Diagraph/2000 Ver. 4.1 (Charts and Presentation Graphics) Copyright 1989 David Batterson I'm always on the lookout for good business graphics software to review. It seems that corporate PC users can't get enough of these programs. Diagraph/2000 (Ver 4.1) isn't new, but I had not heard of it until recently. It is used primarily by engineers, industrial designers, architects and draftsmen. Diagraph is not a paint program, like PC Paintbrush. It's more like a CAD program, such as DesignCAD. Rather than design, you cut and paste, using the outstanding collection of symbols and typefaces. The publisher of Diagraph, Computer Support Corporation, also makes the more sophisticated Arts & Letters (Graphics Composer and Graphics Editor), which comes in Microsoft Windows and OS/2 Presentation Manager versions. Diagraph is strictly DOS-based, and will appeal to those who don't have or relish Windows (like myself). It doesn't support a mouse, but instead uses function keys for commands, and cursor keys for moving text and graphics. Believe it or not, there are many PC users who aren't crazy about mice. These people should feel right at home with Diagraph. The manual itself is rather slim, but it does include a 10-lesson tutorial. There's plenty of onscreen, context-sensitive help too. Diagraph goes against the grain, however, by not using the normal key for help. It uses instead. There is a vast library of over 2,200 symbols included with Diagraph. At least 3000 optional symbols are available now, with more being designed. So it's most likely you'll find about any symbol you need for your design. Symbols include: Graphic Aids (like accents, boxes, arrows, stars, word balloons, borders, and geometrics--both 2-D and 3-D), Signs and Icons (including road signs, depictions of cars, transportation symbols, office and industry icons, people and sports), Pictorials (generally larger, miscellaneous artwork), and Applications (symbols for flowcharts, pie/bar/line charts, networks and office layouts). Diagraph's typefaces consist of Hardware Character Set, Modern Medium, Modern Bold, Simplex Roman, Duplex Roman, Complex Roman, Triplex Roman, Greek, Simplex Script, Complex Script, Gothic English, Complex Italic, and Triplex Italic. Note on typefaces: Hardware Character Set corresponds to the typeface used by HP Plotters. Modern Medium and Modern Bold are high-res, solid-filled Helvetica equivalents. The other 10 are Hershey typefaces, optimized for speed of drawing with proportional spacing. There are many more optional typefaces, for just about any graphics need. Don't worry about not having enough shading patterns, either. There are about 250 of those, including low, medium and high density patterns, simulated halftones, dither patterns, and raster patterns. Diagraph/2000 requires 512K RAM (640K recommended) and a graphics card; hard disk and math coprocessor are highly recommended. It supports most graphics cards/monitors, including touchscreens like the HP Touch Accessory. Most printers and plotters will work fine, including HP LaserJets (and compatibles). PostScript printers are NOT supported; however, it does work with film recorders, like the Polaroid Palette or HP Computer Image Recorder. Like other presentation software, you can send your finished files to a service bureau via mail, courier or modem. You get back high-quality, 35mm slides, overhead transparencies, and color handouts in a jiffy! The suggested list price is $395. For more information, contact Computer Support Corporation, 15926 Midway Road, Dallas, TX 75244; 214-661-8960, FAX: 214-661-5429, or MCI Mail: 370-6103 # David Batterson enjoys graphics programs almost as much as getting a check in the mail! Contact him via MCI Mail: DBATTERSON.