PC Shareware 9/pc_shareware_9.zip/Q387.RAR/Q387.DOC

Text File | 1993-12-08 | 26KB | 548 lines

                  Documentation for Q387, Version 3.61
                    Copyright, 1991-1993, QuickWare
                            P.O. Box 684652
                          Austin, Texas 78768
                              512-280-1452
                            December 6, 1993


     Q387 Version 3.61 is a math accelerator and math coprocessor emula-
tor for machines which do not have a coprocessor.  It will both increase
the  performance of your computer with most math intensive  applications
and  allow  you to run applications which require  a  math  coprocessor.
This is all done without any additional hardware.  The benefits of  Q387
are -

Benefits -

     o Reduces computation times by up to 80% for graphics, analysis,
       CAD, font generation for desktop publishing, games, etc. for
       computers which don't have math coprocessors.

     o Allows the running of programs which require a math chip, such as
       AutoCAD, Mathematica, COSMOS/M, AutoDesk 3D Studio, Renderize,
       Falcon 3.0 high performance mode, etc.

     o Fully compatible with DOS, most Expanded Memory Managers (EMMs),
       Windows 3.X 386 Enhanced Mode and Windows 3.1 Standard Mode, and
       most DOS Extender applications (such as AutoCAD 11, 12, and 386,
       Quattro Pro, etc.).

     o Complete math coprocessor emulation.

     o Uses NO DOS memory (loads into extended memory completely).

     o Low cost, only $25.

     o Free upgrades to enhanced releases.

     o Reduced power consumption for laptops, since you can run your
       programs without a math chip.


Requirements -

     o 386SX, 386DX, 486SLC, 486SX based computer, IBM PC or compatible,
       with at least 1.5 Megabytes total memory.  Less than 3 megabytes
       of memory for ACAD 11 and 12 may result in poor performance.

     o Q387 uses about 360k bytes of extended memory.

     o A 386 compatible Expanded Memory Manager (EMM), such as
       EMM386.EXE (comes with DOS 5 or 6 and Windows 3.1), QEMM386,
       386MAX, or the EMM386.SYS that comes with Dr. DOS 6.0.


How Q387 works -

     Run Q387 from your Autoexec.bat file or from DOS.  You must have an
Expanded  Memory  Manager (EMM) loaded first.   Q387  requests  Extended
Memory  from the EMM for its exclusive use, and then loads  itself  into
that  extended memory.  It leaves absolutely no trace of itself  in  DOS
memory, or in any memory directly accessible by DOS, thereby using  none
of this valuable resource.  The EMM protects Q387 from being overwritten
by other programs.  Q387 instructs your computer to use Q387 to  perform
math  operations instead of your application's math routines. Intel  has
built this capability into the design of the 386 and higher chip.  Since
Q387  runs completely in extended memory, it can utilize the full  power
of  the  386 chip, such as 32 bit operations and fast  access  to  large
amounts of inexpensive memory.  This has allowed us to optimize Q387 for
speed.   We  have also used advanced numerical  techniques  to  increase
speed.  The net result is that Q387 operates many times faster than  the
built-in  math  coprocessor emulation that may come with  your  applica-
tions.


Performance of Q387 -

     Example  benchmarks - on a DELL System 310, 4Mb ram, 32k cache,  20
Mhz  386, with EMM386.exe loaded, all times in seconds.  See  below  for
Run descriptions -

   Run      Run Without           With          Speed Increase
   Number      Q387               Q387            Factor

     1         14.0               3.8               3.68
     2        142.0              64.0               2.20
     3         22.4               6.2               3.61
     4         17.7               4.0               4.42
     5         49.0               9.5               5.05
     6        342.1              80.2               4.26
     7        226.0              98.0               2.31
     8        111.0              76.0               1.46
     9         41.0              18.7               2.19

