Calculation software (again) 2

[EngJW]

I have several equations and all I want to do is enter some data, run the calculations, increment the input, and list the result. Plotting the result would be nice but I suppose I could just copy it into excel.

A previous thread mentioned Mathcad, which is priced out of my reach, and Python, which I haven't a clue about after going to their website. I used to know how to do Visual Basic but apparently that is obsolete now.

What should I do- just bite the bullet and get something like Python? I really don't want to become a programmer (I could probably do the calculations faster by hand, chuckle chuckle).

Thanks for any suggestions. Sorry about my ignorance of computer stuff.

 

[katmar]

Why not Excel? And seeing that you know VB already you could always build the complex bits in VBA. If you are going to invest some time and effort into this, but you do not want to be a programmer, then this could be the way to go.

Katmar Software
Engineering & Risk Analysis Software

http://katmarsoftware.com

 

[cowski]

Visual basic is still an option

http://www.microsoft.com/express/vb/

but it has changed a bit since it is now part of the .net scheme.

 

[IRstuff]

One option is Mathsoft's Studyworks:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-list...e=380345&creativeASIN=B00004YZQ4&linkCode=asm

It's a stripped down version of Mathcad; no in-line programming available, but simple indexed loop solver equations can be done in it.

Another option would be to find a copy of miniTKSolver, which used to be a free demo program for TKSolver.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[MiketheEngineer]

I agree - Excel might just do the job

 

[SomptingGuy]

Ahh, Excel. The only hammer owned by most engineers.

- Steve

 

[EngJW]

I never thought of excel, and I believe it will work. I'll give it a try over the weekend.

Thanks

 

[GregLocock]

I suggest you have a look at Octave or Scilab. These are free, fairly stable, matlab like programs. Octave is my current preference as its syntax is very very similar to Matlab's. Scilab is probably more powerful, and is certainly prettier and is changing more rapidly, but its syntax is less closely coupled to matalab's. Scilab is probably faster, if execution speed is a big deal.






Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Yeah, octave's fairly recent 3.x release (I think Greg first mentioned it here) is on my PC at work and fairly often used.

- Steve

 

[IDS]

"Ahh, Excel. The only hammer owned by most engineers. "


Hammers aren't good for everything, but if you want to knock in some nails they are hard to beat.

What's this about VBA being obsolete? VBA is included in all versions of Excel except the current Mac version, and Microsoft have said it will be put back in for the next one. VBA is alive and well, and has many years life left in it.

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/

 

[MechEng2005]

"Hammers aren't good for everything..."

If a hammer doesn't fix it, it's an electrical problem.

 

[jhardy1]

@ MechEng2005:

" "Hammers aren't good for everything..."

If a hammer doesn't fix it, it's an electrical problem. "

I take it then that an "Electrician's Hammer" would be the ONLY tool that anyone needs to carry around?

http://www.tools-plus.com/hand-tools-hammers-electricians-hammer.html

"Klein Tools
Klein 807-18 Electrician's Hammer - $27.32
- Straight-claw hammer
- Correctly balanced for use in electrical work

I gotta get me one of those!

 

[IRstuff]

No, in our case, if a hammer doesn't fix it, then it's a software problem.

TTFN

FAQ731-376

 

[mrMikee]

Visual Basic isn't really obsolete but the newest version VB.net doesn't support the GOSUB statement which wrecks almost every VB program I've ever written. Last year I downloaded Visual Basic Express from Microsoft and it was free. It's actually pretty cool, but I still use VB6.

I use CalcCenter by Wolfram which cost about $700 I think. It's a lite version of Mathematica which takes some dedication to learn. Not cheap but about half the cost of MathCad.

 

[elev8848]

I am not answering the original question, but for others to consider:

javascript is an easy simple tool for simple to somewhat complex calculations.

it seems to be ignored by engineers (not software engineers, of course)

i have implemented some calculations for regular use at

http://www.hydrocalc.com

for example.

As an example, copy the text below to notepad; save with html extension instead of txt extension; then open the file using any browser by dragging the file from file explorer:

The result using javascript :
<script>
var a=3;
var b=5;
var c=b/a;

document.write(c);
</script>

 

[Co]

For any kind of sophisticated programming Excel is not sufficient in my opinion. I think all engineers should have at least one other programming language under their belt. I prefer Matlab for complex programming (ie. writing your own finite element program ect.) and for algebraic computations Maple is the ideal choice, although Matlab could be utilized here too.

cheers,

 

[IDS]

>>
For any kind of sophisticated programming Excel is not sufficient in my opinion. I think all engineers should have at least one other programming language under their belt. I prefer Matlab for complex programming (ie. writing your own finite element program ect.) and for algebraic computations Maple is the ideal choice, although Matlab could be utilized here too.
<<

Sigh.

Can you give me an example of a sophisticated programme that could be tackled in Matlab that could not be done in Excel + VBA, or could be done in Matlab + C or Fortran that could not be done in Excel + C or Fortran?

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/

 

[GregLocock]

Grins (and a big hint), I once wrote a Matlab-like interpreter in Basic. Programming language snobbery always makes me laugh. Mr Turing explained why, fifty or sixty years ago.





Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Co]

If you can show me how to write a 2 dimensional finite element based program in excel I withdraw my comments. Otherwise, it seems that im a 23 year old graduate student amongst elders. Sigh.

 

[Co]

No pun intended in the above. Everyone deserves their own opinion, and I give advice based on my experience and expertise.

cheers,