
 File: version7.txt

 Brief details of the default paths and other considerations for the
 Simfit and Simdem packages from Version 7.2.4 onwards.

 Changes at version 8
 --------------------
 Simfit no longer requires GhostScript, GSview, or a specified PDF reader.
 Transformation of *.eps files now uses the GhostScript DLL which is placed 
 in the ...\bin folder by the installer, and *.eps files can be viewed as
 source or as *.pdf using the Windows default PDF viewer. As a result of 
 these changes several configuration options are now disabled.
 
    Contents
    --------
    Part 1. Preliminary notes 

    Part 2. The Simfit package

    1. New Simfit installations and upgrading existing installations
    2. The top-level Simfit folder
    3. Installing Simfit in Windows from Simfit Version 6.9.1 onwards
    4. The Simfit sub-folders
    5. The NAG library and the program change_simfit_version.exe
    6. Installing Simfit in Linux
    7. PostScript utilities

    Part 3. The Simdem package

    A. Using Simdem from an IDE like Silverfrost Plato or the NAG Builder
    B. Free standing Simdem executables
    C. Redundant configuration options 
    D. Compiling the source code 

Part 1: Preliminary notes 
-------------------------

 a) Simfit and Simdem do not use the Windows registry. 
    All the configuration options are stored in ASCII text files
    (*.cfg) stored in sub-folders below the user's My Documents folder. 

  b) 32-bit versions will run on 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.
    
 c) In 32-bit versions the Simfit driver (program manager) is w_simfit.exe
    and the individual programs have the w_ prefix (e.g. w_simplot.exe)
    
 d) In 32-bit versions the Simdem driver (program manager) is simdem.exe
 
 f) 64-bit versions will only run on 64-bit operating systems.
    They will probably be installed in
    the C:\Program Files folder.
    
 g) In 64-bit versions the Simfit driver (program manager) is x64_simfit.exe
    and the individual programs have the x64_ prefix (e.g. x64_simplot.exe)
    
 h) In 64-bit versions the Simdem driver (program manager) is x64_simdem.exe


Part 2. The Simfit package
--------------------------

The Simfit installation tree should be like this:

C:\Program Files\Simfit     ... top level folder (MUST BE EMPTY)
C:\Program Files\Simfit\bin ... binaries   
C:\Program Files\Simfit\doc ... documentation 
C:\Program Files\Simfit\dem ... demonstration test files

where C:\Program Files\ is the local language name for %ProgramFiles%
and would be e.g., C:\Program Files (x86)\ with 64 bit Windows.
The first part of the installation folder (e.g. C:\Program Files, 
or C:\program Files (x86)\) is arbitrary, but the installation folder 
name MUST end with \Simfit otherwise the Simfit package will not
function properly.

The following points concerning Version 7 should be noted.

1) New Simfit installations and upgrading existing installations

Previous versions of Simfit should be uninstalled before upgrading to
this version, and not simply overwritten. However, Simfit will never
overwrite any results or configuration files should you decide to 
do a quick re-install without first un-installing.

2) The top-level Simfit folder

The top level folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Simfit\) should always
be empty. If there are any files in this folder, they do not belong to
Simfit Version 7 and must be deleted.


3) Installing Simfit in Windows from Simfit Version 6.9.1 onwards

Simfit now places all temporary files in the user's %TEMP% folder while
results, user, and configuration files are created in subfolders
below the user's My Documents folder.
      
4) The Simfit sub-folders

The above directory structure must be strictly observed, except that
C:\Program Files\Simfit\ would be the local name for %ProgramFiles% or
the Simfit top level folder. Any attempt to rename the sub-folders
...\Simfit\bin, ...\Simfit\doc, or ...\Simfit\dem will disable Simfit.

