I can just imagine one for Lightwave or for Imagine –
it would make for a presentation that could actually keep an entire
audience awake! Of course, it would leave Studio 3D users completely
envious as well..
Jonathan
Jonathan – from Albany, NY, via whap!
Actually I paused when I got to that word and said "uhhh, uhhh, hmmm",
gave up and typed humorous. I've started using it as an Arexx tutorial for
myself but I've got along way to go with that tool.
Gerard Menendez
I'd buy this hypothetical product….
Jonathan
Jonathan – from Albany, NY, via whap!