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NeXT Nugget News Digest (vol. 5, issue 6, November 4, 1992)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Integrity Solutions Announces An Extended Beta Program for
FrontDesk, a Network Message Center
II. Announcing CodeCheck from Abraxas (Posix compliance testing
for C and C++)
III. September NeXTSTEP Developer mailing (Release 3.0 enhancements
checklist)
IV. Call For Beta testers for MicroPhone Pro Module
V. NightShade Announces TalkBack, versatile conferencing
NeXTSTEP App
VI. Opportunities for NeXTSTEP Developers and Contractors
VII. NeXT SysAdmin Position Open in Beverly Hills, California
VIII. Open Position: Systems Engineer, NeXT Computer, Inc.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
All previous Nugget News Digest issues are archived at the
Purdue ftp archive site: sonata.cc.purdue.edu under...
/pub/next/submissions/Nugget_News_Digest_Q2_1992.tar.Z
/pub/next/submissions/Nugget_News_Digest_Q3_1992.tar.Z
Conrad Geiger
Manager, International NeXT User Groups
P.S. To be added or deleted from this distribution, please send email
to "nugget@next.com."
____________________________________________________________________
I. Integrity Solutions Announces An Extended Beta Program for
FrontDesk, a Network Message Center
St. Paul, MN. Oct 6, 1992 - Integrity Solutions announces an
Extended Beta Program for FrontDesk, a networked office productivity
tool. FrontDesk merges "While You Were Out" telephone message notes
and a traditional "In/Out" board with the powerful network
capabilities of NeXTSTEP. Featuring a Client/Server architecture,
FrontDesk provides a cost effective solution to keeping track of
telephone messages and availability of office staff. Some of the
FrontDesk features include:
- Client/Server Architecture
- Integrated In/Out Board and "While You Were Out" Messaging System
- Optional NeXTMail message delivery
- Hot Keys for "I am Back", "I'm Gone" and "Do Not Disturb"
- Operates over SLIP connections
- Full RTF support in all message and comment fields
- Urgent messages are color-coded (User selectable)
- Type-ahead user list selection
- Message summary printing
- User defined personal profiles
- Date and time stamps for updates
- Support for NeXT mail pictures
- Icon animation alerts for unread messages
- API for Third Party Development
"Before FrontDesk and our network of NeXT computers, we would have to
make a special point of going up the the receptionist 2-4 times a
day to make sure we had all of our current messages," said Dr. John
Andrews of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State
University in Ames, Iowa. "Many of our messages would be a few hours
old when we retrieved them," he continued, "FrontDesk has been a
blessing, now we know immediately when a call is received."
The Extended Beta program offers interested NeXT users to beta test
Front Desk with a special version of the application that allows an
unlimited number network users. The Beta program will expire on
November 15, 1992 and Beta testers will have the opportunity of
buying the first release version for a substantial discount.
"Our custom development heritage shows with this beta release of
FrontDesk," said Rodger McBride, product manager of the FrontDesk
project. "We see this as a first round in a suite of networked office
productivity products. Our role is implementing solutions driven by
our customers needs."
For more information or to enroll in the Extended FrontDesk Beta
Program, contact;
Rodger McBride, FrontDesk Product Manager
Integrity Solutions
32 Empire Dr.
St. Paul, MN 55103
Telephone: (612) 223-8484
NeXTMail: frontdesk@is.com
Integrity Solutions is a custom application developer located in St.
Paul, Minnesota. They provide custom software solutions specializing
in Workflow, Database and Executive Information Systems for clients
in the Legal, Law Enforcement, Medical and Corporate environments.
FrontDesk is their first product in a suite of Networked Office
Productivity Solutions.
NeXT Computer, Inc., headquartered in Redwood City, Calif., designs,
manufactures and markets professional workstations, which combine the
power and networking of today's most advanced workstations with the
ease of use and productivity applications of today's best personal
computers. NeXT's professional workstation systems promise to
enhance the way groups of people work together in the 1990s.
