 INDEX

 TableCurve Release Notes

 Contacting Jandel

 File Menu

 Edit Menu

 Calculate Menu

 Table Menu

 View Menu

 Process Menu

 Review Menu

 Help Menu

 Automated Curve-Fitting

 Auxiliary Functions

 Curve-Fit Graph

 Data Summary

 Equation List

 Evaluation Procedure

 Function Insert Feature

 Graph Formatting

 Graph Scaling

 Metafile Images

 Numeric Summary

 On-Graph Editing

 Overlay Data References

 Precision Summary

 Printing Graphs

 Printing Text

 Residuals Graph

 Undo Graph

 User-Defined Functions

 Weighting


File Menu

 The File Menu options offer the means to import a data table into the program from a file, to save the data table to an ASCII file, to view any ASCII file, to reset the program's startup defaults, or to exit the program.

 Import

 Import Digital Filter

 Import Clipboard

 Save

 ASCII List

 Reset All Defaults

 Exit

 Previous Files

 Drag and Drop Files


Import

 Use the Import option to read a data table into the program from a disk-based file. This option will read each data point directly into the data table. To digitally filter data into the data table, use the Import Digital Filter option. Supported file formats include Lotus 123 (all versions), Excel XLS (v3 and higher), Quattro Pro (all versions), dBase III+ and dBase IV DBF, SigmaPlot SPG, and single, X-Y, and multi-column ASCII files. The file selection list offers a list of supported file types which also contains the type of file last read using this option.

 XY ASCII Files: The is the default data format. These files optionally contain a main title, X title, and Y title on the first three lines followed by successive lines of data. Almost any form of data can be converted so long as the X value precedes the Y value and so long as there is a delimiter between the values such as one or more spaces, a comma, a separate line, etc.. Weights may follow the X and Y value by having an uppercase W preceding the weight value.

 Single Column ASCII Files: If the fourth line of an ASCII data file contains a single floating point value, you will be offered the option of a single column read. Here you must enter an initial X-value and an X-increment. The X values are then automatically generated as Y values are read.

 Multi-Column ASCII Files: If the fourth line of an ASCII file contains more than two floating point values, you will be offered a multi-column read option. You must then select an X and Y column, and optionally a Weights column. Use the column number and the ASCII string information in the initial columns to determine the columns desired. A multi-column file must either be comma delimited or freeform with quoted strings.

 Lotus, Excel, and Quattro Files: The first 25 rows of the spreadsheet are scanned for text strings. Use these and the column designation to select an X and Y column, and optionally a Weights column for the data table. A valid pair of X and Y values must exist within a spreadsheet row in order for the X-Y data point to be added.

 dBase Files: You must choose X and Y fields, and optionally a Weights field, from amongst the numeric fields in the database file. Deleted fields are added as inactive points. dBASE III+ and IV are supported.

 SigmaPlot files: The SPG and SP5 formats are supported for data input. You must select an X and Y column, and optionally a Weights column from the SigmaPlot worksheet. Valid X-Y pairs, those without missing values, are added to the TableCurve table.

 Management of Zero Values: A single active 0,0 data point will result in the exclusion of all of TableCurve's logarithmic equations. Zero values in data files are sometimes legitimate and other times simply represent an entry that has yet to receive a value. TableCurve will either accept a zero value as a valid entry, or it will mark it as inactive assuming it to represent an empty or missing value condition. Zero values are Active when entered in the TableCurve editor or the ASCII editor. They are also Active when read from an ASCII or SigmaPlot file. Zero values read from Lotus, Excel, Quattro Pro, and dBase files are initially marked as Inactive.

 Titles: In all import operations, you will be offered an X and Y title. You may accept or edit these titles. If you press Cancel in the titles entry form, the titles present prior to the read are restored.


Import Digital Filter

  The Import Digital Filter option will successively average the input values for n points and store these averages in the data table. All of the supported file formats can be used with this Digital Filter option. Use the Digital Filter option when you wish to reduce a large number of data points to a more manageable size for fitting, or when your data set exceeds the program's maximum of 16384 points.

  As an example, digitally filtering a 10,000 point data file with n=20 and beginning with the first data point, would result in a data set containing 500 points, each point representing a twenty point average on the raw data.

  The n for the filter can range from 1 to 999 and the starting point can be any within the extent of the data. Note that setting n=1 and starting at point 1 is the same as using the standard Import option.


Import Clipboard

   If you have captured numeric text to the clipboard, the Import Clipboard option will save the data to a file CLIPBRD.PRN. This file is then processed as a normal ASCII input file.

  Two Numeric Columns: In this case, the X and Y data are automatically read. Every valid data pair is placed in the data table.

  One Numeric Column: In this instance, you must enter an initial X-value and an X-increment. The X values are then automatically generated as Y values are read. Every point is placed in the data table.

  Multiple Numeric Columns: You must select an X and Y column, and optionally a Weights column based upon column number and content.


Save

 The Save option saves the data table in the default X-Y ASCII format. The default file extension is PRN. In the saved file, the titles are always in double quotes and each X-Y data pair is always on a new line. The flag character '*' will follow the Y value if the X-Y pair has been excluded. If weighting is used, the weights will then follow preceded by an uppercase W. Spaces are used to separate the data elements.

  These ASCII data files can be modified with any ASCII editor, including the ASCII editor available from within the program.


ASCII List

  Use the ASCII List option to view any ASCII file of interest. This option permits the reading of successive files. You may use this option to append ASCII files if you wish to inspect the combined file before loading it into the program. Note that you may append files directly to the data table with the various Import options.