Run Descriptions -

     Run 1 - Zoom out on a drawing, Generic CADD, by Generic Software.
     Run 2 - Render "Bicycle" on Alias Upfront
     Run 3 - AMD math coprocessor demo, Tree fractal.
     Run 4 - AMD math coprocessor demo, Compound interest calculation.
     Run 5 - Plot a graph on screen, GRAPHER, by Golden Software.
     Run 6 - Prepare data file for 3-d viewing, SURFER, by Golden
             Software.
     Run 7 - Render "BOX" on POVRAY, or, Persistence of Vision Ray
             Tracer, a freeware ray-tracing program available on
             America On-Line and other BBS's, search for "POV".
     Run 8 - Draw "Bicycle" on AutoSketch for Windows
     Run 9 - A representative part of the "Tecplot" demo, from AMTEC
             Engineering.  Uses a 16 bit DOS extender.

Standard Benchmark - same machine as above, QAPlus V4.21, Whetstones.

            Run Without           With            Speed Increase
               Q387               Q387            Factor

               62.3K              292.6K          4.69


Comparison  with FRANKE.387 (another 387 emulator) on same machine  with
same configuration as above -

                           FRANKE.387    Q387          Speed Increase
                                                       Factor
AutoCAD 10,
Zoom-All on "Airplane"     13.4 sec.     7.4 sec.      1.81

QAPlus V4.21, Whetstones   93.7K         292.6K        3.12

     Also,  FRANKE.387 is either not active or causes an error with  DOS
Extenders and Windows.

     Starting  with  Version 3.5, Q387 is just as fast  in  Windows  386
Enhanced Mode as it is in Standard Mode.

     While  Q387  is typically much faster than running without  a  math
chip, it is not as fast as a math chip.  When running with AutoCAD,  for
example,  Q387 typically does regens within a factor of 3 of  the  speed
when  running with a coprocessor.  Most zooms and pans are just as  fast
as  with a coprocessor, however, since the coprocessor (or Q387) is  not
involved with most zooms and pans.


Our method of distributing Q387 -

     We  distribute Q387 as what might be called "protected  shareware".
The distributed program is the full working version, except that it runs
for 20 minutes at a time before it beeps and does a DOS terminate of  an
application. This way, at little or no cost to you, you may fully evalu-
ate the performance of Q387 for yourself.  Also, upgrading is quick  and
easy.  You may run the demo as much as you please, and it  will  satisfy
the needs of many people who only need it for short periods of time.  If
you  are satisfied with the performance of Q387 and need it to  run  for
longer than 20 minutes,  we will, for a fee of $25 (see below for  addi-
tional options), provide you with a "Run Code" which allows Q387 to  run
unimpeded.  Q387 is not copy protected, but the Run Code will only  work
on one computer.  We feel that this arrangement is a reasonable  compro-
mise  between your need to verify the integrity of Q387 and the need  to
support this kind of work.


Running Q387 as a demo -

     An Expanded Memory Manager must be active.  This is done by  having
the following lines in your Config.sys file -

device = <path to DOS or Windows 3.1>\HIMEM.SYS      (for DOS 5 or 6)
device = <path to DOS or Windows 3.1>\EMM386.EXE

device = <path to QEMM>\QEMM386.SYS                    (for QEMM386)
device = <path to 386MAX>\386MAX.SYS                   (for 386MAX)
device = <path to DR DOS>\EMM386.SYS                   (for DR DOS 6)

Q387 will not run with the EMM386.SYS which comes with Windows 3.0.  Get
into  the  same  directory as Q387.exe is in.  Type "Q387"  at  the  DOS
prompt.  If you are using Windows, run Q387 before you get into Windows.
Q387  will  then load itself into extended memory and display  an  order
form on the screen.  If you want to order a Run Code, you can do a print
screen  at  that point to print the order form.  You may also  order  by
phone  with Visa or Mastercard, or by purchase order(see  below).   Q387
will then return you to the DOS prompt.  It will not itself perform  any
demonstration.   You  should run your math intensive  applications  with
Q387 loaded to see how they perform with Q387.  When the 20 minute  time
limit  is over and if you are still running an application that is  cur-
rently  using Q387, Q387 will cause your computer to beep and then  will
terminate  your  application, returning you to either  DOS  or  Windows,
whichever one you were in when you started the application.


