processing {x,y,z} data
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
 - Subject: [mg13060] processing {x,y,z} data
 - From: sean_ross_at_pl-04m3 at smtpgw1.plk.af.mil
 - Date: Sat, 4 Jul 1998 16:45:02 -0400
 - Sender: owner-wri-mathgroup at wolfram.com
 
     I am in need of efficiently processing lists of {x,y,z} data and am
     finding severe roadblocks with almost every built-in function I can
     think of.  If anyone has figured work arounds for the following 
     behaviors, I would appreciate your input.
     
     1-Interpolation.  It wants lists of data with a square number of 
     points. This means it can interpolate a 100 element list(10x10),
but 
     not a 90 element list(9x10).  I don't want to throw away or pad
data.
     
     2-ListPlot3D.  Only wants an array of z values and plots them
versus 
     the array element number.  This means that unevenly spaced data
can't 
     be plotted. I want to put in the {x,y,z} data points so that the
axes 
     are correct.
     
     3-ListSurfacePlot3D.  The ViewPoint option is broken.  No matter
what 
     viewpoint I select, it uses one that is more or less equivalent to 
     ViewPoint->{whatever,whatever,0}.  I can't get the top-down
viewpoint.
     
     4-ScatterPlot3D-ViewPoint option is broken as in item #3.
     
     5-ContourPlot-Only wants an array of heights.  I can't give it the 
     {x,y,z} coordinates.  This means that unevenly spaced data can't be
     plotted nor will the values on the axes be correct.
     
     
     The most severe limitation is with #1, the Interpolation function. 
     Could I interpolate my data, I could convert it to any format 
     required.
     
     Thanks for your help--Sean Ross
     
     P.S. I am using version 3.0.1 on a Win 95 pentium.