  The limit of file length is 16384 lines. This feature uses a font common to all text windows in the program. If you select a different font, it will be used in all of the program's text windows, and saved across sessions. You may choose to have the text displayed in color.

  You may use the list window's to select and configure a printer and to print either the currently displayed contents of the window, or the entire content. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


Reset All Defaults

   The Reset All Defaults option will restore all of the program's defaults. This means that all custom window positions, selected fonts, color schemes, point formats, grid formats, and other information will be reset. The program is designed to take shape as you work with it. Use this option only if you are dissatisfied with the layout, colors, and formats you have chosen.


Exit

  You may use the Exit item to exit from the program. If the current data table has not been saved, you will be presented an opportunity to do so before the program closes.


Previous Files

  The program remembers the last five files read into the program and stores their names at the bottom of the File menu. These are saved across sessions. You may select any one of these files to immediately load the file listed into the program. Use this option to reaccess the columns of a spreadsheet containing data for multiple curve-fits.


Drag and Drop Files

  You may use Program Manager to drag any file into the program. If you drag a single file and drop it either into the main window or into the status window, this file will be immediately read. If you drag and drop multiple files, select no more than five total files. The last file selected will be immediately read. The remainder will be added to the Previous Files list at the bottom of the File menu.


Weighting Data

 The data table can be weighted in one of two ways. You may specify a weights column in any multi-column read operation, including multi-column ASCII files, Lotus 123 files, Excel files, Quattro Pro files, SigmaPlot files, and dBase files. This is done using the File menu's Import option. You may also use the TableCurve Editor to enter weights for individual data points. By default all data points have a floating point weight of 1.0.

 The data table weights are true floating point multipliers. A weight value is thus the inverse square of the standard deviation. If your weights are true standard deviations, apply a 1/sigma^2 conversion in your spreadsheet or enter the weight value followed by ^-2 in the editor. If you are entering a significant number of data points, you may wish to enter the weight values as standard deviations and apply a W=1/W^2 calculation using the main menu's Calculation operation.

 The weights used in the program are normalized so that the sum of the weights equals the number of active data points. This conserves the degree of freedom relative to unweighted data, and results in coefficient standard errors which better reflect the impact expected from a true floating point weighting scheme. This type of weighting differs from statistical programs which use integer weights to specify the number of identical X,Y pairs. If you are entering identical X,Y pairs and need to see the degree of freedom increased by one for each identical pair, you will have to enter each identical pair separately.

 The Y-transformed equations use a hidden secondary weighting that is automatically applied in order to produce the best-possible least squares fit. This weighting consists of the inverse square of the derivative of the function of y.


Edit Menu

 To input or modify a data table, you may use either the TableCurve editor or the program's ASCII editor. The TableCurve editor offers spreadsheet like functionality while the ASCII Editor is similar to Windows' Notepad editor. The ASCII editor is limited to 25-30K files, or approximately 400-500 data points. The TableCurve editor can edit data tables up to the program's 16384 X-Y limit.

 TableCurve Editor

 ASCII Editor

 Weighting Data


TableCurve Editor

 The TableCurve Editor is a spreadsheet-like procedure for the input or editing of the program's data table. Use this option if you wish the convenience of spreadsheet entry or if you need custom X-Y data table entry features such as automatic X entry, application of a calculation to the entered values, or to view a graph of the data as it is being entered.

 Editing or Input: Simply place the cursor in the numeric field of interest and enter or modify the entry. You may enter any numeric value, expression, or equation up to 80 characters in length. A numeric entry can be concluded by pressing Enter, by clicking in any other field, by clicking on the Next button, or by clicking on any of the VCR-like movement controls.

 Moving Between Data Fields: To move about the data table, you may use the VCR-like controls in conjunction with the table's scroll bar. You may also use the standard keyboard cursor keys.

 Active and Inactive Data Points: An active data point is included in the curve-fitting. An inactive data point is excluded from the fit. The Ex column of the TableCurve editor contains checkboxes for excluding individual points. A point is inactive or excluded when the box is checked. You may also graphically toggle points between active and inactive using On-Graph Editing.

 Copy, Cut, Paste: Use these buttons to copy, cut, or paste a single numeric entry. You will use this most often to copy a numeric value that is repeated rather than having to re-enter the value. This option cannot be used to paste multiple values into the data table. To append to the data table from the clipboard, use the Import Clipboard option from the program's main File menu.

 Inserting and Deleting Rows: A data row can be deleted by pressing the Delete button or by pressing Ctl-Y. You must be certain the cursor is in the row you actually want to delete. To insert a row, place the cursor in the row that will follow the inserted entry. Click on the Insert button or press the Insert key or Ctl-N. You must provide both an X and a Y value before you can move to any other data row. The program's data data is automatically sorted by ascending X upon exit from the editor, and as such, you may simply wish to input inserted data at the end of the table.

 AutoEntry: Use these options if you wish to have the editor automatically input a given value. This is useful for constant increment X or Y values. You may have either X or Y autoentry on at any given time. This option will determine the value to enter based upon the two previous values. The position in the editor is automatically advanced. The W autoentry for the Weights is not based upon previous values, but rather upon the default value of 1.0 as the weight for each data point. You will wish to leave W autoentry on unless you will be specifically entering weights for the individual data points.

 Entering a Calculation: Calculation can be entered inside the editor. The calculation is applied to each numeric value at the time it is entered. It is best to restrict X and Y calculations used in the editor to functions of the respective variable being entered. In other words, an X calculation should only use X and not Y or W, such as X=X*2.54. A Y calculation should only use Y and not X or W, such as Y=Y/2*PI. A weight calculation can and probably will use Y or X, such as W=1/LN(Y).

