Customer Reviews

Harvard Instant Charts

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has to be one of the most valuable graphics utilities I own - and one of the most amazing. It sits in my system tray waiting for me to invoke it, and when I do I'm greeted by an instant chart menu that pops up regardless of what application(s) I happen to be running. From there I select the chart type I need and make the chart.

There are eight categories of chart types provided with this program: Groups (accents, headings and categories), Relationships (org charts, orbit, triad, pyramid and puzzles), Processes (flow, fan-in and -out, flow-in and -out and cycle), Comparisons (pro & con, ratings, quadrant, and stock arrows and tables), Tables (simple, grid, rows, columns and totals), Charts (bar, column, pie, pyramid, line and area), Lists (bullets, checklist, paragraphs and quotes), and scheduling (agenda, time line, Gantt, and various calendar types).

Because I am a consultant who does a lot of writing and need to convey the most information with the least page count I use this program all of the time. My favorite tools are time lines and Gantt charts, which are intelligent enough to add dates and watch them auto adjust bars. Comparisons are another group that I frequently use. If you are familiar with the Boston Quadrant, then you will love the fact that you can produce one in mere minutes. Also, you can enter labels and select a different display type and the program automatically transforms to what you select. This is great for quickly examining the best way to display information. After you have your graphic laid out to your satisfaction you can add textures, select color themes and backgrounds with a mouse click and selection. A finishing touch is the ability to add callouts and other graphic elements to add flair to your graphic before saving it. Once you are done you save your masterpiece as a Gif file and insert it into your favorite application. I have inserted my graphics into Visio, Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. I have also used them in web pages.

If you spend a lot of time writing and need a quick and easy way to show with pictures what may take the proverbial thousand words, then this is a "must-have" program. I don't know how I ever got along without it.

I ordered this product because it was listed as being compatible with the Mac platform. When it arrived (ahead of the scheduled time) it was clear that it does not support the Mac platform. I contacted the vendor and they agreed that the description was in error and promptly refunded my money. I appreciate the immediate attention to my problem and would use this vendor in the future if they have Mac products. I understand that it is an excellent product for the appropriate platforms.

Numbers can be used to spin anything in these days of managed and manipulated reality. Harvard Charts helps me illustrate statistics and trends to dampen some of the political tinkering. The product is easy to use and very reasonably priced.