NeXT and NeXTSTEP are trademarks of NeXT Computer, Inc.
____________________________________________________________________
II. Announcing CodeCheck from Abraxas (Posix compliance testing for
C and C++)
Until now, there has been no automated way for programmers to
determine if the programs they write are in conformance with the
Posix standards. Abraxas Software has released "CodeCheck," an
expert system tool that will examine C and C++ source code for
compliance to POSIX.1, AT&T UNIX System V, and Berkeley UNIX standards.
CodeCheck assists programmers in their development process by
providing friendly suggestions wherever their code fails to comply
to the standards. Single user licenses start at $XXX, site and
educational discounts are available. For more information, contact
Patrick Conley, President of Abraxas Software
Phone - (503) 244-5253
FAX - (503) 244-8375.
____________________________________________________________________
III. September NeXTSTEP Developer mailing
This went out in the recent September NeXTSTEP developer mailing.
Hope you find it useful!
Sharon Zakhour
Developer Support
appkit.845
Release 3.0 enhancements checklist
3.0 Enhancement Checklist
[or "How to be 3.0 Hip"]
When you update your application to Release 3.0, following is a list
of features you should strongly consider adding to your application
to take advantage of the new 3.0 feature set. This information is
provided as a checklist and primarily consists of features every 3.0
application should probably support. There are many other new and
exciting 3.0 features (such as Distributed Objects, 3DKit, DBKit,
Indexing Kit, Phone Kit) that are not mentioned here because they are
relevant to a smaller set of applications.
- Object links
Every application running under NeXTstep 3.0 should take advantage,
if at all possible, of the powerful ability to link external data or
files into the documents of an application. Likewise a document- or
data-oriented application should support exporting data links.
Linking is performed using the familiar Copy/Paste metaphor for data
and the Drag-n-Drop metaphor for files programmers should consider
implementing both forms of object links. Bundled applications
that import data links are Edit and Draw. Bundled applications that
export data links are Draw, IconBuilder, and Graph. See the 3.0
Examples Graph and Draw, the AppKit and ObjectLinks Release Notes,
and the NXDataLink spec sheets for more information on how to
implement object linking.
- Filter services
A Filter service is a new 3.0 type of Service which has no menu item
but supports the ability to convert a piece of data from one type to
another. Every application can take advantage of filter services
when opening files (via +typesFilterableTo: if it can open a standard
type, like RTF) and when importing data via copy/paste or dragging
(via +imagePasteboardTypes).
Other applications can provide filter services: for example, if you
have some code which converts your document format [the WonderFormat]
to RTFD, then you should provide this functionality as a filter
service. Another application which understands RTFD but not
WonderFormat can still import WonderFormat documents and the filter
service will do the work of the conversion. The other advantage of
providing a filter to ascii is that your documents then become
indexable by Digital Librarian. See the 3.0 Appkit Release Notes and
the Pasteboard spec sheet for more information on:
+typesFilterableTo:, +newByFilteringFile:, +newByFilteringData:,
+newByFilteringTypesInPasteboard:.
- New dragging mechanism
The drag and drop mechanism is new and improved in 3.0. Under 2.x,
drag and drop was implemented using the registerWindow:, etc.
methods. [These methods will continue to work in 3.0 but are being
obsoleted.] For 3.0, a new Workspace Protocol has been added which
supports interapplication dragging in View and Window classes and
should actually simplify your code. The new dragging mechanism can
be used both for inter-application dragging and intra-application
dragging (as in palettes). See the 3.0 Appkit Release Notes
and the View, Window and NXDraggingDestination spec sheets for more
information on (to name some of the methods involved):
-registerForDraggedTypes:,
-draggingEntered:, -draggingUpdated:, -draggingExited:,
-prepareForDragOperation:, -performDragOperation: and
-concludeDragOperation:.
