SYSTAT Overview

SYSTAT is a multipurpose statistical package available on both the IBM-PC compatible and Macintosh platforms. SYSTAT is very user-friendly compared to many other packages and has a built in spreadsheet program for simple data entry and manipulation as well as excellent graphing capabilities.

It is supported as one of the "Standard Tools" by University Information Technology Services (UITS). This means documentation is available in all Student Technology Centers, Swain Hall Library, BUS/SPEA Library, Education Library, and the UITS Center for of Statistical and Mathematical Computing (Stat/Math Center). UITS Student Technology Center consultants can provide assistance in accessing the program. The Computing Support Center (812/855-6789 or ithelp@indiana.edu) can help with basic to intermediate questions, and the UITS Stat/Math Center (812/855-4724 or email: statmath@iu.edu) can answer basic to advanced questions.

Note: If you are a student using SYSTAT for a class exercise, questions about your class work should be directed first towards your class instructors.

Systat Program Functionality

Breadth of functionality: Good

SYSTAT has scores of statistical and mathematical functions, scores of statistical procedures. Data handling capability of SYSTAT is fairly good.

The following is a brief overview of some of the functionalities of SYSTAT:

Data transformations
Descriptive Statistics
Contingency tables
CorrelationT-tests
Univariate and Multivariate ANOVA
Regression
Nonlinear Regression
Logistic Regression
Loglinear Regression
Discriminant Analysis
Factor Analysis
Cluster anlaysis
Multidimensional scaling
Probit (supplement module)
Logit (supplement module)
Tobit (supplement module)
Forecasting/Time Series
Nonparametric Tests
Categorical data analysis
Graphics (excellent interface)

Reliability and Robustness: Good

SYSTAT has very few known bugs at this point. Bugs are corrected in a speedy manner as soon as they are reported.

State of the Art: Excellent

SYSTAT's Graphical interface is one of its most attractive features. The Student Technology Centers are running the current version of SYSTAT.

User Friendliness: Fair

SYSTAT is very easy to learn. Its commands are straightforward. SYSTAT is available for MAC and Windows environment.

SYSTAT for MAC: Easy to learn and use. Very friendly software. Help is available from every menu, dialog box, etc. Also, you can select Help from the Window menu. You can get instant help for menu and sub-menu items and for options in dialog boxes by pressing the mouse button and then pressing the question mark (?) key on the keyboard.
SYSTAT for Windows: Easy to learn and use. Very fiendly software. Help is available from each menu, dialog box, etc.. SYSTAT's magnifying glass too gives instant information on terms or titles in the output.

Systat Help Resources

Network-based help: Good

The Knowledge Base maintained by the UITS Support Center has answers to a few basic SYSTAT questions. This KB may be searched using keywords (e.g., systat). SYSTAT also has an active international newsgroup group (systat-l) which has subscription from around the world. There is no local SYSTAT user's group at IU.

Program's Help System: Good

SYSTAT offers extensive online help. Help is available from anywhere in SYSTAT through the Help utility.

Systat Program Availability

SYSTAT is available on UITS systems. For details, see the Statistical Software Availability page.

UITS may offer this software for personal and departmental purchases. See the Sales Page for more information.

Systat Training and Support

Document Availability: Excellent

UITS makes basic manuals available in document racks in Student Techology Centers and various libraries. For details, see Software Manual Locations . Documentation is also available for reference at the Stat/Math Center. Locally produced documents are available free of charge from this web server.

Training Availability: Good

UITS offers STEPS and ProSTEPS classes for SYSTAT. Instructors may request for specially arranged classes for introducing their students to SYSTAT by contacting UITS IT Training (855-3499). SYSTAT also has online tutorials.

User Goup: None

There is no local SYSTAT user's group at IU. To join the national electronic mailing list, send email to listserv@uicvm.bitnet with the body of the message:

  subscribe systat-l [yourfirstname] [yourlastname]

UITS Consulting Support: Full Support

Consulting support is available via Stat/Math Consulting . Student Technology Center consultants might provide very basic support.

Other Consulting Support: Good

Registered SYSTAT users can contact the vendor directly with the number provided with the license agreement. Users can subscribe to the SYSTAT-L discussion group and post their questions to the net. SYSTAT computists can always turn to their colleagues who are familiar with SYSTAT software for help.