# Install.txt for Simfit Version 7

      Installation of Simfit and Simdem: Version 7.2.4 onwards.

       For downloads and more documentation visit http://www.simfit.org.uk

       1. Introduction
       2. Installing the Simfit package
       3. Installing the Simdem package
       4. Installing GSview

       1. Introduction
       ---------------

       Simfit and Simdem are Open Source and free of charge to all users.

       The 32-bit versions of Simfit and Simdem will run on either 32-bit
       or 64-bit operating systems, but the 64-bit versions will only run
       on 64-bit operating systems.

       Note that Simfit and Simdem do not use the registry: all configuration
       relies on the same set of ASCII text files (*.cfg) and, if any such
       configuration file is deleted, Simfit or Simdem will create a default
       copy.

       Windows users who want to make the best use of Simfit graphics should
       either save SVG, or PNG files directly or, for better quality and greater
       versatility, archive EPS files. These can be transformed into PNG or
       other types of graphics files for importing into documents as required,
       using the Simfit interface to the Ghostscript DLL.

       Tables for including in documents can be exported in tabbed-text, html,
       xml, or LaTeX, formats from the Simfit results files.

       2. Installing the Simfit package
          -----------------------------

       This is only required by end-users who just want to perform simulation,
       statistical analysis, curve-fitting, and graph plotting.

       There is only one 32-bit version of Simfit: the Academic version
       which is free-standing and requires no other libraries. However,
       there is a program called change_simfit_version.exe which allows
       32-bit Simfit to use the NAG library DLLs if you have an operational
       copy of the NAG library DLLs, from Mark 20 onwards. Similarly, the
       64-bit version of Simfit has a program x64_change_simfit_version.exe
       to link to the 64-bit NAG DLLs.

       The 32-bit Simfit driver program is called w_simfit.exe.
       The 64-bit Simfit driver program is called x64_simfit.exe.

       a) The Simfit setup programs will install Simfit in MS Windows, and
          also in Linux where Wine is installed, or in Mac with Crossover.

          You can uninstall previous versions of Simfit, or just
          allow the installation program to overwrite the old files.
          However, if you decide to over-write, make sure that the
          existing Simfit files do not have the read-only attribute,
          otherwise you could end up with inconsistent binaries and
          test files. Existing *.cfg files and files you make are
          never over-written by the installation program.

       b) Download simfit_setup7_x_y.exe, or x64_simfit_setup7_x_y.exe from

          http://www.simfit.org.uk

          The subscripts _x_y identify the version and release number.

       c) In Windows, double click on either simfit_setup7_x_y.exe
          (or x64_simfit_setup7_x_y.exe) from the Disc Explorer and, unless
          there is some very compelling reason to the contrary, choose to
          install in the default top-level folder.

          The 32-bit installation program will create the default folders:

          C:\Program Files (x86)\Simfit\bin ... (binaries)
          C:\Program Files (x86)\Simfit\doc ... (documentation)
          C:\Program Files (x86)\Simfit\dem ... (demonstration data)

          but the 64-bit installation program will create the default folders:

          C:\Program Files\Simfit\bin ... (binaries)
          C:\Program Files\Simfit\doc ... (documentation)
          C:\Program Files\Simfit\dem ... (demonstration data)

       d) Non-default installations.
          The installation will create sub-folders under your chosen
          top-level folder, and in your ...\ProgramData folder.

       e) In Linux, copy w_simfit.exe into the Wine C: equivalent, e.g.
          /home/user-name/.wine/drive_c
          In new installations you will now create the two files

                l_simfit.cfg
                w_simfit.cfg

          If you mistakenly install the Windows configuration it will
          not run properly in Linux, and you will have to delete these
          two files and let Simfit create a default configuration.
          As root, run using wine, i.e. wine w_simfit.exe, or run from
          the appropriate Wine or KDE start menu. Further details will
          be found on the Simfit website and in linux.txt.

       f) The Simfit package is run entirely from the program manager
          program, w_simfit.exe, or x64_simfit.exe, and you do not need
          to run any other Simfit programs.

