Conference hydra::amiga_v1

    Re .0:
    
    I don't know enough about Maxiplan to make a judgement.  Superplan is
    an adequate spreadsheet that provides a number of nice extensions
    (graphic displays, GANTT charting, critical path calculation, and
    basic "sideways" printing capabilities).
    
    I have pretty specific needs that Superplan's spreadsheet capabilities
    fall short on.  (As a spreadsheet, Superplan is a step backwards from
    Multiplan on the C=128, but it compensates for its lack of elegance
    with greater capacity and speed, not to mention the other features that
    I noted above.)
    
    Bottom line:  I would recommend Superplan for general use, but I'd warn
    "power users" to try it out before purchasing it.

    
    Re .0:
    
    I have Maxiplan III (Maxiplan and Maxiplan Plus have been rolled up
    into a single product "Maxiplan III").  I'm quite happy with it but
    never looked at any of the others so I can't compare.  I use it for
    some financial modeling (personal use) and tracking.  I'm not a
    power user.   Even with it's faults I think it's a very good product
    for the money.
    
    . It multitasks very nicely
    . It has 70+ functions
    . It has a built in macro language
    . Does database operations (sorts, searches, extracts, etc)
    . produces lots of nice charts and graphs (limitations on how you
        lable the axis).  You can save as IFF files.  User can add text
        to the graph.
    . speaks to you (recites cell contents, and/or cell notes, if you like)
    . does gantt charts (IMO - very crudely. A new feature and needs work)
    . has a new presentation mode (a storyboard approach) where you present
        slides which are superimposed on any IFF picrure used as a backdrop
        and can optionaly sampled sounds at the same time.
    . Built in, Import/Export to Lotus-123
    . 4, 8, or 16 colors
    . 2 screen resolutions (24 lines, 44 lines)
    . Supports ARexx interface
    . Cut/Paste to the system clipboard
    . Selective viewing of cells in the spreadsheet, called "outlining"
        which is roughly like layering in a CAD drawing program.
    . Does NOT support sideways printing but it's announced for the next
        release.
    . On line help available
    
    
    Maxiplan III is developed and now distributed by Intuitive
    Technologies. It replaces Maxiplan and Maxiplan Plus (from Oxxi) and
    Plan/IT from BEST.   I think Intuitive is trying to make a good
    product but it typically takes em' several tries to get some things
    right.
    
    Frank
    

    I'm using Plan/IT, one of the ancestors of Maxiplan III.  It has most
    of the features described in .2; the only one I don't recognize is the
    new presentation mode.  I used to use it for all of my database work,
    but I converted one huge spreadsheet to Superbase/Pro.  It was my
    checkbook journal, which got over 1000 lines long by the end of the
    year.
    
    You didn't describe your needs in much detail, so it's hard for us to
    give advice.  I don't know anything about MS WORD.  I suggest you go
    to a well-stocked dealer and read the manuals for the various
    spreadsheets available.  A good dealer will let you try a package at
    home for a couple of weeks and trade up if you find it inadequate for
    your needs.  You might find MicroFiche Filer suits you perfectly, for
    example.
        John Sauter

    re -1 
    a good dealer would let you try it at home for .......
    	Not any I know of! If they did what would they do with the package
    you returned? I hope it would not go back on the shelf.I saw another
    package DbMan V. It supposed to be very dbase compatable but I do
    not think it supports graphics,and sound.MicroFiche filer,or 
    MicroFiche Filer Plus may well do what you want. Try to get a demo
    from a dealer,also if you want their are a home,business template
    package ready to go.This would help offset any learning curve.
    							bill

    
    Re .3
    
    John,
    
    Are you aware that as a Plan/IT owner, Intuitive will update you to
    Maxiplan III for FREE?   You have to send in your original Plan/IT
    disk and request the update.
    
    Frank
    

    re: .5---No, I wasn't.  Where do I send the disk?
        John Sauter

    
    re .6
    
    John,
    
    Intuitive Technologies
    1199 Forest Ave - Suite 264
    Pacific Grove, CA 93950
      (408) 646-9147
    
    I had received a Newsletter back in early November describing the
    update policy.  In a nutshell -
    
    Maxiplan/Maxiplan Plus owners upgrade to Maxiplan III for $40
    Plan/IT upgrade to Maxiplan III for FREE
    
    The theory is, Plan/IT wasn't out long and you just laid out money
    for it either by purchasing it or upgraded to it from Maxiplan for $40
    
    I'd at least give em' a call if I were you.
    
    Frank
    

    Are any of these spreadsheets able to produce reasonable 
    bar/pie/line/comparison graphs in either Dot matrix or Postscript
    format....?
    