 Applying the Calculation to Existing Data: After entering a calculation in the editor, you are offered an option to Apply the Calculation to all existing entries in the data table.

 Toggling a Calculation: if the Apply Calc item is checked, the calculation is applied to all new data as it is entered at the bottom of the data table.

 Viewing the Data Being Entered: The Graph button is used to open a separate window which displays the data as it is entered in the editor. The graph is automatically rescaled as new data is entered or when old data is deleted. Use this option to insure your data is being entered properly.

 Saving the Data Table: This option saves the data table to an ASCII file. This is the program's default data format. Unlike the save option in the File Menu, this option preserves the actual ordering of the data points.

 Clearing the Data Table: The Clear button is used to clear the data table of all entries.

 Basic Titles: Use the Titles button to reassign the main, X, and Y titles for the data table.

 Sorting the Data Table: The data table can be sorted by ascending X, descending X, ascending Y, or descending Y. You must save the sorted table inside the editor in order to preserve this ordering. The data table is automatically sorted by ascending X values in the prescan which occurs when exiting the editor. All data tables saved from the program's main menu will have this ascending X ordering.

 Reversing X and Y values: If you need an explicit equation for X as a function of Y, you will need to use this option to reverse the X and Y values in the data table. Note that TableCurve offers a root-finding routine in the evaluation procedure of the curve-fit equations as well as in the generated language code output. This may make this X-Y reversal unnecessary.

 Restoring Original Data: If you exit the editor with the Cancel button, you are asked if you wish to lose all changes made in the editor. If you answer Yes, the original data is fully restored, even if revisions were saved to file within the editor. If you respond No, the changes are incorporated into the data table.


ASCII Editor

 The ASCII Editor is a NotePad-like editor limited to a 32K buffer. Use this option if you prefer to input or edit a data table as a simple ASCII file. This option is limited to about 400-500 points.

 When the ASCII Editor is opened, the current data table is automatically saved to a file TBLCURVE.PRN in the TableCurve directory. The contents of this file initially appear in the editor. You may edit this file or you may open and edit any ASCII file. When you exit the editor, the TableCurve data table is automatically updated with the editor's most recent content. If you choose not to save changes made in the editor, the modified data is automatically saved to TBLCURVE.PRN and this file will be listed as the data table's file source in the TableCurve status window. If you wish to edit non-data ASCII text files, you should open TBLCURVE.PRN from the TableCurve directory before exiting the editor.

 To copy any or all of the program's data table (or any part of any file smaller than 32K) into the clipboard, use this option.

 While it is not required, it will be easiest if you keep the X and Y values for a given data pair on a single line. If you wish to exclude a data pair, enter a space and an asterisk (*) character after the Y value. If you wish to assign a weight, enter a space and an uppercase W followed by the numeric weight value. You may insert comments anywhere in the file so long as the comment strings do not begin with *, W, or a number. All information on a line following the detection of a comment is disregarded.


Function Insert Feature

 A special help exists for accessing the various functions used within user entered expressions and equations. This feature is found within the  Calculation entry,  View Function(X) entry, and  User-Defined Function (UDF) entry procedures. You simply click on the type of function you are seeking and then on the specific function of interest. The function is automatically inserted into the calculation, view function(x), or user-defined function string at the current cursor position. You may need to modify the symbols used as arguments in the function to match the variable intended for the expression.

 The General, Trigonometric, Statistical, Bessel, XY Data Table Constants, Conditional, and PeakFit functions will always be available. The Calculus functions which include derivatives, sums, and integrals are available only in UDFs. The PeakFit functions are a set of special peak, transition, and waveform functions built into Jandel's PeakFit curve-fitting product. These are made available in TableCurve for UDF cross-compatibility.


Calc Menu
Calculation Menu

 The Calculation Menu offers the means for entering and applying a calculation to the X, Y, and W values in the data table. A entered calculation is available within the TableCurve Editor as well as in the standard file Import procedures. The Calculation menu also offers the means to clear the calculation from memory.

 Enter Calculation

 Apply to X-Y Table

 Cancel Calculation


Enter Calculation

 A calculation consists of an X= expression, a Y=expression, and a W= expression. Only one expression need be present in a calculation. You may enter any numeric calculation. All of the functions and constants available within TableCurve can be accessed via a special Function Insert help. The X=, Y=, and W= prefixes are automatically supplied. When entering a calculation with multiple cross references to X and Y, bear in mind that the X calculation will be applied first, then the Y, and finally the weight calculation.

 Calculation Types: A calculation can be used to change the existing variable. As examples, the expression X=X*2.54 converts X-values in inches to centimeters and the expression Y=(4/3)*PI*Y^3 converts Y-values representing a radius to a volume. A calculation can also be used to calculate one variable based upon another. As examples, the expression Y=Y+1.232+2.323*X+3.3433*X^2+4.3234*X^3 increments the original Y variable by the value of a polynomial in X. The expression W=1/Y assigns weights equal to the inverse of the Y-values. You can also use the Y-values in the first Overlay Data Reference, designated as Z, to perform operations across data sets with identical X values. The expression Y=Y-Z decrements the Y variable by Z, the Y values in the first overlay reference data set, assumed to have matching X values.

 Copy, Cut, Paste: Use these buttons to paste in expressions from the clipboard, or to modify the text across the various fields.

