Conference rusure::math

410.0. "DECalc-PLUS T01.01 FT Kit" by STONED::CASTALDI () Tue Dec 17 1985 11:27

Announcing DECalc-PLUS T01.01 Internal Field Test
-------------------------------------------------

DECalc-PLUS Field Test T01.01 is now available over the E-net. 

DECalc-PLUS is a functional superset of DECalc V2.2 that allows the user to
execute routines written in any VMS supported language from within a
spreadsheet session.  Spreadsheet boxes are used to hold parameters passed
to and from these 'external routines'. 

This allows the user to develop relatively complex applications using the
spreadsheet as a building block.  The spreadsheet handles some of the more
tedious tasks (data entry, data storage) allowing the application designer
to concentrate on the actual manipulation of data.  The user is also provided
with the ability to massage data using DECalc spreadsheet functions before
passing it to, or after receiving it from, an external routine. 

DECalc-PLUS also includes a set of 'standard' external routines that are
used to solve problems dealing with Statistics (e.g. analysis of variance,
autocovariances, correlation coefficients, Poission distribution, Chi-square
distribution, more ...), Matrix arithmetic (inversion, solution of 
simultaneous equations, eigenvalues, more ...), Equation solving (eg. roots
of polynomial, solve system of N order differential equations, numerical 
integration, more...).

These functions have typically been provided to users as a library of 
subroutines (IMSL, SSP, SPSS) that require the user to write programs to 
collect data, call the routine, and display the results.  These routines can 
now be used by people with little or no programming experience.  Those with 
programming experience can use DECalc-PLUS to create interfaces (DECalc-PLUS
templates) to these packages or there own customized routines.

DECalc users will find PLUS very familiar.  There is a new command:
/Application, that provides the user with the ability to execute external 
routines.  Documentation describing all of DECalc-PLUS is available over the
network.

The installation kit is composed of three savesets:

	STONED::PLUS$KIT:PLUS010.A
	STONED::PLUS$KIT:PLUS010.B
	STONED::PLUS$KIT:PLUS010.C

The kit can be copied to your machine with the command:

	$ COPY STONED::PLUS$KIT:PLUS010.* [desired-directory]

The kit can then be installed on your machine by logging into the SYSTEM
account and typing:

	$ VMSINSTAL PLUS010 [desired-directory]

Complete installation instructions are located in:

	STONED::PLUS$KIT:INSTALL.DOC

Documentation is located in:

	STONED::PLUS$KIT:*.DOC

A notesfile exists for Field Test specific issues such as first impressions,
bug reports, suggested improvements, etc.  Any input of yours will help us
provide our customers with a better product.  The notesfiles is located in:

	STONED::SYS$NOTES:DECALC_PLUS_FT.NOT


IMPORTANT NOTE:

DECalc-PLUS T01.01 can be installed on systems currently running DECalc
V2.2.  Systems running earlier releases of DECalc should NOT install 
DECalc-PLUS until upgrading to DECalc V2.2.

If you  have any questions concerning DECalc-PLUS please send mail to
STONED::PLUS

The DECalc-PLUS Development Group

In trying to gather information about DECalc+ for a customer, I was
surprised to find VERY little information about it here, e.g. from a user's 
point of view (I am also looking in the DECalc conference).

Anyone out there using this product? If not, why not? If so, what little 
neatnesses have you found?

Thanks,

Lynn 

      <<< Note 410.1 by CIVAGE::LYNN "Lynn Yarbrough @WNP DTN 427-5663" >>>
                        -< Anyone using this product? >-



Lynn, there's a conference on DECalc-PLUS.  
	File:   VWSENG::DISK:[NOTES$LIBRARY]PLUS.NOTE
	Moderator:  SSPENG::GREANEY

	Access is not restricted
	etc.

Thanks. I found the conference some time ago. What I didn't find was much 
in the way of intersection between the contributors to that conference and 
to this one! The tool seems so nice that I thought perhaps the MATHers 
would have come up with some original and interesting ways of using it.

        See also the CRLVMS::WORKSHEET conference.
        
        Dan