Configuring Simfit
Simfit and Simdem configuration details (type 10)
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Simfit and Simdem configuration details (type 10)
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Note: configure.txt = information bulletin w_readme.i2
http://www.simfit.org.uk
Summary
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Note the following differences between the 32-bit and 64-bit packages.
1) The 32-bit versions will run on either 32-bit or 64-bit operating systems.
They will probably be installed in either
the C:\Program Files folder with 32-bit systems, or
the C:\Program Files (x86) folder with 64-bit systems.
2) In 32-bit versions of Simfit the driver (i.e. program manager) is w_simfit.exe
and the individual programs have the w_ prefix (e.g. w_simplot.exe)
3) In 32-bit versions of Simdem the driver (i.e. program manager) is simdem.exe
4) The 64-bit versions will only run on 64-bit operating systems.
They will probably be installed in
the C:\Program Files folder.
5) In 64-bit versions of Simfit the driver (i.e. program manager) is x64_simfit.exe
and the individual programs have the x64_ prefix (e.g. x64_simplot.exe)
6) In 64-bit versions of Simdem the driver (i.e. program manager) is x64_simdem.exe
The Simfit program manager (w_simfit.exe, or x64_simfit.exe) and the Simdem
program manager (simdem.exe, or x64_simdem.exe) have a button [Configure] that
can be used to configure the Simfit and Simdem packages by interactive editing
of the configuration file w_simfit.cfg.
The [Check] button on the [Configure] control allows users to check and repair
paths to auxiliaries, and this must be followed by using the [Apply] button to
install changes.
Simfit users
------------
The path to the Simfit driver (see item 15) must be correct,
and the Simfit installation tree must be intact, or Simfit
will not function correctly.
Simdem users
------------
The path to the Simdem driver (see item 15) is optional but,
if this path is correct and the installation tree is intact,
then several further functionalities are available. Simdem
is a stand-alone library, and items 1 to 9 are not referenced.
Where Simdem is being used in clusters, or with IDEs like NAG
Fortran Builder or Silverfrost Plato, users should be able to
download copies of the Simdem DLLs if they are not on the path,
or this should be done automatically.
Windows users
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If you follow the default installation, then Simfit will
be ready to use after minor interactive editing of the
file w_simfit.cfg in the Simfit folder. You do not need
to edit the file l_simfit.cfg, but this must have the
instruction 0 %windows% on the first line to cancel all
Linux specific actions.
Location of w_simfit.cfg
------------------------
The main configuration file w_simfit.cfg will be created
and accessed from the \ProgramData\Simfit\user\cfg folder.
Linux users
-----------
The files w_simfit.cfg and l_simfit.cfg will be created by
Simfit in your Home directory and/or Simfit directory and
these must be edited by using the [Configure] and [Advanced]
buttons. You should switch off option 32 and, note that some
items (e.g. 21) are ignored in Linux. For more details read
the document linux.txt.
Advice
------
Simfit does not use the Windows registry. Instead, all the
configuration details are stored in ASCII text *.cfg files,
the main Windows configuration file being w_simfit.cfg.
When Simfit has been configured so that the paths to all
auxiliaries are correct, and there are no missing programs, you
should switch off the options to check for missing or incorrectly
configured programs. This will considerably speed up the load
time and prevent errors created by impatient double clicking
of the desktop icon, and thus attempting to initiate multiple
instances of the driver w_simfit.exe or x64_simfit.exe. This is
because the DLLs and auxiliary files supplied with Simfit can
only be linked singly, and any attempt to run multiple copies
of Simfit will cause execution errors.
Advanced users who want to speed up data analysis should read
about items 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 and maybe
switch them off.
w_simfit.cfg
------------
Simfit configuration options are changed using the [Configure],
[Check], then [Apply] buttons on the main Simfit menu displayed
by the Simfit and Simdem program managers. The configuration
file w_simfit.cfg is then created each time you [Apply] a changed
option. It configures Simfit for the Simfit folder from where
w_simfit.exe or x64_simfit.exe is being run and, once you have
a satisfactory configuration, you could save a copy to restore
your chosen defaults. However, if you upgrade the program manager
to a new type, you may have to delete the obsolete version
of w_simit.cfg, so that a new default version can be created.
Note that you can delete w_simfit.cfg at any time and Simfit
will replace it with the current default version.
Configuration parameters 1 to 9 (0 = false, 1 = true)
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Except for 2 and 3 these options are only effective on re-run.
These options are not referenced by the Simdem package.
Item 1: 0 ... display a minimised and subdued front page
1 ... display a full size front page with Simfit logo
The version number follows a % sign as, in 1 % 9.
Start with 1 for a full page display but, if this
becomes tiresome, set 0 for a simplified interface.
This option is automatically suppressed in Linux.