- Dragging TIFF and EPS [i.e. image] data
As a side note, any application which supports drag and drop of
TIFF or EPS should (instead of registering for ".tiff" and ".eps"
explicitly) register for [NXImage imagePasteboardTypes]. This method
returns a NULL terminated list of strings and allows your application
to take advantage of other image types that NXImage knows how to
convert between, such as the RIB format (if libMedia is linked with
your application) or other formats supported via the filter services
mechanism. See the Appkit Release Notes and the NXImage spec sheet
for more information on +imagePasteboardTypes. [Note: all
applications that import data via NXImage should start linking with
libMedia.]
- Dragging colors
Another side note: applications should no longer use the
-acceptColor:atPoint: method for accepting colors. [The
-acceptColor: method will continue to work for 3.0 but should be
avoided.] Dragging colors should be implemented via the normal
drag/drop protocols with the NXColorPBoardType. See the 3.0 Appkit
Release Notes for more information on -acceptColor: and
NXColorPBoardType.
- Undo
Undo is a very powerful mechanism that we strongly encourage all 3.0
applications to support. To this end, the Draw Example (in
/NextDeveloper/Examples/Appkit/Draw) illustrates a whole framework
for supporting Undo. Draw has three subprojects which implement Undo
and two of these subprojects have been designed so that they can be
added to an existing application with minimal effort: a reusable
Change class, a reusable UndoText class, and a class specific to
Draw. See the UndoDoc.rtf and UndoREADME.rtf files in the Draw
Example for more information.
- Help
The Help facility is another powerful user mechanism that has been
integrated into InterfaceBuilder for 3.0 that every application
should support. The easiest way to implement Help in your
application is to use the Help panel to display any help files you
may have already written. The next level of implementation involves
attaching help files to each of the buttons, menus and other
controls in your application. For more information on how to
implement Help, see the 3.0 InterfaceBuilder and Appkit Release
Notes, the NXHelpPanel spec sheet and the Draw Example.
- Device independent color: calibrated RGB and Pantone
Colors should be set via the NXSetColor() function and should use
NXColor for color storage. (Colors should not be set via
PSsetrgbcolor() if you wish to take advantage of device independent
color.) Applications using NXSetColor() and NXColor can take
advantage (for free) of the calibrated RGB color space in
Release 3.0 which emits device independent colors to all Level 2
devices. See the 3.0 Appkit and WindowServer Release Notes for
further information on NXSetColor() and the NXColor spec sheet.
- Restoring Windows to previous location and size
Persistent windows can now take advantage of the new Window methods
which allow saving and restoring a window by name. These methods use
the defaults database to store the position and size of the window so
that when you recreate the window it will adopt the same
characteristics. See the 3.0 Appkit Release Notes and the Window
class spec sheet for more information on:
-saveFrameUsingName:, -setFrameUsingName:, -setFrameAutosaveName:,
-frameAutosaveName and -removeFrameUsingName:.
- Creating a Workspace contents inspector
You can now create your own contents inspector which Workspace will
use when one of your documents is selected. See the 3.0
IntroWorkspace.rtf document and the WMInspector class spec sheet for
more information on building an inspector module.
- Find text object
The ability to find text has been added to the Text object making it
much easier to implement a text search panel. See the Text class
spec sheet for more information on -findText:.
- RTFD
The Text object now supports reading, writing and editing the RTFD
file format. (Under 2.x the Text object only supported reading and
writing of straight ascii and RTF files.) See the 3.0 Appkit Release
Notes and the Text class spec sheet for more information on (to name
a few of the methods):
-setGraphicsImportEnabled:, -saveRTFDTo:, -openRTFDFrom: and
-writeRTFDTo:.
- Localization
While making an application localizable to other languages was
encouraged under the 2.x release of NeXTSTEP, it is now easier to
implement in 3.0 with additional support in InterfaceBuilder and
ProjectBuilder. Under 3.0, any application created via
ProjectBuilder will automatically bundle the nib files, binary and
other necessary files into an NXBundle (which looks suspiciously
like an app wrapper in days of yore). All methods in the Appkit
which used to look in the mach-O section to find something, now look
in [NXBundle mainBundle] if the desired object is not in the mach-O
section. See the 3.0 Localization Chapter of the Concepts Manual for
more information on how to make your application localizable for 3.0.
