What do you get when you roll statistical analysis, data management, and presentation graphics into a single application? StatView 4.0, that’s what. Sporting an elegant new interface, StatView offers statisticians a quick and easy route from data manipulation to statistical analysis to presentation-quality output. In addition, the new version offers a level of flexibility for manipulating both data and graphs that far surpasses that of previous versions.
Data Management
StatView 4.0 presents users with two main work environments: the “dataset,” for entering and formatting data, and the View window, for analyzing data and creating attractive graphs and reports.
Working with the dataset, you use a spreadsheetlike row-and-column formal for entering and manipulating data. Each row represents a record, each column a variable. You can enter data directly into cells or import it from spreadsheet, wordprocessing, or database programs in textfile format. StatView lets you open multiple datasets simultaneously to view, edit, or even combine analyses.
Setting and modifying variable attributes, such as data type or class, is easy with StatView's attribute pane, an area within the dataset window. Context-sensitive pop-up menus help you select the settings for each variable attribute, and you can expand the pane to show summary statistics for each variable you set up. A formula generator uses a “smart” calculator interface (it knows what variable or function to insert into a formula, based on the first few characters you type) to provide more than 150 functions for data transformation and mathematical manipulation.
StatView handles all standard dalamanagement tasks with ease. In fact, most data-management operations are so intuitive that you'll barely need to refer to the manual.
StatView's variable browser provides a scrolling list that lets you view, find, and select variables from an open dataset quickly, without going to the dataset itself. This feature is particularly handy when you’re working with large or multiple datasets or if you’re working in the View window and warn to get to your variables without switching to the dataset window. Unfortunalely, the program lacks a find command for locating records — a serious omission.
Analysis and Graphing
Once you've entered and formatted your data, you're ready to analyze and graph it in the View window. An analysis browser provides a list of all the analyses and graphs that StatView can produce. The program comes with a wide range of built-in statistical-analysis procedures, from basic descriptive statistics to ANOVA and factor analysis. The new version is also extensible — third-party analyses can simply be dropped into the program’s Tools folder.
The real beauty of the View window is dial its analyses are hot-1inked to the data in the dataset. Another plus is the flexibility StatView provides for the analysis process. You can begin by selecting a statistical procedure from the analysis browser or by specifying variables from the variable browser. A third option lets you use a template to create an analysis by simply filling in the blanks in a dialog box.
This flexibility is typical of the new StatView — it doesn’t force you to follow a set sequence of procedures. Instead, it lets you work in the manner that’s most eomfortable for you. Moreover, if you haven’t entered enough information to do an analysis, it will even prompt you with suggestions. When you run an analysis, the results appear in table or graph format.
StatView’s good-looking graphs have always been a strong point. The program offers a wide selection of graph types, including univariate and bivariate scattergrams and line charts, histograms, and regression plots. However, no 3-D graph types are included, and StatView doesn’t provide spinning Tukey-style interactive graphics. For that, you need Abacus Concepts' MacSpin.
The new version lets you move, color, or modify virtually any graph element, but you can’t select individual points in a graph and bring up the data they represent, which would be useful. The program also sports a palette of basic drawing tools for adding annotations and embellishing graphs and reports with presentation visuals. You can choose from 64 colors and a small selection of fill patterns.
Overall, StatView's chief graphic emphasis is on providing publicationquality output. Because the View window is essentially a drawing document you have extensive control over all the elements within it. You can move and position elements, including dynamic tables and graphs, anywhere on a page. The Cleanup command automatically repositions tables and graphs to keep them from falling across page breaks, which is useful for multi page documents. You can set all line widths to print at one-fourth their screen width, resulting in clean-looking hairlines on high-resolution printers.
Templates
Another StatView strength is its new templates, which work much like spreadsheet-program macros but are much easier to create. Templates store a complex series of instructions and can recreate an entire analysis process, from statistical tests to the creat ion of specific document formats. The StatView package supplies several dozen templates, and you can create your own by simply saving any view and placing it in the Templates folder. This feature is especially handy for those who regularly repeal the same analysis or for statisticians who want to create templates for use by non statisticians.
StatView's manual is well written and concise. Exercises help explain special features, and an on-disk tutorial provides numerous examples to help get you started. In addition to System 7 Balloon Help, StatView has a context-sensitive floating Hints window that works with both System 6 and System 7, The hints not only explain on-screen features hut can also recommend the appropriate actions necessary to complete data-management, analytical, or graphic presentation tasks.
We found StatView's tech-support personnel to be courteous and knowledgeable. They can help with both the program and statistical procedures.
The Bottom Line
Willi its well-designed interface and near-seamless integration among data management, statistics, graphing, and drawing, StatView 4.0 is a pleasure to use. Although it may not provide as many built-in statistical procedures as do some of its rivals or offer as many types of presentation-quality graphs as a dedicated charting package, it’s the only single package that researchers and analysts can use for the entire statistical reporting process, from raw data to statistical analysis to presentation-quality output.
Furthermore, StatView packs plenty of accessible statistical power for most applications. The program's flexibility lets users work in various ways, without imposing a rigid methodology, and the addition of templates is a boon for those who repeal analyses regularly. If you’re looking for the most fully functional statistical package, look no further than StatView 4.0.
Andres, Clay. (December 1992). StatView 4.0. MacUser. (pgs. 73-74).
StatView 4.0
Abacus Concepts, Inc.
Applications
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StatView-4-0.sit
Emulating this? It could probably run under: 
Basilisk II
