Conference rusure::math

1232.0. "DXML Now Available for Field Test" by GWYNED::HAIGH () Tue May 01 1990 11:46

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To:    VAX Vector Interest List       Date: 09-Apr-1990
                                      From: DXML group
                                      Dept: ISB Software Engineering
                                       Ext: 297-7098
                                       Loc: MR01-1/S43
                                      Node: VINO::OCONNOR


SUBJ:  Announcing Base Level 0 DXML



Base Level 0 of the EXTENDED MATH LIBRARY is now available
to internal users for testing.  An overview of installation
instructions and a summary of content are given below. 

1  INSTALLATION

The installation procedures needed for these kits are described in the
DXML  Installation Guide and the files can be found in:
VINO::RIESLING:[DXML.KITS].  The filespecs are:

     1.  DXML kit:  DXML000.A

     2.  DXML Installation Guide:  DXML_INSTALL_GUIDE.PS

     3.  Guide to the Digital Extended Math Library:  DXML_WHOLE_BOOK.PS

The installation procedures for these kits are fairly standard.
Please note that both kits require VMS V5 systems.  DXML will
install on any system running VMS V5.0 or later. Use of the
vector features requires either vector hardware with proper VMS
support or the Vector Emulator.  The Installation Guide gives other
minimum system requirements, such as disk space, process quotas etc.   

The PAK for the DXML kit is not available through the VTX PAK
service.  We have established a procedure to make traceable the DXML
PAKs available to internal test sites.  The procedure for any internal
user to obtain a DXML PAK is to send mail to Jerry Haigh (GWYNED::HAIGH)
requesting the PAK and providing the following information:

                Name
                Badge number
                Cost center
                Location
                Easynet MAIL address to send PAK

Jerry will mail back to you a PAK that is associated with the
employee specified in the request.  This PAK is for DIGITAL
Internal Use Only, and is not to be given to customers.  Please  allow
two working days, though most requests will be filled within hours.


2  USING DXML

Once all the installations are complete, you can use DXML
almost the same way as a normal VAX library.  The major difference
comes when you link the code to the library.  The user must choose
which type of Double-precision floating-point representation to use,
either G-Floating or D-Floating.  Also, the user must choose whether
to use the vector or scalar portions of the library.  This is done by
choosing one of the following four (4) files provided in sys$library;
dxml$fds, dxml$fgs, dxml$fdv or dxml$fgv.  The following table should
help to explain the proper usage:

	Floating type |	Vector/Scalar |	File to use
	--------------+---------------+-------------
	D-floating    | Scalar	      | DXML$FDS.obj
	--------------+---------------+-------------
	G-floating    | Scalar	      | DXML$FGS.obj
	--------------+---------------+-------------
	F-floating    | Scalar	      | DXML$FDS.obj
		      |		      |    or
		      |		      | DXML$FGS.obj
	--------------+---------------+-------------
	D-floating    | Vector	      | DXML$FDV.obj
	--------------+---------------+-------------
	G-floating    | Vector	      | DXML$FGV.obj
	--------------+---------------+-------------
	F-floating    | Vector	      | DXML$FDV.obj
		      |		      |    or
		      |		      | DXML$FGV.obj
	--------------+---------------+-------------



3  A NOTE ABOUT PERFORMANCE

Some of the routines in this first field test version of DXML are in Fortran,
and are based on the base level 9 field test version of the Fortran/HPO 
compiler. As a rough guide to expectations of performance, we can say that:

  1. The signal processing routines, in particular the FFT's,
  have benefited from considerable development effort as well
  as earlier access to vector hardware for testing of the vectorized
  versions, and are well optimized. 

  2. The BLAS 1 extensions and BLAS2 routines are fairly well optimized,
  although some further optimization via performance studies and compiler
  code generation improvements (Fortran BL 10) will provide improvements.

  3. The BLAS 3 routines are currently public domain source code versions
  with the vectorization performed by the compiler (for the vectorized
  versions of the routines) where possible. For final release, a considerable
  effort will be made to have highly optimized versions of these routines.



4  PROBLEM REPORTS

We encourage questions about or problems with DXML to be posted in the
in the DXML notes file,  VINO::DXML.  Please title the bug-reports
with a subject line beginning with QAR.  Note: This a public note-file
conference.

When we receive the QAR, we will try to reproduce the problem and
identify the cause.  We will then answer the QAR and acknowledge the
problem.  We may ask you to provide additional information to help
track it down.  Depending on the difficulty of repair and the current
workload, expect a definitive response in a few days or weeks.  A
definitive response will typically be "We have fixed the problem and
the fix will be available in V1." and may contain a workaround such as
"Modify your source program  .  .  .  to avoid the problem." If you
have an urgent need for a fix and/or optimization, to run an important
benchmark for example, please let us know and we might be able to work
something out.

Please do not send mail to the developers as a substitute for
submitting a QAR in the notes-file.  This prevents other developers
from working on the problem when the person you want isn't available.
It also prevents us from tracking progress on outstanding problems.