[Note: Localizing an application is different than making that
application localizable. Localizing involves the actual translation
while making it localizable puts the framework in place so that it
can be translated usually by someone other than the programmer.]
- Keyboard key codes are not portable to other platforms
The keyCode information (available in the event data for key events)
is device-dependent for a particular keyboard (and is documented as
such). NeXT recently started shipping a keyboard with new key codes
and any application which relied on the old raw key codes will almost
certainly perform differently. In order to keep software as portable
to as many platforms as possible, an application should avoid
examining raw key codes at all costs. (It is safe to use charSet and
event flags along with charCode to distinguish between key events.)
To quickly determine if your application uses raw key codes, search
your source files for the string "keyCode".
- Copying/moving/compressing/destroying files via the Workspace
Any application which supports copying or moving files around (or
compressing or destroying files, to name some of the supported
functions) should use the new Workspace Protocol method
-performFileOperation:. This method allows you to ask the Workspace
to perform an operation such as copying or moving a file and will
update the Processes panel with the Background process information
and the animated pie chart. See the 3.0 Appkit Release Notes and
NXWorkspaceRequestProtocol spec sheet for more information on
-performFileOperation: and the list of operations it supports.
____________________________________________________________________
IV. Call For Beta testers for MicroPhone Pro Module
Software Ventures has completed a Loran module for MicroPhone Pro for
NeXTSTEP which will send faxes, and we would like to beta-test it.
If you
1> Have MicroPhone Pro v 1.0 for NeXTSTEP
2> Use Loran
3> Run System 3.0
4> Have a fax modem and send faxes on a regular basis
Then we would like you to beta-test the fax module. As always, our
Loran modules are free for use by all MicroPhone Pro owners. After
the beta cycles are done, we will make the module available on our
bbs and on the anonymous ftp sites (assuming they let me upload it
there).
--
Michael Rutman | moose@svcdudes.com
Cubist | makes me a NeXT programmer
Software Ventures | maker of MicroPhone Pro
_____________________________________________________________________
V. NightShade Announces TalkBack, versatile conferencing NeXTSTEP App
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: NightShade Software
Box 60063, U of A Postal Outlet
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2S4
Phone: (403) 439-8718
E-MAIL: nshade@niagara.ucs.ualberta.ca
ANNOUNCING: Unlimited TalkBack 1.0 DEMO
NightShade Software is proud to announce the release of a
unlimited demo version of TalkBack, a versatile conferencing
application for the NeXT computer.
TalkBack 1.0 offers an easy to use NeXTMail-like interface,
and allows any number of users with NeXTs connected to a
TCP/IP network to interactively send messages consisting of
voice, rich-text, and file-attachments to each other. All
messages are stored in a local archive for later review.
TalkBack uses a true peer-to-peer network model, meaning
that there is no centralized "server". Users can create,
join, and exit conferences at any time. A single user can
participate in any number of conferences at once using the
NeXT's standard "Multiple Document" metaphor.
DETAILS ON "UNLIMITED DEMO"
TalkBack version "1.0 DEMO" is FREE. That's right, it costs
$0.00, and is not crippled in any way. Why are we doing
this?
We started writing TalkBack using NeXTSTEP 2.1. Being a
small company, we didn't have advance access to 3.0 like the
Big Guys. Now that we have 3.0, we've decided that TalkBack
can greatly benefit from the use of the new 3.0 features.
We were faced with a tricky decision -- should we ignore 3.0
for a while longer, and polish off the 2.1 version of
TalkBack, or should we devote all our energy to creating a
new TalkBack, taking full advantage of NeXTSTEP 3.0 (and
make people wait even longer)? We decided to try something
a bit different.
We have frozen development of the 2.1-compatible TalkBack,
and are releasing it as freeware, so that the people who
have been waiting for TalkBack can start using it, while we
work on the much more powerful TalkBack for 3.0.
