The Fred Fish Collection 1.5/ffcollection-1-5-1992-11.iso/ff_progs/libs/matlab.lzh/MATLAB/MATLAB.LZH/readme2

Text File | 1991-05-23 | 6.8 KB | 206 lines

C





                                20 Sept 1989

In this release, I think  that the  plot batch mode is  *really* fixed.  I
previously thought it was fixed (it worked on my 4.5 Meg machine), only to
get reports of crashes on 1 Meg machines.  It  now seems  to work on 1 Meg
machines as well.

                                20 June 1989

 This release of Matlab incorporates a  number of new features, as well as
 a substantial number of bug fixes.  New for this release:

  1.   Workbench startup
  2.   Polar Plots
  3.   Contour Plots
  4.   Enhanced Plot buffer control
  5.   Algorithmic plot display generation, permitting use of any Amiga
       display that has been properly defined to the system.
  6.   Plot batch mode now works correctly.


 A number of bugs in Diglib that  would  cause erratic operation have been
 fixed.

 Workbench Startup:  By default, this release  of Matlab will use the CON:
 device and open a 640 by 200 window  on  the  workbench when started from
 workbench.   Upon   startup,   Matlab   will   look  for  a  file  called
 MATCONFIG.SYS in the current directory (the directory that Matlab is in).
 If it finds the file, it will open  the  window  that is described there.
 If the file does not exist, it will  open  the default window.  This way,
 you may open a window with CON: or NEWCON: or whatever else is available.
 I use ConMan, so opening a CON: window is OK with me.

 I have included in this package the  executables  of  the subroutines and
 the startup code that  I  developed  to  provide  workbench  startup  for
 Fortran.  Sorry...the source is not  available  pending  publication of a
 magazine article in Amazing  Computing.   This  Workbench startup code is
 generally useful and will work with any  fortran program on the amiga, so
 long as you compile it using Absoft  Fortran  v 2.3.  To use it, you must
 use the init.sc module that I provide  instead of the one provided on the
 L: directory of the  Fortran  distribution  disk.   You  must install the
 WBEND subroutine as  the  last  executable  statement  ahead  of  the END
 statement in the main program.  If  you  want  a window to do I/O in, you
 must CALL STDOPN('etc') before you try  to do I/O.  The module WBSTRT.SUB
 will obtain for you the address of the  workbench startup message.  Check
 the Main program for Matlab to  get  examples  of  syntax.  Watch Amazing
 Computing for full details.

 This release still needs 1 meg to do plots.  I experimented with overlays
 for a bit and gave it up...too much overhead and performance penalty.

 The plot batch mode now  works  correctly.   Thus,  from  Matlab, you may
 enter the command PLOT(X,'my plot definition file') and expect it to work
 correctly.  It is therefore possible to completely automate the procedure
 of data  manipulation/plotting  using  the  EXEC command and expect it to
 work.

 This is the last free release  of  Matlab.   I  have incurred significant
 systems costs to develop the package to this extent, and I need to recoup
 some of those costs.  The article in Amazing will help, but I'm still out
 a bundle.  The next release, at some point in the indefinite future, will












 be commercial.  I plan a  full  intuition  interface  (in C) as well as a
 printer driver that will use the  maximum  resolution of your preferences
 printer.  It will probably be slow,  but  I'll do the best I can.  I will
 also add 1 and two dimensional FFTs, convolutions, numerical integration,
 and numerical differentiation.

                             19 Jan 1989

 This is the 19  January  1989  release  of  Amiga  Matlab.   This release
 includes extensive plot support.   It  is now possible to do all types of
 X-Y plots, as well as 3-D plots and histograms.   Polar plots and contour
 plots are in the works and will  be  available  within  two months.  Plot
 definitions  may  be  stored  to  disk  and  recalled  at  any  time.  In
 principle, it should be  possible  to  execute  a  batch file when matlab
 starts and generate a graph using a  stored  definition,  but I am having
 trouble makeing  the  batch  option  of  Plot  work  correctly.   I  have
 encountered what seems to be a problem  with the Absoft run time library.
 I am working on it and hope to solve the problem soon.

 This release, as provided,  makes  some  use  of overlays.  If you have a
 512K system, you will be able to run matlab  without problem, however you
 will not be able to do any plotting.  For plots, you need one meg.  Also,
 the version posted on bulletin  boards  contains no source.  This file is
 quite large enough for uploading at  1200  baud as it is.  If you get the
 disk from me, you get  matlab  source  but  not  diglib source.  Why not?
 Insufficient space on one disk.  If  you  want  the whole shooting match,
 all source, diglib and matlab, send me 2 disks.  If you are already on my
 list as having provided $5.00 for costs,  you need send only the disks...
 I will fill them and send  them  back.   I  recommend you wait until late
 March or April, however, because by  then  contour  plots and polar plots
 will  be  implemented.   Also,  that  will  be  the  last  free  release.
 Subsequent releases will be  shareware  and I will not release the source
 without a contribution.

 When we go shareware, I will be  providing  a  68020/68881 version of the
 program.

 Effective immediately, I  will  no  longer  provide  a  hard  copy of the
 manual.  A kind soul provided me  with  a  disk based copy which I am now
 distributing with the package.   (Thanks, Capt. Strovink).

 For the planned April release,  I  will  provide  two versions: one fully
 compiled and  linked  for  those  who  have  the  memory,  and  a heavily
 overlayed version to enable 512K  users  to do plots.  At present, I have
 not had the time to rearrange the program.

 A  note to  my  European friends: this  release of  Amiga Matlab does not
 support PAL displays.  I will provide that support in the April release.

 This release, and the next one, will use CLI interface only.  I do intend
 to add Workbench support, as  well  as  a  windowing editor and pull down
 menus, but I have currently chosen  to  focus on functionality instead of
 frills.  Accordingly, you  will  make  plot  choices  from text menus.  I
 think, however, that you will be  quite  pleased.   I am not aware of any












 other package for the Amiga that provides this degree of functionality.

                              Jim Locker
                              SofTech Inc.
                              4443 N. Hyland Ave
                              Dayton Oh 45424
                              [phone] days, Mon to Fri