 Read: Calculations that have been saved to disk are read by using the Read button. It is a good idea to save a calculation that will likely be used on future data sets. Calculation files are binary files with .CLC extensions. They can be created only within the program.

 Save: The calculation active at the close of any given session is not automatically saved across sessions. You must explicitly save a calculation to disk using the Save button in order to have it available in a future session. Calculation files have .CLC extensions.

 Validation: The calculation will be validated when you exit the Calculation entry screen. If there is an error in any of the expressions, an error message will report a specific parser or math error and you will be shown where within the expression the evaluation failed. The cursor will also be placed at this position. Note that a calculation must be defined at the Xmean and/or Ymean of the data table or at values of 1.0 if the data table is empty. Calculations are compiled for a very rapid processing with large data sets.

 Option to Apply: You will be given an option to immediately  Apply the Calculation you have entered to the current data table. You will wish to answer no if the calculation is to be applied only to additional data that will be appended to the current table.


Apply Calc to X-Y Table
Apply to X-Y Table

 This option applies the current calculation to the full X-Y data table. The X-calculation, if present, is first applied to the full data table. Then the Y-calculation, if present, is applied to the full table. Finally the weight calculation is applied, if present, again to the full table. If you have an X calculation that references Y and a Y calculation that references X, note that the X calculation will use the original Y and the Y calculation will use the modified X.

 Undo: After the calculation is applied, you are presented with an Undo graph. An Undo graph will offer the means to set Logarithmic Axes ,to modify the Graph Point Format ,to modify the Graph Grid Format ,to change the Graph Color Scheme and to toggle the original X-Y data set on and off as a reference. You may choose to undo the calculation if you are not satisfied with the results or if you wish to experiment with different calculations.


Cancel Calculation

 Use this Cancel Calculation selection to delete the current Calculation from memory. If you wish to use this same calculation in some future session, you may wish to first save it to disk by using the Save item in the Enter Calculation option.


Table Menu

 The Table menu is used to enter or edit the basic titles for the data table, to smooth the current data, to manually edit the frequency domain transform of the data to remove noise or separate overlapping waveforms, to normalize the area under the curve to 1.0, and to clear the data table.

 New X-Y Titles

 Smooth XY Data

 Fourier Domain Editing

 Area Normalize

 Clear X-Y Data


New X-Y Titles

 There are two levels of title information. The New X-Y Titles option applies only to the basic main, X, and Y titles used throughout the program. A much more extensive custom titles option is available for all of the program's principal graphs. Use this New X-Y Titles option to create these default titles.


Smooth XY Data

 Use this option to smooth noisy data or to create a smooth first or second derivative directly from the raw data. There are four methods of smoothing available: Polynomial Interpolation, FFT Filtering, Lowess, and Savitzky-Golay. The Savitzky-Golay algorithm can also be used to create a smooth first or second derivative directly from the raw data. All of the algorithms have been simplified and modified to a common reference point, so you need simply specify a % smoothing figure that should give the same relative degree of smoothing regardless of algorithm. A value of 20% to 40% is recommended. Values beyond 40% can result in significant distortion of underlying data features. After the smoothing is complete you will be offer a standard Graphical UNDO option where you can choose to accept or reject the smoothing. When you use the connected line point format and display the original data as the reference, it is easy to judge the effectiveness of the smoothing. All of the smoothing options support the program's maximum data table size of 16384 points.

 Polynomial Interpolation: This is the simplest of the smoothing algorithms and one of the safest from the perspective of altering underlying data features. It is also the least powerful of the methods. It is a four-point interpolation that uses the two points to the left and the two to the right of the point being processed. The interpolated Y at this X value replaces the original Y-value.

 FFT Filtering: This is essentially the automated version of what you can do manually in the Fourier Domain Editing option. This option removes any linear trend which might appear as a low frequency component in the FFT, assumes the data is linearly spaced, performs a forward FFT, zeroes the higher frequency components, performs an inverse FFT, restores the linear trend, and presents the smoothed data, all in a single automated step. A 10% smoothing level zeroes the upper 1/2 of the frequency channels. A value of 20% zeroes the upper 3/4 of the channels. A value of 50 zeroes the upper 9/10 of the channels. Linearly-spaced X values are not required for this algorithm to offer a very effective smoothing. Because of the effectiveness of the FFT, this algorithm is also very fast with large data sets. When noise is present only at higher frequencies, this is probably the smoothing algorithm of choice.

 Lowess: The Lowess is a locally weighted regression smoothing algorithm that performs a full least-squares fit for each data point. It is quite effective when no trend is readily discerned within the data. Use special care if you specify more than 35-40% as the Lowess level of smoothing as higher values are especially prone to distorting underlying data features. This is most numerically intense of the smoothing algorithms and quite slow with large data sets.

 Savitzky Golay: This method of smoothing is based on least squares quartic polynomial fitting across a moving window within the data. The method was originally designed to preserve the higher moments within spectral data. This method is as powerful as the FFT Filter algorithm, and has the added plus of directly producing a smoothed first or second derivative. If you are fitting data to an equation and then differentiating the selected equation to arrive at an equation for the derivative, you may wish to use the Savitzky-Golay procedure to smooth directly to a derivative. The selected fit equation will then directly describe the derivative of interest. Because this algorithm relies on the linearity of an unweighted polynomial model, it is quite efficient with large data sets.