Here are the catches:
- TalkBack 1.0 is distributed as-is, with no warranties or
support of any kind
- TalkBack 1.0 will not be upgraded in any way, including
bug fixes or new features
- TalkBack 1.0 will not be message-compatible with future
versions of TalkBack
- TalkBack 1.0 is NOT in the public domain; it can be freely
distributed, but not sold
- Persons wishing to distribute TalkBack 1.0 as part of a
collection of NeXT demonstration software should contact
NightShade Software for permission
Work is already underway on the 3.0-specific version of
TalkBack. This will NOT be a free program; it will be a
fully supported commercial application, with many powerful
new features.
AVAILABILITY:
TalkBack is available for anonymous ftp from the following
archive sites:
sonata.cc.purdue.edu (/pub/next/2.0-release/demos)
cs.orst.edu (/pub/next/demos)
The file is named TalkBack1.0.tar.Z. Note that it may
initially be located in /pub/next/submissions on either of
the above sites.
If you don't have Internet access, or don't know how to use
anonymous ftp, contact NightShade software for alternate
shipping options.
____________________________________________________________________
VI. Opportunities for NeXTSTEP Developers and Contractors
Fortune 500 opportunities for NeXTSTEP developers are available
on the East coast, Texas, Illinois, Washington, England, and Europe.
All opportunities are for long term on-site development with other
top notch NeXT pros.
Minimum 6 months NeXTSTEP and Objective C experience.
For more info, call Jay Wallen (who has been independently retained to
recruit) at 212-410-1400 or FAX at 212-534-3724.
____________________________________________________________________
VII. NeXT SysAdmin Position Open in Beverly Hills, California
NeXT TRAINING & USER SUPPORT MANAGER FRO LOS ANGELES AREA
The William Morris Agency is a large talent agency bearing the
distinction of being the world's oldest. Approximately 200
employees in Beverly Hills and 100 in New York use NeXT computers on
a company-wide network. NeXTs are used for general office automation
in support of the individual talent agent's daily activities securing
jobs for our clients in all facets of the entertainment business.
The NeXT Training & User Support Manager helps to maximize the
agency's investment in NeXT by ensuring that demanding users in a
hectic environment are well trained and supported. The NeXT Training
& User Support Manager also serves as the liaison with and
representative of users in the continuing development, implementation
and review of custom software. Position reports to MIS Director.
Essential Job Functions include but are not limited to:
TRAINING
- Design, develop and produce all training materials, e.g. WMA
specific procedures ("How To's"), In-class workbooks, visual
teaching aids
- Provide training for new and current users of Beverly Hills NeXT
network
- Analyze training needs on an on-going basis to develop solutions
and assist users in attaining maximum efficiency from NeXT
system.
- Supervise training/support staff to assist in training effort.
- Manage NeXT training function company-wide
USER SUPPORT
- Manage user support function for Beverly Hills office on a daily
basis.
- Be second source of support for help calls.
TECHNICAL
- Test/analyze new software packages for relevancy to the user
population.
- Analyze user business requirements and identify best short- or
long-term methods to satisfy same. Analysis may result in
changes to user procedures, use of existing software, purchase of
additional software, or indicate need for custom programming.
- Design, develop and produce custom software documentation
Other job functions include but are not limited to:
- Bi-monthly status reports to MIS Director
- Assist MIS Director and other NeXT staff as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
- Four year college degree
- Experience in each of the following areas:
- as power PC, Mac or NeXT (a plus) computer user including
familiarity with several different software packages
- providing support to computer users
- as trainer including needs analysis and development of material
- Communication skills (verbal and written)
- Ability to learn quickly
- Personal flexibility and patience
- Ability to work as part of a team
- Organizational skills
- Managerial ability
- Ability to recognize areas for improvement and devise appropriate
recommendations
Contact:
Phone: Leslie Dunlevy at (310) 859-4274 between 2:30 and 5:30pm
Mail: Lealie Dunlevy
William Morris Agency
151 El Camino Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Email: resume@wma.com (use only standard NeXT fonts)
____________________________________________________________________
VIII. Open Position: Systems Engineer, NeXT Computer, Inc.
Ann Arbor, Michigan
THIS IS A PRE-SALES SYSTEMS ENGINEERING POSITION REQUIRING EXCELLENT
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, NETWORK AND SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, AND VERBAL
COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
NeXT Systems Engineers provide the technical expertise necessary
to close sales, and generally evangelize the NeXT product family.