Getting a Run Code by phone with Visa or Mastercard -

     Run  Q387 as a demo and pause at the order screen.  Be sure to  run
the  demo  on the  computer which you intend to use Q387 on.   Call  our
toll-free number which is listed on the order screen.  Our operator will
first  get  your credit card type, number, and  expiration  date.   Your
credit  card  number  will be verified.  He or she will  then  get  your
Machine  Code which is near the middle of the order screen,  your  name,
and address.  You will then be given your Run Code.


Getting a Run Code by fax with Visa or Mastercard -

     Run  Q387  as a demo and do a print screen of the order  form.   Be
sure  to print out the order form from the machine which you  intend  to
run  Q387 on.  Fill out the order form.  At the end of the  order  form,
write down the type of credit card which you are using (Visa or  Master-
card),  the  credit card number, and the expiration date.   Be  sure  to
include your fax number.  Fax the order form to 1-713-961-4438.  We will
then fax back your Run Code by the next working day.  For orders outside
of North America, a $5 surcharge will be added to your bill to cover the
costs of faxing back your order.


Getting a Run Code by mail with a check or money order -

     Run  Q387 as a demo and do a print screen of the order form.   Fill
out   the order form.  If you don't have a printer for printing out  the
order  form, please include all of the required information which is  on
the  order form.  See below for payment options.  We will, within  three
working  days of  receiving  your order,  mail to you a Run  Code.   You
will need to include  your  Machine Code, a number which Q387 determines
and  prints on the order form at the start  of a demo run.  Be  sure  to
get the Machine Code of  the  computer you intend to use Q387 on.


Getting a Run Code by Purchase Order -

      Run   Q387  as  a demo and do a print screen of  the  order  form.
Fill out  the order form.  Fax to us the filled out order form and  your
purchase  order.  Include your fax number on the order form.   Fax   the
order form to 1-713-961-4438.  We will then fax back  your  Run Code  by
the  next working day.  A $5 surcharge will be added to your bill to
cover the additional costs of handling purchase orders.


     No matter how you order, your license to run Q387 and receipt  will
be  mailed to you.  If you do not have the latest copy of Q387, we  will
mail it to you along with your license and receipt.  A single license
covers one machine only and is not transferable to another machine. The
license does transfer to another owner if the machine is sold, however.


If you upgrade your computer -

     If  you  change your motherboard or your BIOS chips, your  old  Run
Code will no longer work.  You may get one new Run Code at no charge  by
calling  our toll-free number (see at end of this file).   Our  operator
will  get your Run Code and last name, verify that you are a  registered
user, take your new Machine Code, and then give you a new Run Code.  New
releases  of Q387 will give different Machine Codes from  this  version,
but your Run Code will still work.


     When you get your Run Code, you will run Q387 as follows -

<path to Q387>\Q387 xxx-xxx-xxx

where xxx-xxx-xxx is your Run Code.  You could put this at the start  of
your  Autoexec.bat file so that Q387 loads automatically each  time  you
start  your computer.  Q387 is not a DOS TSR (Terminate and  Stay  Resi-
dent) program.  You would not use any LOADHI with it.  Q387 uses no  DOS
memory,  nor  any Upper Memory Block, nor any of the Upper  Memory  area
(the area between 1024k and 1088k).


Expanded Memory Managers (EMMs) tested with -

     1.  DOS 5 & 6's EMM386.exe and Window's 3.1 EMM386.exe, by Micro
         soft.
     2.  QEMM386.exe versions 5, 6, & 7, by QuarterDeck Office Systems.
     3.  386MAX version 6, by Qualitas. Does not currently work with
         386MAX version 5.
     4.  Dr. Dos's EMM386.sys, version 6.0, by Digital Research.
     5.  Memory Miser 386 Version 1B43, by SoftLogic Solutions Inc.

