The Coordinator has asked me to provide descriptions of four Macintosh software products that may be useful to the readers of the INQUA Working Group on Data Handling Methods. The software is written and marketed entirely by me. The software is available at the above address. Make $US checks payable to: Pierre A. Zippi. Add $10 US for shipping and handling to the total order.
Ternary Plot, Vector Rose and Counter have been on the market for approximately 4 years; Strat/Range Charter for 6 months. Listings can be found in "The Macintosh Product Directory", Redgate Communications Corp.
STRAT/RANGE CHARTER 1.0
Stratigraphic range charts and statistical data preparation.
Strat/Range Charter 1.0 is a stratigraphic range charting application that can create large range chart diagrams and ordered species lists from text files containing lists of unique species numbers for each sample horizon. Diagrams can be saved as MacDraw PICT or transferred via the clipboard to any drawtype application. Text and graphic elements are MacDraw-like objects and can be edited with any PICT draw-type application.
Strat/Range Charter accepts data created with any word processor or text editor and saved as ordinary text files. A data file is a series of records, or sample horizons. A data record is structured as a sample label followed by a list of species found in that sample. Sequences of samples are plotted in their order of occurrence in the data file. An option is available to reverse the sequence. This produces a relative or sequential scale. Arithmetic or equal spaced scales can be easily created.
Diagrams can be sorted by tops, bases, or by the unique species number. Presence/absence charts or total range (range-through) charts can be plotted. Grid lines can be added and the grid line spacing can be specified.
Presence/absence data is plotted with a bullet symbol (default), or any keyboard symbol available in the selected font style can be embedded with the data and plotted to indicate abundance, questionable occurrences, reworked specimens, etc.
Diagrams can be scaled at nine sizes. From large poster-sized diagrams to very small charts that can viewed entirely on screen. Any font (type-face) installed in the computer system file can be used to display charts and lists.
A list of species is compiled for each data file. Species lists can be ordered alphabetically or by unique species number.
Separate range charts can be created from the same data file by coding separate types of data with a unique prefix. For example, within the same data file "s110A" could indicate that a spore taxon with the unique species number 110 is present in abundance, while "d110?" could indicate a questionable occurrence of a dinoflagellate species. All unique species numbers, prefix and suffix codes are user defined.
Multiple species libraries can be maintained for different types of information. That is, separate libraries can be maintained for foraminifera, dinoflagellates, spores, pollen, etc., or categories can be combined (e.g. all terrestrial palynomorphs in one library and marine palynomorphs in another).
Species libraries can be used to create a database. Or, species libraries can be created or updated by exporting species names and numbers from an existing species database. Several database layouts (forms or structures) are provided with the application.
Strat/Range Charter 1.0 also prepares presence/absence data matrices and ranked event data which can be used with other statistical software packages for multivariate and nonparametric analysis, respectively.
Strat/Range Charter 1.0 is designed to be integrated with computer database and graphics applications. Along with a PICT-type graphics application and a database application, Strat/Range Charter is the keystone element in an integrated stratigraphic range charting computer solution.
A PICT-type graphics application such as Claris MacDraw IITM or Deneba CanvasTM and/or a database such as Claris FileMaker ProTM may be bundled or offered with each sale.
All Macintoshes. MultiFinder compatible, and System 7 compatible. Price: $1250 US retail. Instructional services and database integration are available on a per day basis (before July, 1992).
COUNTER 1.0
Utilize the computer keyboard as an expanded mechanical counter.
Counter 1.0 uses the Macintosh keyboard to emulate a mechanical point counter. Scientists and technicians use Counter to count anything from blood cells to mineral grains.
The counts (data) are saved as a tab-delimited text file, which is easily imported into spreadsheets such as ExcelTM, or statistical applications such as StatviewTM, etc.
Counter 1.0 features an unlimited number of counts and automatic totaling. An audible click indicates that each count is registered. A different audible tone sounds at each multiple of 100 counts. Erroneous counts can be subtracted from any key. Counting keys reset to zero with a single button click.