 Undo: After the data table is smoothed, you are presented with an Undo graph. An Undo graph offers the means to set Logarithmic Axes ,to modify the Graph Point Format ,to modify the Graph Grid Format ,to change the Graph Color Scheme and to toggle the original X-Y data set on and off as a reference. You will probably find the connected line point format a very effective way to compare the original data to the smoothed data. It is also an effective means for judging when unacceptable distortion of the subtle data features may be occurring. You may choose to undo the smoothing if you are not satisfied with the results or if you wish to experiment with different smoothing levels.


Fourier Domain Editing

  The Fourier Domain Editing option presents an automated means for achieving the highest possible noise reduction for a given data set as well as offering a means to separate overlapping waveforms.

 Removing Linear Trend in Data: You must first decide if you wish to remove the linear trend from the data. This should probably be done when you are working with non-waveform data and the purpose of the frequency domain editing is for noise reduction. You will probably wish to retain the linear trend if you are processing waveforms. A linear trend in non-waveform data appears in the low frequency channels, often adversely impacting the FFT in the threshold range where frequencies are zeroed for noise reduction.

 The Forward FFT: The forward FFT is automatic. You are then presented with the Magnitude vs. Frequency FFT of the data. If the pre-scan of the original data detected uniformly spaced X-values, the X-scale will be an absolute frequency. When you place the cursor on the top of a bar (or on a point), the status display will report the wavelength and whether this frequency is active or zeroed. If uniformly spaced X-values are not present, the the data is assumed to have equally spaced X-values for the purpose of constructing frequency channels with a spacing of unity. In this instance the status display will report the frequency channel rather than a wavelength. A real FFT is symmetric, so you will see only half the original number of data points, adjusted upward to an integer power of two.

 Frequency Domain Modifications: Most noise tends to exist at higher frequencies. A common modification made in an FFT is to filter out the noise by zeroing the highest frequency channels. This can be done by  Graphically Zeroing FFT Frequency bands or by  Zeroing Individual Frequencies. For the adventurous, you can guess what the noise-free decay profile to zero looks like and  Edit Individual Frequencies to reflect the FFT decay trend expected. Another common modification in the frequency domain is to separate overlapping waveforms. Two waveforms indistinguishable in the time domain will offer appear as two spikes or peaks within the frequency domain. Here you simply zero out one of the waveforms allowing the other to be subsequently processed for curve-fitting.

 Modifying the FFT Graph: You may modify the FFT graph to set Logarithmic Axes, to modify the Graph Point Format, to modify the Graph Grid Format, to set Custom Titles and Sizes, to set the Graph Font, and to change the FFT Graph Color Scheme.

 Printing the FFT Graph: The Hardcopy option is used to print the current FFT Graph.

 Canceling from the FFT Graph: Use the Cancel item to exit from the FFT graph to restore the original data set. Use this option rather than proceeding with an inverse FFT on unchanged frequency domain data. The latter approach will introduce roundoff error into the original data.

 The Inverse FFT: The modified frequency spectrum is processed via an inverse FFT and the linear trend in the original data is restored, if it was removed prior to the forward FFT.

 Undo: The modified data table is displayed in an Undo graph. An Undo graph offers the means to set Logarithmic Axes ,to modify the Graph Point Format ,to modify the Graph Grid Format ,to change the Graph Color Scheme and to toggle the original X-Y data set on and off as a reference. You will probably find the connected line point format a very effective way to compare the original data to the FFT edited data. It is also an effective means for judging when unacceptable distortion of the subtle data features has occurred. At this stage, you may accept the FFT-processed data by using the OK button or fully restore the original data table by using the Cancel button. If you elect the Undo option, you are returned to the FFT with the changes made in the frequency domain undone. You will wish to use the Undo option when you experiment with different zeroing or editing approaches.


Area Normalize

 The Area Normalize option modifies the Y-values of the data table so that the area below the X-Y data from X-min to X-max is 1.0. You may wish to use this feature if you are using a UDF whose basis is unit area, as is true of a number of statistical functions. The normalized data is displayed in an Undo graph. An Undo graph offers the means to set Logarithmic Axes ,to modify the Graph Point Format ,to modify the Graph Grid Format ,to change the Graph Color Scheme and to toggle the original X-Y data set on and off as a reference. You may accept the normalization by using the OK button or fully restore the original data table by using the Undo button.


Clear X-Y Data

 This option will clear all X-Y values from the current data table.


Graph Scaling

 The scaling operations for most of the program's graphs include the means to set logarithmic axes, to set the Y minimum to zero, for automatic scaling based upon the active data points, and for custom scaling. sessions. These scaling operations are usually accessed by buttons, except in the Review where they are found within the Graph menu in the Curve-Fit and Residuals graphs.

 Logarithmic Axes

 Zeroing Ymin

 Active Data Point Scaling

 Custom Scaling

 Zoom-Out

 Zoom-In


Logarithmic Axes
Logarithmic Scaling

 The axes for most of the program's graphs can be either linear or logarithmic. The LogX and LogY items either on buttons or in a Graph menu will toggle the respective axis between logarithmic and linear scaling. If the graph supports a Zoom-Out scroll-bar, the log axes will increase by a single decade for each degree of zoom-out. These decades are alternately added to the lower and upper end of the scaling.


Zero-Y Scaling

 In some instances, you may wish to always have the graphs begin at Y=0. This option provides the means to do this without having to use the Custom Scaling option. If the graph's default automatic scaling already produces a Y axis starting at zero, this button or menu item will be disabled.


Active Points Scaling

 If you section the data or toggle points at either extreme of the X data as excluded from the fitting, there will be a difference in the automatic scaling based upon all of the data points and that which includes only the active data points. The Active scaling option toggles the basis for the automatic scaling between all of the data points and only the active points. If the active points automatic scaling is identical to the automatic scaling based upon all data points, the Active button or menu item will be disabled.