DOS Extenders tested with -

     1.  386|DOS Extender, by Phar Lapp.
     2.  Intel 386/486 C Code Builder, by Intel.
     3.  DOS 16/M, by Rational Systems.
     4.  The 16 bit DOS extender that Borland uses with Borland C++
         and Quattro Pro (probably DOS 16/M).
     5.  Window's 3.1 Standard Mode, by Microsoft.
     6.  Window's 3.X 386 Enhanced Mode (also functions as an EMM and
         multitasker), by Microsoft.  Runs and multi-tasks DOS boxes
         and 16 and 32 bit Windows applications.
     7.  Q387 will not currently work with the ERGO 32 bit DOS
         extender.  This was used by the Lahey FORTRAN compiler, but
         Lahey has switched to the Phar Lapp 386|DOS Extender, which
         Q387 does work with.

Applications Q387 has been tested with -

     1.  AutoCAD 10, 11, 12, (DOS & Windows) by AutoDesk, Inc. **
     2.  COSMOS/M, by Structural Research Inc. **
     3.  Surfer and Grapher, by Golden Software.
     4.  Generic CADD, by Generic Software.
     5.  DesignCAD, by American Small Business Computers, Inc.
     5.  Borland C++, by Borland International, Inc.
     6.  Intel 386/486 C Code Builder.
     7.  Quattro Pro, by Borland.
     8.  Various engineering analysis C programs compiled with Borland
         C++.
     9.  Lahey FORTRAN, F77L-EM/32, Version 5.00, the "DEMO" program.**
    10.  AutoDesk 3D Studio Version 2.0, by AutoDesk, Inc. **
    11.  Animator Pro, by AutoDesk.
    12.  PSPICE Student Version 3.06, by MicroSim Corporation.
    13.  Renderize, Windows Pro v1.3 demo, by Visual Software, Inc.
         A 32 bit Windows program. **
    14.  Alias Upfront, by Alias Research and SketchTech Inc.
         A 16 bit Windows program.
    15.  Persistence of Vision (POV), a freeware raytracing program.
         Uses the 32 bit Intel C 386/486 Code Builder compiler.
    16.  386-MatLab V3.5m, by The MathWorks, Inc. **
    17.  Grapher for Windows, by Golden Software.
    18.  AutoSketch for Windows, by AutoDesk, Inc.
    19.  The Free Demonstration Version of MicroCADAM Cornerstone R1.3c.
    20.  MATLAB V4 for Windows, by the MathWorks. **


** denotes programs which require either a coprocessor or Q387 to run.

Diagnostic utilities tested with -

     1.  Advanced Micro Devices' math coprocessor demo.
     2.  CheckIt, Version 3.0, by TouchStone Software Corporation.
     3.  QAPlus, by DiagSoft, Inc.
     4.  PC Labs Benchmark Series 5.0, by PC Magazine.
     5.  CHKCOP V2.00, by Intel Corp (a 387 checker).
     6.  IIT Coprocessor tester.


Included files -

     Q387.exe - The Q387 executable.  This is a a self-expanding,
                compressed file.  It self-expands only when you run
                Q387 to load it.  Compressed with PKlite Professional
                (PKlite is a trademark of PkWare, Inc.)

     Q387.doc - This file.

     FILE_ID.DIZ - A brief description of Q387 for use by BBS's.


Accuracy -

     Q387  performs all arithmetic to the exact same accuracy as  a  387
coprocessor.   This is 64 bits for the mantissa, 15 bits for  the  expo-
nent, and a sign bit.  Transcendental calculations (sin, cos, etc.)  are
accurate to within the last three to four bits of the mantissa (typical-
ly  to the last bit), which is much better accuracy than can  be  repre-
sented by the double precision variables that most programs use.


Expanded Memory Manager (EMM) configuration options -

     Q387  requires that an EMM be active, but expanded memory does  not
have to be available.  Many regular DOS applications use expanded memory
if  it is available to increase their performance (using  fast  expanded
memory  instead of the slow disk).  Before Q387, however, the use of  an
EMM  significantly  slowed down math intensive  applications  (when  run
without  a coprocessor on the computer).  With Q387, your  DOS  applica-
tions  can  now have the benefit of both Expanded Memory and  very  fast
math operations.