SE's must possess superb technical skills and a sense of innovation,
combined with a personality which promotes cooperation, trust, and
the sharing of ideas. The successful candidate will have a mix of
software engineering skills, and enjoy working with people and new
technology.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Rapid prototyping of software for feasibility analysis
- Technical presentations to all levels of customers
- Integration of NeXT computers with existing systems
- Technical account management
- Provide strategic input and guidance to sales, marketing, and
engineering, regarding market conditions, product requirements,
and overall program successes or failures
A typical NeXT Systems Engineer will spend one-third of their time
writing NeXTSTEP applications for customer-based prototyping or
proof-of-concept efforts, one-third consulting one-on-one with
potential and existing customers on software development and network
engineering, and one-third performing presentations and
demonstrations of NeXTSTEP.
Necessary Skills:
- Solid software engineering background
- Ability to articulate technically complex issues to a wide variety
of audiences
- Demonstrated aptitude at working independently
- Ability to work with limited supervision in an autonomous,
results-oriented environment
- Ability to work within a team environment
- Strong problem solving skills
- Ability to juggle multiple tasks
- B.S.C.S or equivalent with 4 years experience required; M.S.C.S
preferred
Relevant Experience:
- NeXTSTEP, Objective-C, Mach
- UNIX systems programming/systems administration
- Object-oriented programming
- Advanced application programming in C, LISP, and FORTRAN (or
equivalent)
- Windowing application development (Macintosh, X11, MSWindows, etc.)
- Database application development (Sybase, Oracle, etc.)
- TCP/IP, NFS, YP/NIS
- PostScript
- Pre-sales support experience
For more information please send a cover letter, resume, and salary
history via email to Central_Area_Jobs@NeXT.com or fax to
312.329.0285. Responses without cover letters will not be
considered. Please include at least one paragraph which reflects on
how your skills and experience will enable your success as a Systems
Engineer for NeXT.
____________________________________________________________________
IX. FREE OFFER to NeXT USERS who perform DATA ANALYSIS from S+
Instructional Video
'An Introduction to Intelligent Data Analysis'
Take complete control of your data and statistical analysis.
Dear NeXT User Group member or NeXT User:
Are you using modern software tools for data and statistical
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Most of today's analysis packages rely on a rigid "plug and chug"
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Without the benefit of modern, interactive analysis techniques you
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In just 15 minutes our new instructional video will illustrate,
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And please note--thousands of your colleagues are performing
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S-PLUS has over 1200 functions (see below for a summary list) for
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What's more, S-PLUS's interactive, object-oriented language
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So please return the reply card, or better yet give us a call.
We are happy to share this important new instructional video
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P.S. And if you'd like, we'd also be happy to send you a
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CALL 1-800-569-0123 (or 206-283-8802).
Statistical Sciences, Inc.
1700 Westlake Ave. N. Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98109, USA
Tel: (800) 569-0123 or (206) 283-8802
Fax: (206) 283-8691
Email: mktg@statsci.com
S-PLUS VERSION 3.1
FOR UNIX WORKSTATIONS AND COMPUTE SERVERS
Statistical Sciences, Inc. (StatSci), based in Seattle, Washington,
is pleased to announce Version 3.1 of S-PLUS for UNIX Workstations
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environment and an object-oriented language for development of
quantitative applications.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF S-PLUS Version 3.1
=========================================
S-PLUS is a fully supported superset of the April, 1992 release
of The S Language from AT&T Bell Labs. S provides hundreds of data
analysis functions which are embodied in their own C-like language.
