Slow plotting of large datasets?

[nitroamos]

Hello -- I'd like to be able to use MS Excel to visualize my data sets
on my Mac using Excel 2008 because that way I can better control what
other people see on their Windows machines without expecting them to
install/learn alternative software.


However, plotting large data sets (even ones ~1 mb like mine) is very
slow. It takes like 30 seconds to make one change, and given Excel's
tendency to update graphs for even incomplete changes (e.g. I'm not
done entering a max value on a scale) the whole experience is quite
painful.

I know the problem is not the size of the data, because I do regularly
use gnuplot, and I just tried the Plot software for Macs to do the
same thing, neither of which take much time at all for this much data.

I'm running OSX 10.5.7, and Excel 2008 version 12.1.7 (090302), I just
repaired disk permissions (like i saw in a previous post) and
restarted, and the problem persists...

Is there something I can do?

thanks!

Amos.

 

[nitroamos]

Oh wow... I just noticed something. I didn't realize that my MS Excel
X (SR 1) still worked (which I purchased in ~2002)... But I tried it
on the same data set, and we can add it to the list of software
packages that can quickly produce a plot. These are the only two
versions I have.

Works:
gnuplot
Plot
Excel X

Doesn't work:
Excel 2008

sigh. at least I have a solution, even though Excel 2008 does improve
other things.