Welcome to Fractal Forums

Hello.  I’d like to share my fractal explorer (Fraqcel) with fellow fractal enthusiasts.  This one requires Microsoft Excel 2007 or later running in Windows.  Although this program will never be as fast as a well written non-spreadsheet code, if the optional DLL files are used, the speed should be reasonable for basic exploring.

Fraqcel can be downloaded at  fraqcel.weebly.com  (http:// fraqcel.weebly.com).  The Fraqcel website includes a PDF instruction manual and a short video covering using the program for the first time.

The main user interface and features are as follows:

(https://s8.postimg.org/a4hk0nhlx/2.1_release.png)

Main features:

• Ability to explore 4 fractal types (Mandelbrot Set, Burning Ship, Buffalo, Celtic)
• Deep zooming capability using built-in arbitrary precision math libraries
• Standalone design, no Excel add-ins to install
• Customizable color palettes
• Utilizes perturbation and series approximation techniques in order to reduce calculation times at deep zooms
• Ability to create and export images of customizable dimensions
• Both escape time discrete coloring and continuous (smooth) coloring
• Multithreaded calculations and increased performance via optional DLL files

Comments and questions are welcome.

I haven't seen this post before (two months late).  Neat idea.  I haven't downloaded it yet, but tell me how do you use code? Doesn't that make it more prone to a macro virus attack?

The VBA code is embedded into the Excel workbook and compiled at runtime.  One can access the VBA Editor in Excel using the keyboard shortcut Alt+F11 to view the code.

In addition to using a solid anti-virus program…
The default Excel macro security setting is to “Disable all macros with notification”.  If one is concerned about Macro viruses, all macros can be disabled upon opening the workbook via the notification prompt.  The user can then inspect the source code in the VBA Editor.  For example, the code that is set to run automatically when the workbook is opened is found in the Workbook_Open() subroutine.

Version 2.2 is released.  Removed all ActiveX controls and therefore ActiveX permissions are no longer required.

lol fractals in Excel this is crazy :)

Version 2.3 is released.  Added 3 new fractal types: Beetle, Rotation Family, Perpendicular Burning Ship

not only mandelbrot but series approximation and perturbation in a spreadsheet?  you guys are nuts   :nerd:

Version 2.5 is released.  Changed the Rotation Family fractal and added tools to help create videos.

Although this is coded into a spreadsheet, if the optional DLL files are used, Excel becomes more of a front end and the speed is reasonable.  Although the multi-precision routines are all in Excel, the beauty of using the perturbation technique is that the multi-precision routines aren't accessed much and don't become a huge bottleneck.

Version 2.6 is released.  Improved automated glitch correction.

Picked this up again after not touching it for a year.
Version 2.7 is released with bump mapping.  Below is an example with the Beetle fractal.

(https://s8.postimg.org/rjiqi6bt1/Fraqcel_bump_map_example.png)

That's looking great.

Nice job.