     One  penalty  associated with the use of expanded  memory  is  that
available high memory will be reduced by 64k (required for the  expanded
memory  "page frame"), leaving less room for device drivers  and  TSR's.
Also,  Windows  cannot use any of your expanded memory in  386  Enhanced
Mode.  If you don't want to use expanded memory, you can specify to  the
EMM  that it not use a page frame, thus reclaiming the lost 64k of  high
memory.  This is accomplished as follows in your CONFIG.SYS file -

device = <path to DOS>\EMM386.EXE NOEMS                (for DOS 5 or 6)
device = <path to QEMM>\QEMM386.SYS FRAME=0            (for QEMM386)
device = <path to 386MAX>\386MAX.SYS NOFRAME           (for 386MAX)
device = <path to DR DOS>\EMM386.SYS /F=none           (for DR DOS 6)


If you are using DOS 5 and older DOS Extender programs (e.g. ACAD 11)-

     Older DOS Extender programs such as AutoCAD 11 can only make use of
Expanded Memory when an EMM is present, so it's best to allocate  almost
all of your available memory to Expanded Memory in this case.  You  must
reserve  enough  Extended  Memory  for  Q387  to  load,  however.   With
EMM386.exe, a straightforward way to do this is as follows (this example
is for a computer with 4 Meg of RAM) -

device = <path to DOS>\EMM386.EXE L=360 2912  (for DOS 5 only)

where  the  "L=360" parameter tells EMM386 to reserve 360k  of  extended
memory.   The  "2912"  parameter tells it to allocate  2912k  bytes  for
expanded memory (if that much is available).  If you don't tell the  EMM
to  reserve a sufficient amount of Expanded Memory, older  DOS  Extender
applications  will give you some confusing message such as  "Conflicting
protected mode environment", or "The 386 chip is currently executing  in
virtual 8086 mode...", etc, or they they will run very slowly, with lots
of  disk  activity.  DOS 6, QEMM, and 386MAX make both types  of  memory
available  from the overall supply of memory, so you don't have  to  re-
serve  any memory explicitly for extended or for expanded memory.   Win-
dows 3.1 will run automatically in Standard Mode if you allocate most of
your memory to expanded memory with EMM386 as described above.


If  you  get an "Insufficient extended memory" error message  from  Q387
when using DOS 5's EMM386.exe -

     If  Q387 says that it does not have enough extended memory to  load
even  when you have reserved at least 360k with the  "L=xxx"  parameter,
that means that another program (such as SMARTDRV) is also using extend-
ed memory.  Either remove the other program(s), reduce the amount of ex-
tended  memory  that they are allowed to use, or  increase  the  "L=xxx"
number until Q387 fits.  If you are running a DOS extender program,  you
may  get  better performance by removing disk caching programs  such  as
SMARTDRV since the memory they use is typically better used by your  DOS
extender application.


If you are using QEMM386 -

     You need to include the "ON" parameter on the "device=QEMM386" line
in  your  config.sys  file.


Programs that Q387 will not run with -

     o On some machines with 386MAX.  If you want to run Q387 on  these
       machines,  you  must use a different Expanded Memory  Manager,
       such  as HIMEM.sys  and EMM386.exe, QEMM386, or DR DOS's
       EMM386.sys.  If Q387 runs as a demo okay, it will run ok
       with a Run Code.

     o Borland's Paradox 3.5 (Q387 runs fine with Paradox 4.0). This
       may run ok in a DOS box in Windows.  We have not tried that.

     o Lahey Fortran versions prior to version  5,  but runs fine with
       version 5.

     Q387 does not run with these programs due to the unusual nature  of
these  programs, and not due to any errors in the emulation  ability  of
Q387.


