Capability: GrafiCalc AT 2007 software for what-if engineering questions helps users pose, analyze, and solve geometry-based engineering questions. The software combines sketching and calculation capabilities so that users can tie geometry, dimensions, empirical values, and calculations within one model. Then, as they change their model's parameters, the entire flexible model is automatically updated. In that way, users can substitute design parameters to request and receive decision-support information and geometry solutions. The application can support all popular CAD and solid-modeling applications and Excel.

Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, NT, or XP.

Developer: Geomate Co., 3474 Nova Scotia Ave., San Jose, CA 95124; (408) 371-6095; fax (408) 371-4251; www.graficalc.com.

Cost: $2,995, commercial user license; $195, education or student license.

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Rent-a- Modeler

Capability: This developer rents its 3-D modeling software program, Cobalt, by the year and the month. Available for Macintosh and Windows, Cobalt offers dimensionally constrained and equation-driven parametrics. While buying a permanent license is still least expensive in the long run, rental is an alternative for those who need a lower cost of entry without a long-term commitment, according to the developer. Rental is also useful when companies need additional software seats on a temporary basis, such as for summer interns' use or for a short-term project. Monthly rentals are electronic download only with no physical materials shipped. Documentation or a compact disk with instructional material may be purchased separately.

Hardware: Windows 2000 or XP, or Macintosh OS X or higher.

Developer: Ashlar-Vellum, 12710 Research Blvd., Suite 308, Austin, TX 78759-4383; (512) 250-2186; fax (512) 250-5811; www.ashlar-vellum.com.

Cost: $3,995, permanent license; $1,596, yearly rental; $159, monthly rental.

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Capability: Maple Toolbox for Matlab combines symbolic and numeric computation. Use the application to write mathematical problems, solve them, and analyze results. Two components make up the toolbox. Maple 10 solves math problems and creates technical documents. An add-on enables users to define variables in either Maple or Matlab and to access them in both. The application includes statistical functions, scientific constants, unit specification and tolerance capabilities, and code generation in five languages: C, Fortran, Microsoft Visual Basic, Java, and Matlab.

Hardware: PC running Windows, Linux, or Macintosh OS X with Maple 10.04 or higher and Matlab 6.5 or higher.

Developers: Maplesoft, 615 Kumpf Dr., Waterloo, Ontario, N2V 1K8 Canada; (519) 747-2372; fax (519) 747-5284; www.maplesoft.com.

Cost: $2,195.

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Search by Shape

Capability: 3DSearchIT for SolidWorks is a geometry-based search engine that finds files by shape rather than text. The engine searches local or network drives for SolidWorks parts based on their shape and attributes. Results are ranked by similarity, although the engine also finds geometric differences between models.

Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, NT, or XP and the SolidWorks computer-aided design system.

Developer: Geometric Software Solutions, 30 Daniel Webster Hwy., Suite 4, Merrimack, NH 03054; (603) 262-1653; (fax) (866) 545-8410; www.
geometricsoftware.com.

Cost: Free.

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Excel Math

Capability: Mathematica Link for Excel 3 connects the spreadsheet application to the more than 1,000 math functions within Mathematica. The connection allows engineers and scientists to perform symbolic computations, find roots, and plot equations in the spreadsheet environment. Users also can work in Mathematica and Excel applications side by side. The upgrade includes a macro application that lets users convert their Mathematica code into Excel macros, which can then be run inside a spreadsheet. This version also includes templates to create and automate standard reports.

Hardware: PC running Windows 2000, NT, or XP; Mathematica 5.0 or higher, and Excel 2002 or XP.

Developer: Wolfram Research Inc., 100 Trade Center Dr., Champaign, IL 61820-7237; (217) 398-0700; fax (217) 398-0747; www.wolfram.com.

Cost: $249.

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