Custom Scaling

 Custom Scaling is initiated either by a Scaling button or by a Custom Scaling menu item. In the View Data Graph, View Function(X), and Review Curve-Fit graphs, you may also open the Custom Scaling dialog by clicking the mouse to the left or below the graph. Custom Scaling offers the means to set the range and divisions for each axis as well as whether the axis is ascending or descending. You may also save a custom scaling configuration to disk or read a configuration that has been previously saved.

 Ranges, Divisions: Always specify a maximum that is greater than a minimum. Use the reverse axis checkboxes to set a descending rather than ascending scale. The maximum division count permitted is 20.

 Logarithmic Axes: If a logarithmic axis is set, and a range entered is not a power of 10, the value will be adjusted to the next larger or smaller power of 10.

 Saving a Custom Scaling Configuration: Select the Save option to save the current configuration to a disk file. The default extension is SCL. This is a binary file that can be created only within the program. A custom scaling configuration is valid in all program graphs that offer the custom scaling function.

 Reading a Custom Scaling Configuration: Recalling a previously saved custom scaling configuration is useful if you will be fitting multiple data sets and you wish all of the graphs to have a common scaling. Custom scalings are not saved across sessions. You must explicitly save a custom scaling to disk and then read it in the subsequent session.

 Restoring Automatic Scaling: To restore the program's automatic scaling, you may select the Reset Default item in the Custom Scaling screen. From the main graph, you may select any of the automatic scaling items such as the Active or Zero Y items, or the Zoom-out scrollbar. In the View Graph screen, you may wish to use the Active item. In the View Function(X) or Curve-Fit graphs, you may wish to click on the left button of the zoom-out scrollbar.


Zoom-Out Scaling

 If the graph contains the plot of an equation, a zoom-out scrollbar will be present amongst the buttons. Use this scrollbar to set a zoom-out position for the graph. There are ten levels of zoom-out. The zoom-out is part of the graph's automatic scaling and is reset if the Custom Scaling option is used. The zoom-out will zoom linear axes in a linear fashion, and logarithmic axes by alternately adding a decade to the top or bottom of the range for each level of zoom-out.


Zoom-In Scaling

 Zoom-in is supported for the View Graph ,the View Function(X) and the Review Curve-Fit procedures.  The primary use of zoom-in will be for the View Function(X) and Review Curve-Fit graphs. Here the left mouse button is placed at one corner of the rectangle which will enclose the data range, and the left button is held down until the desired zoom-in area is inside the rectangle. The zoom-in is not an automatic scaling, but rather a Custom Scaling that is automatically set in accordance with the bounding zoom-in rectangle. In the View Graph procedure, zoom-in is accomplished using the right mouse button since the left button is used for sectioning and for toggling and moving points. Zoom-in is not recommended for the View Graph option since this could hide points that are used in the curve-fit processing.


Graph Formatting

 The format operations for most of the program's graphs include the means to set a point format, a grid format, set custom titles and sizes, select the graph's font and default size, and to select a color scheme. The various graphs within the program maintain their own formats, and these are preserved across sessions. These format operations are usually accessed by buttons, except in the Review where they are found within the Graph menu in the Curve-Fit and Residuals graphs.

 Graph Point Format

 Graph Grid Format

 Graph Custom Titles

 Graph Font

 Graph Color Scheme


Graph Point Format

 The Points item is used to set the size and shape of the data points used in a graph. It is also used to set the option of connecting the points with lines, and in Curve-Fit Graphs, for coloring the residuals based upon the number of standard errors from the predicted value.

 Point Size: A graph's points may be set as small, medium, large, or hidden. If the graph is a bar graph, this option affects the width of the bar. If the points are hidden on an X-Y View Graph or an FFT graph, the connected line option is forced on so as to not present an empty graph.

 Point Shape: A graph's points may be set as squares, circles, or bars. This option affects only the main X-Y data points, and not the overlay data references which use predefined unfilled triangle and diamond shapes.

 Point Connect: A graph's points may be connected with lines. When this option is selected, an overlay reference is shown only with the connected lines, improving the ease of making a comparison.

 Point Color by Residuals: The points in the Review Curve-Fit Graphs can be colored based upon the absolute value of the number of standard errors from the Y-predicted value. The default color schemes all employ a coloring based upon ascending wavelength. Points less than 1 standard error are shown in blue, those between 1 and 2 standard errors are green, those between 2 and 3 standard errors are yellow, and those beyond three standard errors are red. Points that are beyond 2 standard errors may represent outliers which may be adversely impacting the overall curve-fit.


Graph Grid Format

 The Grids item is used to set the intensity of the grids used in the graph as well as to set whether or not the X and Y grids are displayed.

 Grid Intensity: A grid is drawn not as a line, but as a series of dots. This enhances the appearance of the grid in printed output. The darkest option involves alternating displayed and non-displayed dots. The medium intensity option displays every third dot while the light option displays every fifth dot. A light grid will typically look better when printed than on the lower resolution screen display.

 Logarithmic Axes: If a logarithmic axis has more than six decades, the intermediate log grids will not be drawn.


Graph Custom Titles

 The basic titles , which consist of a main, X, and Y title, are used within the default titles provided in the various graphs. The Custom Titles option offers the means to extensively customize the default titles used within a graph. Custom Titles are initiated either by a Titles button or by a Custom Titles menu item. In the View Data Graph, View Function(X), FFT, and Review Curve-Fit graphs, you may also open the Custom Titles dialog by clicking the mouse above the graph. This option offers the means to add or edit up to five titles as well as the X and Y title. This option also offers the means to control the sizes of these titles. You will need to use this option if you wish to add superscripts, subscripts, or special upper ASCII or symbol characters to the titles. This option offers the means to save the custom titles to disk for subsequent use.