Updates -

     Due to our distribution method, we are able to provide free updates
to  all registered users.  All you have to do is to  periodically  check
your favorite BBS for a more recent release of Q387.  The Run Code which
you purchase will work for these later releases.  You may also call  our
BBS at 512-292-1212.


Backups -

     You really only need to keep your Run Code safe, as Q387 itself  is
available from many BBS's.  Make a backup of Q387 if you don't have easy
access  to a BBS.  If you lose your Run Code, we will look up  your  Run
Code for free.  Just call our toll-free number shown at the end of  this
file.


Viruses -

     Q387  was scanned for viruses with the Norton AntiVirus  before  it
was Zipped.  All major BBS's (and most local BBS's) do this as well.  We
have never gotten a virus from any BBS.


Money-back guarantee -

     If,  within  a  year of your purchase,  Q387 has  any  error  which
prevents it from successfully emulating a 387 or 487SX math  coprocessor
with any of your applications, we will refund to you the purchase  price
of your Run Code.


Contacting Us -

     For any reason other than ordering, we may be reached at the  phone
number  in  the heading for this document.  We may also  be  reached  on
Compuserve  at  70750,2147,  and on America Online  at  QuickWare.   Our
Internet addresses for CompuServe and America Online, are, respectively,
[e-mail] and [e-mail].  You may also leave  us
a  file  containing a message on our BBS at 512-292-1212.   If  you  fax
technical  questions, there will be a delay of a few days since our  fax
number is located in a different city from our home office.


Distribution of Q387 -

     Free  distribution of Q387 without Run Codes is both permitted  and
encouraged.  Distribution  of Q387 with Run Code(s)  is  not  permitted.
Both software and hardware vendors are welcome to distribute Q387  with-
out  Run Codes and may any reasonable fees.  Vendors are  encouraged  to
provide us with mailing addresses where we may send updates of Q387.

     Q387  can  be found on several bulletin board  services.   Some  of
these  are  Compuserve (IBM Hardware Forum), GENIE (IBM  PC  libraries),
America  On-Line,  and  Delphi.  You might also ask the  sysop  of  your
favorite  local BBS to get Q387 for you.  Q387 is also on  Internet,  at
SIMTEL20  in  the MSDOS archives, at garbo.uwasa.fi.  Search  files  for
Q387.  The full file name is Q387.zip, or Q387_XXX.zip, where XXX is the
latest  version  designation.   Use a wild card search for  Q387  as  in
Q387*.zip.

     We also now offer Q387 on our own Bulletin Board System (BBS).  Our
BBS  number is 512-292-1212.  You may also upload text files to our  BBS
containing  messages which we will reply to.  We have a 14.4k modem  and
our settings are N81.

Payment options - (valid through December, 1994)

     o $25 US currency, plus any applicable sales tax, by Visa or
       Mastercard.  Recommended if you have one of these cards.  Call
       number shown at end of this file.

     o $25 US currency with either a check from a US bank, or  a  money
       order (US currency money orders are available worldwide).  Please
       include any applicable sales tax.

     o $35 equivalent non-US currency written on a check from a
       non-US bank.  Please use the current exchange rate.  The higher
       amount is required to cover the bank's fees.


Volume discounts -

     If  your  organization would like multiple licenses  for  Q387,  we
offer the following discounts for volume purchases -

     1st license - $25.
     2nd through 10th licenses - $20 each.
     Each license over 10 licenses - $15 each.

For multiple licences per order, please print out the order form on each
machine  which you intend to use Q387 on.  Each machine requires  a  li-
cense.   If you are calling in the order, have the order forms ready  so
that you may give the Machine Codes to our operator.  If you are  faxing
or  mailing  in the order, please include all of  the  required  Machine
Codes.

     Thank you for trying Q387.

Toll-free  order number, for Visa or Mastercard orders or new Run  Codes
only  -  1-800-392-9349, US and Canada (1-713-622-4870  International),
between 9:00 AM and 12:00 noon, and between 2:00 PM and 5:00 PM,  Monday
through Friday, Central Time (US).