Decent histogramming software needed

[kalen]

Since there are lots of smrt people lurking on this site, I figure I can get some good leads.

I am now doing some data analysis (geochem) on Windows computers, and I need a good software package to do my job as efficiently as possible.

In particular, I have data in Excel (and some in MS Access) and I'd like to generate some histograms. I'd also like to be able to fit the resulting histograms with any user-defined function that I choose. I would also like to have the resulting graphic suitable for presentation in a report.

I have tried some packages, but so far have had no luck. I'm trying to balance usability and cost. The price isn't the most important factor. I'd shell out if I get some value. Some of my findings so far:

Straight-up Excel: Ugh. The histogram option gives a bar chart. The automatic binning just gives intervals of |max-min|/nbins.

XLStat: An add-on to Excel. I've downloaded the trial version, and now a window pops up when I start Excel, and also when I close Excel. Also, when I double click on a file in windows explorer now, XLstat somehow interferes, and I get a blank worksheet. When I finally get the data up, the histograms come out half decent. For fitting, a list of about 20 functions are available. Not sure if I can fit a user-defined function. price: over $400USD.

Kaleidagraph: Opens up an Excel file fine. Makes a nice looking histogram. However, when one wants to change the scale of the x-axis, or fit a function to the distribution, I'm told by the company's support that I have to create an x-y graph, choose a bar chart option, and then widen out the bars, etc, etc. So much for efficiency. Price: about $200USD.

Originpro 8: I just got the trial version. the learning curve seems a little steeper for this one. I get a nice histogram. Haven't figured out how to fit it yet. Is it worth the price: about $1000USD?

Surely there is a good program out there. Any and all comments are appreciated.

If there is a Linux-based program - feel free to suggest that, too.

[Wowbagger]

Wish I could help better than this. But, the charting package I have been using, most recently, is the Telerik RadChart for WinForms. ( http://www.telerik.com/products/winforms/chart.aspx ) It does a lot of nice stuff, but:

1. You will need C# or VB.NET to program it. (You could use the Express editions of VS2008, if you do not already have it.)

2. It only seems to come in a suite of controls that costs $1,000.

[BigAl]

I have little experience with charts and you clearly do, but take a look at OpenOffice (openoffice.org).

The price is right.

[Wudang]

A little outside my area but in case they help

http://www.geocities.com/dsteppan/ExcelTop.html
http://www.treeplan.com/BetterHistogram_20041117_1555.htm

[kalen]

Thanks for the leads, but: What is this "charting" you all speak of?

Anyway, Telerik RadChart for WinForms looks like a package for business-type things. Listing "negative values" as a feature is a red flag. I need something a scientist can relate to.

Steppan's page is a compendium of little Excel VB things. There's one that addresses the overly simple binning that Excel uses.

I've seen the Middleton (treeplan) page before. It basically outlines all the hoops one has to jump through to get a proper histogram while using Excel. While one wants a proper histo, this is exactly the kind of Excel-based time-wasting activity I want to avoid!

I like the idea of trying Open Office. I will do that tonight. I'm curious about it's automatic binning algorithm.

[kalen]

I didn't like the Open Office "charting". I cannot select an entire single column by clicking on it. I selected some data and the histogram that came up had what looked like a single bin.

Like I said, I don't want to have to go through a lot of steps to get a single histogram. I want to be able to quickly generate them, look at them, and print them out. I have a lot of data to look at.

[MortFurd]

You might take a look R:
http://www.r-project.org/

Specifically for mathematical/statistical analysis.

There's an Excel plugin, too:
http://rcom.univie.ac.at/server/doc/RExcel.html

[ingoa]

If you are doing science root is the way to go. No easy, but cheap.
http://root.cern.ch/drupal/