          Make a shortcut from your desktop to the Simfit program manager
          C:\Program Files (x86)\simfit\bin\w_simfit.exe (or else
          C:\Program Files\simfit\bin\x64_simfit.exe). Run this
          shortcut and read any warning messages. Finally, press the
          [Configure] button, then the [Check] button to correct the
          paths if necessary, and finally the [Apply] button to complete
          the configuration.

       g) If you decide not to use the default folders, that is allowed
          as long as the installation folder ends like this ...\Simfit.
          You can install any binaries you like as auxiliaries, as long
          as the fully qualified path is provided using the [configure]
          option.

       h) Run w_simfit.exe (or x64_simfit.exe) at least once from the
          installation folder with all flags switched on to check for
          missing or obsolete files.

          When a good configuration has been set up, you should switch
          off the options to check for missing files, etc. to speed
          up the start up and prevent errors arising from impatient
          double clicking.

       i) Where Simfit is for group use, the test files *.tf? could be
          made read-only, or refreshed regularly, to prevent accidental
          editing leading to corrupt test files.

       j) Print out or browse the Simfit manual w_manual.pdf using a
          PS-viewer such as Adobe Acrobat Reader. This can be done from
          the [Manual] button on the w_simfit.exe main page if Simfit is
          configured properly.

       k) Common errors include inconsistent .exe or .dll files, failing
          to configure Simfit so that it cannot use an editor, PDF-reader,
          calculator, Ghostscript, or PS-reader, or not allowing Simfit
          write permission to create configuration and results files.

       3. Installing the Simdem package
          -----------------------------

       This is only required by Fortran programmers who want to create
       free-standing Windows programs with tables, input-output functionality,
       and graphics.

       The 32-bit Simdem driver program is called simdem.exe.
       The 64-bit Simdem driver program is called x64_simdem.exe.

       This is a subset of the Simfit package designed to allow Fortran
       programmers to use subroutines from either w_menus.dll and w_graphics.dll
       (or x64_menus.dll and x64_graphics.dll with the 64-bit versions)
       in order to create stand-alone executables that will run in MS
       Windows, Linux under Wine, or Mac under crossover. It comes with a
       help program called simdem.chm, source codes for the driver, 70 example
       programs, and compiled versions of simdem.exe and x64_simdem.exe.

       There are several versions.

       a) 32-bit Silverfrost FTN95 in CDECL mode and 64-bit FTN95.
          These are the versions bundled with the FTN95 compiler.

       b) 64-bit gFortran version

       c) The NAGfor 32-bit version using the -compatible switch (which
          invokes STDCALL mode) and the NAGfor 64-bit version. Both of
          these use the Silverfrost Clearwin+ interface to the Windows
          AP, and are the versions bundled with the NAG builder.

       The default 32-bit and 64-bit Simdem configuration is

       C:\Program Files\Simdem\bin    ... (binaries)
       C:\Program Files\Simdem\extras ... (auxiliaries)
       C:\Program Files\Simdem\f95    ... (free format codes)
       C:\Program Files\Simdem\for    ... (fixed format codes)
       C:\Program Files\Simdem\doc    ... (.txt, .html, and .pdf files)
       C:\Program Files\Simdem\dem    ... (demonstration data sets)

       The 32-bit and 64-bit binaries are independent and can be in the same folder.

       4. Installing GSview
          -----------------

       Linux users do not need to install this package, as many PS and PDF
       facilities are standard programs in Linux. However, these Windows packages
       can be installed in Linux if you want to.

       The best and most versatile vector graphics format for archiving
       and printing professional quality scientific graphs is PostScript.
       Simfit creates such high quality Encapsulated PostScript files
       (.eps), but it only displays a low resolution bit-map representation
       of the graph on screen, using Windows graphics.

       GSview is a convenient front end to view PostScript files in MS
       Windows, and Simfit is closely integrated with this software, which
       should be installed to get the most out of Simfit graphics. With this
       program you can drive any printer, or make any graphics files. You
       should go to the GSview/Ghostscript home page by visiting

       http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~ghost/gsview

       to obtain the latest releases, which may be more recent than the copies
       you can download from the Simfit site.