Re: RFE for scigraphica

> Xmgrace can do really nice stuff, but I share your view it's not easy
> to use well.  Also look at dislin.

I agree that xmgrace can do nice stuff, the final result is good, and it
is why I use it. I have given a look at dislin, but it is only a set
libraries, isn't it? No gui to create a graph, so for me it is not an
option.

On the other hand, there are irritating limitations in xmgrace:
- the i/o of data is really rustic. No copy/paste from/to other
applications. Importing data sets is a nightmare.
- you cannot insert images
- you have to define the size of your graph before starting, and it is
not easy to change after. And the zoom is linked to the size of the
graph (it is going to change in the next version I think)
- XY graphs cannot share the X (or Y) axis
- the sets are attached to a graph, and that is a bad concept. A set is
a content, a graph is only a representation of this set. We should be
able to show the same set in different graphs. In Scigraphica, there is
a clear distinction between data sets and plots.
- not sure the "XY set" concept of xmgrace is the right paradigm. I
prefer the way it is done in Scigraphica: the smallest object is a
column, and you can plot XY or XYZ or whatever charts from these
columns.
- you only have one sheet per xmgrace experiment file
- you cannot easily select and move the objects in the sheet (title,
axis title, text object, legend, ...)
- the UI is archaic, it really needs to be ported to GTK.
- there are almost no 3D possibilities

These limitations are deep and it would require to rewrite a large part
of the software. And the author does not seem to be open to deep
changes, so for me it is a dead project in the long run.
I put more hope in Scigraphica that is constructed on a robust basis,
but the project will have to change its management and marketing
aspects.

	Frédéric


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