 Titles Entry: You may enter up to 5 titles for display above the graph. The titles presented will either be the default titles for the graph or the custom titles currently active. To reset the defaults, use the Default button. If you will be reading in a custom title file, you may wish to use the Cut or Copy button to place one of the titles in the clipboard before the previous titles are read. You would then paste this over the previous title not pertinent to the present graph.

 Subscripts and Superscripts: To subscript or superscript a portion of a title, first enter the text and then highlight the portion of text you wish to superscript or subscript. When you press the subscript or superscript button, the appropriate control codes are inserted into the text. Nested superscripts or subscripts are ignored.

 Special Characters: If you wish to add a character from the upper 128 characters of the current font, or from the Symbol font, place the cursor at the desired location where you wish to have the special character inserted. When you press the Special Char button, you will be presented with a display of the available characters. Select the character desired and it will be inserted, along with the appropriate control codes, into the title text.

 Sizes: You may set the font size of the main title, the secondary title, the third-fifth titles, and the X and Y titles. The font sizes are shown to the right of the titles. The scroll bars to adjust these sizes are below the titles. If you wish to have all fonts an identical size, check the Constant box and adjust only the first scrollbar to the size desired. Note that if your font sizes are too large, one or more of the titles may not be displayed.

 Saving Titles: All of the information in the Custom Titles screen can be saved to disk. These files have default TTL extensions. These are binary files which can only be generated from within the program. Custom titles are not saved across sessions. You must explicitly save a set of custom titles if you wish to use them again.

 Recalling Titles: The Read item will read previously saved custom title information into the current graph.  For curve-fit and residuals graphs, the equation, goodness of fit statistics, and coefficient titles will be automatically updated if they were originally saved without modification. If you modify and save custom titles containing equation information, these titles may not be updated and could contain incorrect information relative to the present equation. If the second title begins with "Rank" it will be automatically updated for the current equation. If the third title begins with "r2=", it will be updated. If the fourth title begins with "a=", the fourth and fifth titles will be automatically updated. If you wish to use one of the default titles for the current graph in place of a title that will be read, use Cut or Copy to place that title in the clipboard, read the title file, and then paste it into or over the title not pertinent to the current data or fit.

 Scanning Curve-Fit Equations: Custom titles are preserved when scanning curve-fit graphs. Titles for the current equation, its goodness of fit statistics, and its coefficients will automatically replace the corresponding custom titles if the second custom title begins with "Rank", the third custom title begins with "r2=", and the fourth custom title begins with "a=". If you modify the initial characters of these titles, they will be considered constant strings and as such equation information contained within them will not reflect the current equation being scanned.


Font Select

 The Font item is used to set the font for the current graph or text. Only one font is available within any given graph or text window.

 Font Selection: All typefaces in the system are shown in the selection list. Some of these fonts may be available only on screen or only on the printer. In this case, you will see different fonts listed for the screen and printer. When you select a font, you will see its screen representation with the attributes and size currently set.

 Font Attributes: Check the bold or italic boxes if you wish these attributes within the font.

 Font Size: For graphs, this size is a default size that is used for automatic title generation. It is overridden completely by the custom sizes specified if Custom Titles are active. The default font size is used as the basis for the automatic titles presented. Some titles may be larger or smaller than this specified size. The actual font size displayed on screen will also be scaled in accordance with the height of the graph window.


Graph Colors

 The Colors item is used to set the colors for the current graph to one of seven predefined color schemes or to select or revise a custom color scheme for the type of graph displayed. The Page White BW color scheme is not necessary to print a Black and White graph. The most recent custom color scheme for each type of graph is saved across sessions.

 Color Selection: The various graph types within the program have their own unique color scheme by default. If you dislike a given color scheme, you can select one of the predefined schemes or build your own custom scheme.

 Custom Colors: A custom color scheme is automatically saved across sessions and it is listed as the User Customized color scheme. Initially, the User Customized color scheme will contain the Page White Color scheme, the one you would most likely want to modify for color printing. To first create a custom color scheme, first select the one existing color scheme closest to the desired colors and then select the Customize Colors button. The Custom Colors screen will display the 24 graph colors used in the program and to the left of each you will see the current colors. Simply click on the color you wish to customize and then select one of the 16 pure Windows colors in the selection palette. The graph will immediately change to reflect your choice if that element exists within the current graph.

 Saving a Custom Color Scheme: The most recent custom color scheme for a given type of graph is automatically saved across sessions. If you wish to have more than one custom color scheme for a given type of graph, such as plotter and color laser printer color schemes for curve-fit graphs, you will have to save the custom colors to a disk file and use the read item to recall them prior to printing. You will also wish to save the custom color scheme to disk if you wish to use these same colors in other program graphs. Colors files have CLR default extensions. These are binary files which can only be generated from within the program.


Graph Editing

 The View Data Graph and Fourier Domain Editing options permit on-graph editing of the data. In the View Data Graph option, the editing consists of sectioning for active and inactive data bands, toggling individual points between active and inactive, and moving points for a "smoothing by eye" procedure. In the Fourier Domain Editing option, the editing consists of zeroing frequency channels and in moving points to different magnitudes within a frequency band for the ultimate in noise removal.

