<p>I've been trying to find a solution for this same question.  As mentioned by others, most of the solutions are a bit too time consuming to do on the spot if you're taking notes, so I still think it's easier to draw out the graphs by hand on the spot.  </p>

<p>There's a good post referencing some of the different software options, along with how to do this with R and ggplot if you're interested on <a href="https://www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2017/09/15/create-supply-and-demand-economics-curves-with-ggplot2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Andrew Heist's blog</a> </p>

<p>Also, see <a href="https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/8226/create-simple-graphs-without-functional-forms/8231#8231">Create simple graphs without functional forms</a></p>

<p>Among these options, I'm trying to learn to do everything with TiKZ, but it's a work in progess...</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-10-07T07:50:57.927Z
2018-10-07T07:50:57.927Z
anguyen1210
<p>I'm looking for a software which may help me to both take notes and draw graphs during university lectures. It must have the ability to switch between texts and graphs, add other formats such as Office related format and pdf. Also, the the graphs should be easily tunable (preferably on the fly) and of course, shareable. Being able to draw matrices and operate with them would be great too.</p>

<p>I can't seem to find an application/software for laptop which makes all of those easy in an economics related setting. Any idea?</p>

<p>Thanks a lot</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T06:10:13.300Z
I assume you intend to use a mouse and not some sort of digital stylus to draw your graphs?
Giskard
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T09:11:19.120Z
What operating system do you use?
Ubiquitous
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T09:15:43.863Z
Also, I assume that you are aware that research shows taking notes on a computer to be detrimental to learning (e.g. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614524581).
Ubiquitous
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T11:59:29.487Z
I don't think there is such software (yet), not even in other disciplines which might be diagram-intensive like physics. You can create graphs with LaTex, using TiKz, Pgfplots, or other libraries, but they take time to produce, and there is a trial and error whilst compiling, which will distract you from the lecture. I suggest you use standard methods (pen an pencil?) and then translate that into a nice electronic document. This will also count as a helpful revision :)
luchonacho
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T13:13:08.737Z
@denesp Yeah, I'm on a laptop so there, no tablet of any kind.
Nathan Furnal
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-06-12T13:15:10.123Z
@Ubiquitous Thanks I wasn't aware of that, it's because sometimes my notes get so messy and the graphs/matrices so badly drawn that I'd welcom some kind of neat alternative to read them again comfortably.                                               luchonacho, will do, I was merely looking for something to help :)
Nathan Furnal
<software>
Useful software for notes and graphs in economics?
Nathan Furnal
# Useful software for notes and graphs in economics?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-06-11)

I'm looking for a software which may help me to both take notes and draw graphs during university lectures. It must have the ability to switch between texts and graphs, add other formats such as Office related format and pdf. Also, the the graphs should be easily tunable (preferably on the fly) and of course, shareable. Being able to draw matrices and operate with them would be great too.

I can't seem to find an application/software for laptop which makes all of those easy in an economics related setting. Any idea?

Thanks a lot

**Tags:** software

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I assume you intend to use a mouse and not some sort of digital stylus to draw your graphs?  
> **username_2**: What operating system do you use?  
> **username_2**: Also, I assume that you are aware that research shows taking notes on a computer to be detrimental to learning (e.g. http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797614524581).  
> **username_3**: I don't think there is such software (yet), not even in other disciplines which might be diagram-intensive like physics. You can create graphs with LaTex, using TiKz, Pgfplots, or other libraries, but they take time to produce, and there is a trial and error whilst compiling, which will distract you from the lecture. I suggest you use standard methods (pen an pencil?) and then translate that into a nice electronic document. This will also count as a helpful revision :)  
> **username_0**: @denesp Yeah, I'm on a laptop so there, no tablet of any kind.  
> **username_0**: @username_2 Thanks I wasn't aware of that, it's because sometimes my notes get so messy and the graphs/matrices so badly drawn that I'd welcom some kind of neat alternative to read them again comfortably.                                               username_3, will do, I was merely looking for something to help :)  

---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2018-10-07. Score: 1

I've been trying to find a solution for this same question. As mentioned by others, most of the solutions are a bit too time consuming to do on the spot if you're taking notes, so I still think it's easier to draw out the graphs by hand on the spot.

There's a good post referencing some of the different software options, along with how to do this with R and ggplot if you're interested on [Andrew Heist's blog](https://www.andrewheiss.com/blog/2017/09/15/create-supply-and-demand-economics-curves-with-ggplot2/)

Also, see [Create simple graphs without functional forms](https://economics.stackexchange.com/questions/8226/create-simple-graphs-without-functional-forms/8231#8231)

Among these options, I'm trying to learn to do everything with TiKZ, but it's a work in progess...


---