    Phil_who_is_in_the_market_for_a_good_spreadsheet_too!
    
    

    Re .8:
    
>   Are any of these spreadsheets able to produce reasonable 
>   bar/pie/line/comparison graphs in either Dot matrix or Postscript
>   format....?
    
    SuperPlan opens a window to put such critters in and it can print them
    (to dot matrix printers) or write them to disk as .iff files.  You can
    control the size/location of the window without eating up precious real
    estate on the spreadsheet itself.
    
    I've only had one opportunity to play with MaxiPlan.  It also has a
    graphing capability, but I haven't seen it in operation so I can't
    comment further.

    re: .7---Thanks, I'll contact them.
    
    re: .8, .9---I find the MaxiPlan and Plan/IT graphing adequate for
    business-type presentations, but it isn't enough for scientific work.
    It writes an IFF file that is essentially a screen dump.  You will
    need to edit the result before printing it or including it in a
    document, to get rid of the screen gadgets.
        John Sauter

    Gold Disk says their "Advantage" spreadsheet is shipping to dealers
    now.
    
    They offer to upgrade you from any other spreadsheet for $100U.S. or
    $125 Canadian.  Send them the front cover from your "other" spreadsheet
    manual with the money.
    
    I don't have much other info, except:
    -ad says "the most powerful spreadsheet available for Amiga today"
    -claims to be faster than Maxiplan
    -claims to have more functions than Maxiplan
    -will import 123 and maxiplan, outputs 123
    -16 color graphs, will ouput as IFF or as a "clip" suitable for use
    with Professional Page
    
    If anyone gets their hands on it, would be interested to hear your
    comments.  Mine is on order.

    I picked up Advantage the other day. So far it looks ok. I don't
    know how to use a data base yet,but I printed a 3D bar chart out
    on my citizen 24 pin printer,and the result was quite good.I read
    in the docs on disk that 123 compatability was missing on some 
    functions. I do not know enough about these to expand on them.
    It seems fast,and I think anyone that has used a spreadsheet before
    will be right at home. It also came with a disk full of examples,and
    templates.Of course this is the first release,and Gold Disk has
    the reputation of constantly upgrading. The main reason I chose\
    Advantage was it supports PPage,Pdraw,and transcript.
    							bill
     

    
    
    OK, It's been a year since this note. SO what has change? 

        I need a spreadsheet to keep track of my business taxes.  I use 
    Multiplan (MS-Dos Rainbow) now and it works fine for what I need. I 
    would like to change to the Amiga system.  My need is that I would
    like to have a external copy command (like multiplan).

    ie.  To copy a cell or line from a difference spreadsheet and place
    that cell/line in the one I'm working in.

    ie.  Q1 1991  totals    In multiplan, I just name the totals "Totals"
         Q2 1991  totals
         Q3 1991  totals
         Q4 1991  totals
    ---------------------
    1991 totals  $$$$$$ +/-  In multiplan, I external/copy "totals"

    The Q? 1991 totals would be external/copied and put in the 1991 totals
    file. Then used for my tax information. 
      So what spreadsheet program will do this? 

    Thanks  Bob

    Re .13:
    
>       I need a spreadsheet to keep track of my business taxes.  I use 
>   Multiplan (MS-Dos Rainbow) now and it works fine for what I need. I 
>   would like to change to the Amiga system.  My need is that I would
>   like to have a external copy command (like multiplan).
    
    I haven't used the feature, but I believe SuperPlan will do it. 
    (SuperPlan and SuperBase will also exchange data using their ARexx
    ports, should you need to get serious about all this.)  I use SuperPlan
    for both my personal taxes and for the trust that I administer.
    
    I moved from Multiplan to SuperPlan also.  The main thing I miss from
    Multiplan is the way it handles naming, such that formulas can use the
    implied intersection between the current row/col and a named col/row. 
    For example, my income tax spreadsheet used to name the rows according
    to the lines on the tax form.  For each column (myself, my wife, joint,
    #1 son, #2 son) the formula would look like (Line_7 - Line_5) without
    having to give actual row/column cell names.  Sigh...
    
    (Of course, tax forms have a bad habit of adding/deleting lines between
    years, so subsequent years needed LOTS of editing to get the line names
    & formulae right.)

    Superplan will, indeed, do what you want.  I use that technique to
    accumulate the days away from Birmingham because the county only
    requires you to pay occupations tax on the days you actually work in
    the county.  I have a cell on each expense report called 'DAYSAWAY'
    which is referenced from a master sheet to add the days out-of-county
    for each week in the year for tax purposes.
    
    Tony