This language-basis allows greater flexibility for easy
modification or extension of existing functions and also allows
the user to define new functions in the language and/or to
incorporate their own Fortran or C programs.
StatSci adds a number of statistical and graphical functions,
provides service and support services, sells S-PLUS in binary
format for specific workstations (S can only be purchased as
unsupported source code), and provides complete documentation for
S-PLUS.
PARTIAL LIST OF IMPORTANT S-PLUS FEATURES
=========================================
EDA AND PRESENTATION GRAPHICS
-----------------------------
S-PLUS provides enhanced window system interfaces for X11, and
SunView. Under X11, the user can choose an OPEN LOOK, Motif, or
Athena style.
The S-PLUS plot windows provide a palette of mouse-driven
selections including point and click for instant laser printer
output (PostScript and LaserJet printers), plot orientation,
text point size, color selection, and copy creation. Multiple
plots can be placed on one page or screen, or plots can be
overlayed.
HIGH INTERACTION GRAPHICS
-------------------------
High-interaction graphics are provided in the form of pairwise
scatter plots, 3-D point cloud rotation, marginal histograms
and scrollable case listings, all with linked brushing.
GREY-SCALE AND COLOR IMAGING
----------------------------
A function is included for creating grey-scale or color image
plots.
STATISTICAL MODELING LANGUAGE
----------------------------
S-PLUS comes with a modern statistical modeling language which
provides a common syntax for describing and fitting a wide
variety of classical and modern, robust models. Built-in models
include:
* Linear Models
* ANOVA Models, balanced and unbalanced
* Nonlinear Models
* Generalized Linear Models
* Generalized Additive Models
* Local Regression Models (loess)
* Tree-based Regression Models
CLASSICAL INFERENCE
-------------------
S-PLUS now contains a basic set of classical methods for
estimation and testing. The methods contained in Version 3.1
include:
Procedure: Comments
---------- -----------------------------------
t-test one-, two-, and paired-samples
Welch's test for two samples
correlation tests Pearson's,Spearman's rho,Kendall's tau
Wilcoxon tests one-, two-, and paired-samples
Kruskal-Wallis test
Friedman test
tests of proportions exact and chi-square approximation
contingency table tests Fisher's exact & chi-square approx.
Mantel-Haenszel test
McNemar test for symmetry
Additionally, several discrete distributions including the
binomial, hypergeometric and Wilcoxon distributions have been
added to S-PLUS.
ANALYSIS OF VARIANCE
--------------------
Fixed Effects
Random Effects
Factorial Models
Nested Models
Graphical Procedures:
Location plots for each level of each factor
Box plots for each level of a factor
Interaction plots
Half-normal probability plots of effects
DESIGN OF EXPERIMENTS
---------------------
Full and Fractional Factorial
Orthogonal Array
EXPLORATORY REGRESSION
----------------------
Stepwise Multiple Regression
All Possible Subsets Regression
Generalized Additive Models
Regression Model Linearization (ACE)
Additivity and Variance Stabilization for regression (AVAS)
Projection Pursuit Regression
SCATTERPLOT SMOOTHERS
---------------------
Kernel Smoothers
Friedman and Stuetzle's "Super Smoother"
Robust Locally Weighted Regression Smoother (Lowess)
TIME SERIES
-----------
Univariate ARIMA models
Multivariate AR models
Robust Fits for univariate AR models
Fractionally-Differenced ARIMA Modeling
Complex Demodulation
Spectral Analysis
General specification of filters and smoothers
Robust filters and smoothers
ROBUST METHODS
--------------
Bisquare estimates of location and scale
M-Estimate Regression
Minimum Absolute Residual Regression
Least Median of Squared Residuals (LMS) Regression
Least Trimmed Squares Regression
Generalized M-estimates of AR parameters in time series
Robust estimates of location and scale in time series
Robust filters and smoothers for time series
SURVIVAL ANALYSIS
-----------------
Survival Curves including Kaplan-Meier and Fleming-Harrington
Cox Proportional Hazards Models
Anderson-Gill modification to the Cox Model for time-dependent
covariates
G-rho family of tests for differences between survival curves
MULTIVARIATE METHODS
--------------------
Linear Discriminant Analysis
Cluster Analysis -- Hierarchical and k-means
Model-based Hierarchical Clustering and Classification
Principal Components Analysis
Canonical Correlation
Multidimensional Scaling
EXTENSIBILITY
-------------
Object-Oriented Programming Language
Interface to UNIX
Interfaces to Fortran and C
Static Loading of Fortran or C Code
Dynamic Loading of Fortran or C Code
INTERACTIVE HELP SYSTEM
-----------------------
S-PLUS comes with a point-and-click help system which allows the
user to scroll through a list of topics to easily identify the
specific S-PLUS functions for which assistance is needed.