Item 2: 0 ... save f$?????? and f$??????.tmp files on exit
1 ... delete f$?????? and f$??????.tmp files on exit
Simfit creates temporary files with names like
f$123456.tmp which are not normally of any interest
and should usually be deleted at close-down.
Almost always set 1, except for expert users who want to
inspect and possibly archive data from temporary files.
Item 3: Unused from version 7.2.2 onwards
Item 4: 0 ... silent start up
1 ... display advisory messages on start up
Set 1 for group use so that everybody gets a chance to
appreciate the Simfit philosophy, but individual users
will read the messages once then set 0 to switch off.
Advanced users should set this to 0.
Item 5: 0 ... no check for missing Simfit files
1 ... display program file missing error messages
The only reason to set 0 is to speed up initialisation,
or where users know why certain files are missing.
Advanced users should set this to 0.
Item 6: 0 ... no check for running from the Simfit folder
1 ... flag unsatisfactory simfit configuration
This should be set to 1 as unpredictable results may occur
when running from outside the Simfit folder. Expert users
with several dedicated versions containing special editions
of some Simfit programs may wish to have one remote driver
to switch between installations, and could try setting 0.
Advanced users should set this to 0.
Item 7: 0 ... no check for missing auxiliaries
1 ... check that user-specified programs exist
Set 1 unless some files have been deleted or not specified
because they are never going to be used.
Advanced users should set this to 0.
Item 8: 0 ... no check that PS-viewer exists
1 ... check that PS-viewer exists
Misguided users who do not appreciate the power of Simfit
PostScript facilities and are content to just use Windows
graphs (which, should always be svg, png, or enhanced
metafiles, emf) may set 0 to switch off PostScript checking.
It is a serious mistake not to install a PS viewer like
GSview, as this provides many additional and powerful
graphical procedures to Simfit users, even if PostScript
printing is not available. Note that, with Gsview installed,
PostScript files can be printed on any printer.
Advanced users should set this to 0.
Item 9: 0 ... no check that the PS-printer driver exists
1 ... check that the PS-printer driver exists
As for Item 8.
Configuration parameters 10 to 12
---------------------------------
Item 10: percentage of monitor to be used for plotting
Overflow or small on-screen graphics can be adjusted, but
usually a value between 70 and 90 should be satisfactory.
Item 11: percentage expansion of text and menu fonts
Overflow or small list box or tutorial fonts can be adjusted,
but usually a value between 90 and 110 should be satisfactory.
Item 12: number of lines before table output pauses
With large fonts and/or small displays this will have to be
set to 30 or less, but with small fonts and/or large displays
40 or more may be preferred.
Configuration parameters 13 to 24
---------------------------------
Item 13: your chosen editor (path/filename)
This would usually be Notepad.exe in Windows, but could be
gedit, kedit, kwrite, vi, emacs, etc. in Linux.
Item 14: your chosen explorer (path\filename)
This could be a disk explorer, an internet explorer, or
in fact any other file handler or browser, e.g., in Linux
it could be konqueror or nautilus.
Item 15: path to the Simfit or Simdem program files
For Simfit this would usually be, e.g., C:\Program Files\Simfit\bin,
or else C:\program Files (x86)\Simfit\bin with 32-bit Windows.
Simfit will only function correctly if this path is correct, i.e.,
the Simfit driver is C:\Program Files\Simfit\bin\x64_simfit.exe.
For Simdem this would usually be, e.g., C:\Program Files\Simdem\bin,
or C:\program Files (x86)\Simdem\bin with 64-bit Windows.
Simdem will only function correctly if this path is correct, i.e.,
the Simdem driver is C:\Program Files\Simdem\bin\x64_simdem.exe.
If neither Simfit nor Simdem is installed, a blank string can be set
to inhibit further checking for the Simfit or Simdem drivers.
However, a blank string disables several Simfit and Simdem functions
which rely on the package installation tree. In particular, some files
will be treated as local files unless specifically given full paths.
Also, the ability to install NAG library and other test data sets will
be disabled if item 15 is not the path to a Simfit or Simdem driver.
Item 16: The folder where Simfit results are placed
...\ProgramData\Simfit\user\res
Item 17: The folder where Simfit users can store files created by simfit
...\ProgramData\Simfit\user\usr
Item 18: The folder where configuration files are stored
...\ProgramData\Simfit\user\cfg
Item 19: Reserved for future developments
Item 20: This can be the fully qualified path\filename for Ghostscript
e.g., C:\Program Files\gs\gsA.BC\bin\gswin64c.exe in Windows,
where A.BC is the Ghostscript release identifier. However,
Ghostscript is now supplied as a DLL, and there is no need to
install the Ghostscript package.
Item 21: The folder where temporary files are placed, i.e. where the
environmental variable %TEMP% points.
