Software for graphs and charts.

[Andy in Sig]

Can anybody recommend some software (preferably free) for creating graphs and charts? If there's nothing decent that's free then what commercial package would you recommend? (I can't get on with Excel at all.)

I'm writing up a thesis and the most complex thing I have to do is represent periods of silence and speaking in a conversation: silence on the y axis and speaking on the x so that it looks more or less like a series of steps climbing from left to right.

Thanks in advance.

 

[MrJamie]

Dunno if its worth having a look at http://docs.google.com they have a few things on there for charts and spreadsheets

 

[growingvegetables]

OpenOffice or Libre Office? Maybe a bit far to go, downloading a complete alternative to MS Office, though.

 

[2Loose]

Take a look at these - all freeware. One of them may suit.
http://www.portablefreeware.com/?sc=157