Additional features:
7 keyboard configurations for counting, i.e:
-numbers, 0-9 only (10 keys)
-single key, zero key (1 key)
-lower case, a-z only (26 keys)
-upper & lower case, a-Z (52 keys)
-all alpha-numerics, 0-9+a-Z (62 keys)
-blood count, numeric keys 1-8 with 9 as a non-totalizing key.
-full screen, 190 key combinations (all keys, shift + option).
Counter 1.0 sells for $100 US. If you doubt the value, remember that an old style 5 slot mechanical counter sells for over $300 and your data still must be typed into the computer!
All Macintoshes. MultiFinder compatible, and System 7 compatible. Price: $100 US retail. PC version available too!
TERNARY PLOT 3.5
Ternary plotting (triangular diagrams) with text and graphics tools.
Ternary Plot 3.5 is a graphic plotting application that normalizes and plots three values on a triangular diagram. Diagrams can be saved as MacDraw PICT or transferred via the clipboard to any draw-type application. Text and graphic elements are MacDraw-like objects and can be edited with a draw-type application.
Ternary diagrams can be plotted at four triangle sizes (1.3 inch, 2.6 inch and 4.2 inch sides) or any corner can be enlarged to fill the screen. An unlimited number of data sets can be plotted on the same ternary diagram. The maximum size of any single data set is limited only by the available memory (files with >2000 points can be plotted on a 1mb Mac). Data can be entered into the a ternary plot in four ways: 1) text files, 2) clipboard, 3) keyboard, and 4) created interactively by clicking the mouse pointer within the triangular area. Data entry from all sources is error checked.
A diagram title and apex labels can be added or changed at any time. All text can use subscripts and superscripts. Eleven plot symbols plus sample numbers, tie lines, and line segments can be plotted. The same data set can be plotted with symbols, numbers and tie lines to produce a plot of numbered symbols connected by lines. An apex factors option allows values for any corner to multiplied by a factor before normalization.
Drawing tools consist of lines, circles, ovals, rectangles, triangles, hexagons, and a freehand pencil. Legends can be easily created with symbols and text from the Legend option. Additional text can be placed anywhere on the diagram. Tick marks and grid lines can be specified from a dialog box.
All Macintoshes. MultiFinder, System 7, and A/UX compatible. Tested at MacWorld, Boston. Price: $150 US retail; $40 upgrade from any version.
VECTOR ROSE 2.0
Circular normal statistics and rose diagram plotting package.
Vector Rose 2.0 is an orientation analysis application that calculates vector (circular normal) statistics and plots a circular histogram for any set of angular data, or any data with a circular normal distribution. Statistics include: number of observations, maximum class frequency, %maximum class frequency, class mode, mean, standard angular deviation, resultant amplitude, vector magnitude, %vector magnitude, Rayleigh test z, and F-test. Diagrams are saved as MacDraw PICT or transferred via the clipboard to other graphics applications. Text and graphic elements are MacDraw-like objects and are fully editable with any draw-type application.
Program features include: Unidirectional or bidirectional circular (rose) histograms, class interval arcs scaled relative to modal maximum (length or equal area), or scaled relative to 100%. Axis scales may be represented as concentric circles or as a vertical line with tick marks. Variable class intervals: 1°, 2°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, and 30°. North or 0° reference can be rotated to any position. Three modes of data entry: 1) text files, 2) clipboard, or 3) keyboard. Keyboard entry of single or multiple values. All data is error checked. Text may be placed anywhere on the diagram. Help screens provide detailed information on the statistics and operation.
Vector Rose 2.0 prints high quality output to a LaserWriter or an ImageWriter. Once in a draw application, all elements of the diagram can be edited and diagrams can be re-sized or graphically enhanced.
Plotting rose diagrams by hand can be tedious and time consuming. Vector Rose 2.0 will generate publication quality output in a small fraction of the time it would take to calculate the statistics and draft the diagram by hand.
All Macintoshes. MultiFinder, System 7, and A/UX compatible. Tested at MacWorld, Boston. Price: $125 US retail; $50 upgrade from any version.