ThreeDify Excel Grapher

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on December 22, 2009

AsdGraph3D Pro Excel Addin gives you the capability to create three-dimensional graphs with data from Excel spreadsheets. These 3D graphs can also plot ActiveX controls that can be used in programs such as Microsoft Office and Internet Explorer.

The 3D graphs this add-in produces aren't flashy and would be best used for programming purposes rather than for design or illustrations. Graphic design experience left us unimpressed with the look of the graphs that the program produces; however, from a programming perspective, they're quite sufficient. There's a good built-in Help file that explains the program's controls and some of its more complicated features. Nonprogrammers might have to spend some quality time with this Help file before they can take advantage of the program's true capabilities; however, we feel that programmers will be able to understand this program and make good use of its functionality without a hitch. AsdGraph3D Pro Excel Addin has additional value to the Windows user because it's designed to work with Microsoft Excel, a program that most users are likely to have already installed on their computers and are more than likely going to know how to use, too.

This is a trial version of the software. Some features are disabled after the 15-day trial period. AsdGraph3D Pro Excel Addin installs and uninstalls with no problems. Programmers will find this program a useful tool, but artists and designers will want something more. Nevertheless, we recommend it.

Publisher's Description

From ThreeDify Incorporated:

Deployed as a 3D add-in for Microsoft Excel, ThreeDify Excel Grapher makes creating Excel XYZ graphs and charts from raw data as easy as highlighting a range of cells in a worksheet. With a few mouse clicks, users can easily create a wide range of X-Y-Z scatter graphs, line graphs, 3D voxel and bar charts, surfaces (TIN and gridded meshes), or water-tight solids. Excel Grapher supports Cartesian, 3D polar (such as cylindrical) and spherical coordinates in uniform scaling mode (for engineering drawings) or non-uniform scaling mode (for presentation graphs). In addition to usual graphing options, Excel Grapher also allows the user to precisely color their graphs by data intervals, and makes possible 4D data visualization directly within Excel. It is the only truly 3D and 4D graphing tool that's completely integrated with MS Excel: Excel Grapher runs completely within the familiar Excel interface and the 3D graphs or charts it creates are saved as part of the Excel workbook. That means there's no need to run a separate application and there are no external files or additional file formats to manage. The graphs you create can be freely shared with your audience without forcing them to pay for a Grapher license as Grapher defaults to free viewer after the trial period expires. Furthermore, the 3D objects created by Excel Grapher can be exported to VRML 2.0 format for web viewing.

What's new in this version: Version 3.3.0 adds support for export of 3D surfaces and solids to AutoCAD DXF format (as POLYMESH objects).