INTERACTIVE DATA EDITOR
-----------------------
S-PLUS comes with a built-in spreadsheet-like data editor (for
X11 based systems only). It allows you to put a data matrix
in a row-column structure, and to navigate the structure and
view and edit data values.
PARTIAL LIST OF FEATURES NEW TO S-PLUS 3.1
==========================================
NEW FUNCTIONS FOR MATHEMATICAL COMPUTATION
------------------------------------------
Many new functions for mathematical computing have been added
to S-PLUS 3.1. Included are functions for integration,
optimization, finding roots, multivariate minimization with
bounds, nonlinear least squares with bounds, and more. Version
3.1 also includes support for complex numerical linear algebra.
QUALITY CONTROL CHARTING AND FUNCTIONS
--------------------------------------
S-PLUS version 3.1 implements both Shewhart and cusum charts for
monitoring continuous and discrete processed.
IMPROVEMENTS IN POSTSCRIPT SUPPORT
----------------------------------
A new device, called "postscript", has been created for producing
postscript output. The new "postscript" includes all of the
capabilities of the old "postscript" and "pscript" device drivers,
plus some additional new features. The new features provide the
user with greater control over color, fonts and international
character sets.
SUPERIOR SPEED PERFORMANCE AND MEMORY UTILIZATION
-------------------------------------------------
Improvements resulting in both faster execution speeds, and less
use of memory are included in S-PLUS 3.1. Initial tests indicate
that the new software consumes significantly less memory and
less execution time. Users can expect improvements when using
"for" loops, working with large data sets, or performing
simulations.
COLOR OUTPUT OF THE "IMAGE" GRAPHIC
-----------------------------------
The "image" graphic can now be produced in color on a postscript
printer. Version 3.1 provides the user with control over the
color map much like when desplaying the graphic with on screen
X11 based devices. Additional documentation about how to set up
and select color maps for output is included.
====================================================================
UNIX PLATFORM OFFERINGS
=======================
Sun4/SPARC (SunOS 4.x, Solaris 1.x)
Silicon Graphics IRIS-4D, Indigo
HP9000/3xx, 4xx, 7xx, 8xx (HP-UX 8.x or higher)
DEC RISC (Ultrix)
NeXT (requires X11 for Graphics)
IBM RS-6000 (AIX 3.2)
(PC version also available; inquire for information)
SUPPORT
=======
Software and documentation updates
S-PLUS hot-line phone support
Statistical consulting
Training courses in Seattle or on-site
TECHNICAL NEWSLETTER
====================
The S-PRESS, an S/S-PLUS technical newsletter series commenced
in June '90. Anyone wishing to receive the S-PRESS may do so
by sending their surface mail address to StatSci's electronic or
surface mail address provided below.
REBATE PROGRAM
==============
StatSci offers a rebate program for users of New S who wish to
convert to S-PLUS.
DISCOUNTS
=========
Educational and non-profit discounts, academic site licenses, and
volume purchase discounts are available.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
====================
Email: mktg@statsci.com
Surface:
StatSci
1700 Westlake Ave N Phone: (800)569-0123/(206) 283-8802
Seattle, WA 98109l USA Fax: (206)283-8691
__________________________________________________
end