5) The programs change_simfit_version.exe and x64_change_simfit_version.exe

The utility \Program Files\Simfit\bin\change_simfit_version.exe in
32-bit Simfit installations (or x64_change_simfit_version.exe in 64-bit
installations) can be used at any time to swap between the academic versions 
or the NAG library versions. It first reads details of the current library 
DLLs to replace w_maths.dll from change_simfit_version.config (or x64_maths.dll 
from x64_change_simfit_version.config) then provides options to overwrite the
current version of w_maths.dll (or x64_maths.dll) but note as follows.

   a. It can only be used in administrator mode and when Simfit is not running.
   a. Make sure before using it which version of the NAG library you have.
   b. Install the Academic version if you not not have the NAG DLLs 
   c. You have to right click and choose Run as Administrator,
      otherwise you may be prevented from overwriting w_maths.dll.
   d. It can be used at any time to restore the Academic version.

6) Installing Simfit in Linux

The default configuration is for the Academic version in Windows,
and Linux users must read the file linux.txt. To swap between Linux
and Windows configurations, just delete the files w_simfit.cfg and
l_simfit.cfg, and Simfit will then let you re-configure. 

7) PostScript utilities

Windows users do not need the GSview/Ghostscript packages to generate
professional quality vector graphics hardcopy and use the extensive 
Simfit PostScript functionality. However such facilities are always
pre-installed in Linux installations, and are now available as installed 
DLLs in Windows installations.  

Part 3. The Simdem package
--------------------------

The Simdem installation tree should be like this:

C:\Program Files\Simdem        ... top level folder (MUST BE EMPTY)
C:\Program Files\Simdem\bin    ... binaries    
C:\Program Files\Simdem\f95    ... free format code
C:\Program Files\Simdem\for    ... fixed format code 
C:\Program Files\Simdem\doc    ... documentation
C:\Program Files\Simdem\dem    ... demonstration files e.g. 
                                   NAG library data files referenced in LIST.NAG

where C:\Program Files is the local language name for %ProgramFiles%.
The first part of the installation folder (e.g. C:\Program Files) is
arbitrary, but the installation folder name MUST end with \Simdem
otherwise the Simdem package will not function properly.  

Many of the points made previously about the Simfit package will also
apply to the Simdem package. There are, however, four additional issues.

A) Using Simdem from an IDE like Silverfrost Plato or the NAG Builder

   If the Simdem DLLs are not on the path, they must be copied down into 
   each new project folder.

   If there is a fully functional installation of Simdem, and w_simfit.cfg
   contains the path to this as the Program Folder, for example
   character string number 3 = C:\Program Files\Simdem\bin, then the 
   executables generated in the project folder by the IDE will use this
   functional configuration for all files created. 

   If the character string number 3 in w_simfit.cfg in a project folder is
   set to a blank string or ***Undefined, the only complication will be
   that executables created will not be able to access the demonstration
   and documentation files.
   
   For these reasons the following solution is recommended.

   i) Users should have a fully functional version of the Simdem package
      installed, so that the driver simdem.exe can be used to demonstrate
      all the Simdem functionality, locate all the auxiliaries, display
      the compiled html help program, and provide the option to copy and
      paste source code sections in either free (*.f95) or fixed (*.for)
      format from the Simdem example codes into their own programs.

   ii) If the Simdem GUI DLLs are not on the path, the IDE should copy into
       new projects the Simdem DLLs.

B) Free standing Simdem executables

   Executables created using Simdem will only work if they are linked 
   to the three 32-bit Simfit GUI DLLs and salflibc.dll as follows:

   w_clearwin.dll ... linked to salflibc.dll 
   w_menus.dll    ... linked to w_clearwin.dll
   w_graphics.dll ... linked to w_clearwin.dll and w_menus.dll
   (or just to simdem32.dll in recent Silverfrost distributions)

   In 64-bit installations the corresponding DLLs are

   x64_clearwin.dll ... linked to clearwin64.dll and salflibc64.dll
   x64_menus.dll    ... linked to clearwin64.dll
   x64_graphics.dll ... linked to x64_clearwin.dll and x64_menus.dll
   (or just to simdem64.dll in recent Silverfrost distributions)
   
   Such executables must have local copies of these DLLs or they must be
   on the path. 

C) Redundant configuration options 

   Configuration options 1 to 9 in w_simfit.cfg only have meaning in
   Simfit installations, and do not apply to Simdem. 
    
D) Compiling the source code 

   Those wishing to compile the source code should first study the document
   source.pdf available from the Simfit website. 
  