Item 22: your chosen PS view/print program (path\filename)
In Windows this would be GSview, but in Linux it could
be any of the built-in PostScript viewers, such as
evince, ggv, kghostview, etc.
If this is absent but Ghostscript and pdf viewing are available,
the *.eps file will be used to generate a temporary PDF file.
Item 23: your chosen PDF reader (path\filename)
In Windows this would be, e.g. SumatraPDF, or Acrobat Reader, but
in Linux it could be any of the built-in pdf readers, such as
evince, kghostview, acroread, kpdf, etc.
Item 24: your chosen Calculator (path\filename)
Thge deafult is the Windows program Calcl, but Any calculator
program will suffice.
Advanced configuration parameters 25 to 36 (0 = false, 1 = true)
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These would normally all be set to 1 except for Linux users who
would normally switch off items 32 and 33.
If spaces are present in file names it may be necesary to surround
the filenames by quotes as, for example, in the command
gsview32.exe "C:\Program Files\Simfit\doc\w_manual.pdf"
to prevent file names with spaces being broken up into tokens.
Item 25: 0/1, quoted filenames passed to editor
Item 26: 0/1, quoted filenames passed to PS-viewer
Item 27: 0/1, quoted filenames passed to Ghostscript
Item 28: 0/1, quoted filenames passed to PS-printer
Item 29: 0/1, quoted filenames passed to PDF-reader
Item 30: 0/1, paint background for executing program
The background colour painted before an executable is
called may prove irritating to some users, or may not
work correctly under Windows emulation in some OS, so
setting 0 will suppress it.
This is automatically suppressed in Linux
Item 31: 0/1, provide the option to View/Open/Cancel each time a data
file is selected. Advanced users may wish to set this
to 0 to speed up data analysis.
Item 32: 0/1, display all Windows-specific messages.
Advanced users should set this to 0.
Note that several warning messages are only meaningful
to the Windows Operating System and have no value under
Linux/Wine, where users should always set this to 0,
i.e. switch off
Item 33: 0/1, display ... Now input a file formatted like *.* advice
each time a procedure is selected. Advanced users may
wish to set this to 0 to speed up data analysis.
Item 34: 0/1, provide the option to type in data values directly as an
alternative to using File/Clipboard. Advanced users may
wish to set this to 0 to speed up data analysis.
Item 35: 0/1, display ... First time user messages, e.g. alternative
file formats when using program Simplot. Advanced users may
wish to set this to 0 to speed up data analysis.
Item 36: 0/1, provide the option to cancel quitting from advanced graphics
displays in order to continue with further editing, saving
configuration or graphics files, etc. Advanced users may
wish to set this to 0 to speed up data analysis.
Advanced configuration parameters 37 to 45
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These are millisecond wait-times to refresh after calling CreateProcess
and usually the defaults should be sufficient.
a) The case wait = -1
If -1 is set, CreateProcess will be invoked until the executable
terminates. This should be suitable to drive even the most
difficult executables, usually those like older versions of GSview
which read a file and start a thread with another executable, like
Ghostscript. Unfortunately this causes suppression of screen refresh
which can cause annoying persistent screen splash if executables
are moved or re-sized. It also prevents executables such as Adobe
Acrobat Reader being minimized to the task bar during Simfit
operations.
b) The case wait = 0
If 0 is set there will be no wait and this will be correct for
processes that may need to be minimized during simfit operations,
like Acrobat reader, Notepad, explorer, or the calculator.
c) The case iwait > 0
A value of 100 will use a 100 millisecond delay before refreshing and
this could be a good compromise for GSview, etc.
d) Defaults
The recommended defaults are 0, except for GSview and possibly Simfit
and some other executables when 100 (or even -1 in extreme cases) may
be better.
Item 37: PDF-viewer
Item 38: Calculator
Item 39: Resrved for future use
Item 40: Editor
Item 41: Explorer
Item 42: PS-viewer
Item 43: Simfit programs
Item 44: Arbitrary programs
Item 45: PostScript printer driver
Advanced configuration parameters 46 to 48
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The Simfit editor has, by default, 15 rows (down) and 6 columns (across).
If the matrix being edited fits into this frame, then the frame is
adjusted to the size of the matrix and no scroll bars are added. If the
matrix being edited does not fit into the default frame, then scroll bars
are added to adjust the offsets into the matrix which permits editing of
distant matrix values projected into the editing frame. Users with wide
monitors may wish to increase the number of columns (across) and users
with large displays may also wish to increase the number of rows (down)
before scroll bars are added. The dimensions acceptable will also depend
on the user's font size, and can be discovered by experimentation.
Item 46: Maximum editor rows before scrolling
Item 47: Maximum editor columns before scrolling
Item 48: Use DGI+ antialiasing if this number is greater than or equal to zero
This is automatically disabled in Linux.