 Graphical Sectioning of X-Y Data

 Graphical Editing of X-Y Data

 Zeroing FFT Frequencies

 Graphical Editing of FFT


Graphical Sectioning
Graphical Sectioning of X-Y Data

 Graphical sectioning is available in the View Data Graph procedure. Graphical sectioning is a convenient means for excluding a given band of points from the curve-fit processing. To exclude a band of points from the curve-fitting, place the hairline cursor at the leftmost X-location of the desired band, but not directly on a data point. Press and hold the left button, sweeping the mouse to the right. The points will change to the inactive color as the mouse sweeps right. To include points that are currently inactive, follow the same procedure except begin at the right edge of the data band and sweep to the left. The points will change back to the active point color. You may have as many active and inactive bands as you like in any data set.


Graphical Editing
Graphical Editing of X-Y Data

 Graphical X-Y editing is available in the View Data Graph procedure. Graphical editing can be used to toggle individual points between active and inactive, or to move points in a smoothing-by-eye procedure. Both operations begin by placing the cursor directly on a data point. A special cursor will show that a point is contained inside and the information display below the graph will indicate the point detected and its status. To change the status of the data point, simply click and release the left mouse button. The point's color will change to reflect its new status. To smooth a data set by eye, click and hold the left button down while moving the point to the desired X-Y location. The first time this is done, you will be asked to confirm that you genuinely wish to graphically relocate data points.


Zeroing FFT Frequencies

 When you are viewing the  Frequency Channel-Magnitude Graph produced in the Fourier Domain editing option, you may graphically zero the desired frequencies in a manner analogous to the sectioning of X-Y data in the View Data Graph procedure. To zero a band of frequencies, place the hairline cursor at the leftmost frequency of the desired band, but not directly on a data point. Press and hold the left button, sweeping the mouse to the right. The points will change to the inactive color as the mouse sweeps right indicating that these frequencies will be zeroed before the inverse transform is made. To reinstate frequencies currently zeroed, follow the same procedure except begin at the rightmost frequency and sweep to the left. The points will change back to the active point color. You may have as many zeroed bands as you wish in any data set, as in the case of separating overlapping waveforms.


Graphical Editing of FFT

 Graphical FFT editing is available when you are viewing the  Frequency Channel-Magnitude Graph produced in the Fourier Domain editing option. You may graphically edit the desired frequencies in a manner analogous to the Graphical Editing of X-Y Data available in the View Data Graph procedure. Graphical FFT editing can be used to toggle individual frequencies between active and zeroed, or to move points within a frequency to a trend implied by the FFT. Both operations begin by placing the cursor directly on the data point. If the FFT uses a bar format, you must place the cursor at the top of the bar. A special cursor will show that a point is contained inside and the information display below the graph will indicate the point detected and its status. If the pre-scan of the original data detected uniformly spaced X-values, the status display will also report the wavelength. To change the status of the data point, simply click and release the left mouse button. The point's color will change to reflect its new status. To optimally remove noise, you may choose to alter the magnitude for a given point to a frequency implied by the trend within the FFT. Instead of an all or nothing option, you can set the magnitude you feel you should be present at the specified frequency. Often logarithmic scales aid in this process of determining a decay profile to the actual zero region. To change a given frequency's magnitude, click and hold the left button down while moving the point to the desired Y location. The frequency will not change. The first time this is done, you will be asked to confirm that you genuinely wish to graphically alter the FFT.


Graph, Undo
Undo Graph

 The Undo Graph operation displays a graph reflecting the changes made by applying a Calculation, by Smoothing the data table, by FFT Editing or by  Area Normalization. You will have an opportunity to inspect the modified data relative to the original data set, and to either accept or undo the changes.

 An Undo graph will offer the means to set Logarithmic Axes ,to modify the Graph Point Format ,to modify the Graph Grid Format ,to change the Graph Color Scheme and to toggle the original X-Y data set on and off as a reference.

 Reference: The original X-Y data set can be displayed as a reference. This reference is off by default for calculations, and on by default for smoothing and FFT edit operations. When comparing data that has been smoothed or processed by the FFT Edit option, using this reference in conjunction with a connected point format will offer an excellent method for gauging the effectiveness of the operation.

 Undo: If you choose the Undo operation, the original data will be restored. Simply choose OK to accept the modifications.


Printing Graphs

 The HardCopy option is available in all of TableCurve's principal graphs. You can use this option to print a half-page, full-page, or custom size graph. If you are printing a Curve-Fit Graph, and you also use the portrait mode format, you can also print a half-page numeric curve-fit summary below the curve-fit graph. You may print the graph in color, and you may elect to print a bounding frame around the graph. If you wish to print a custom portrait or landscape graph, you must specify the four margins which define the boundaries of the graph. You may save a custom print file containing the current information or read such a file to set custom print criteria. This custom print graph file will have a default CPG extension. To select a given printer, use the Printer Setup button. When you select a printer, you will also have the option to modify the printer driver's own dialog, as in the case of setting printer resolution, paper size, and printing multiple copies. The Print Hardcopy dialog also contains options to generate Windows Metafiles and Windows Bitmaps. You can generate disk-based placeable Metafiles, or copy the graph to the clipboard in either the Metafile or Bitmap format.


Printing Text

 The Print option is available in all of TableCurve's principal text display windows. You can print all of the information in any given window or only that portion currently visible on the display. You may elect to print a special header on each page, and to have the data and page number printed. You may choose to print the text flush left or in such a way that the longest line is centered. You may optionally adjust the four margins which define the boundaries of the printed text. You may save a custom print file containing the current information or read such a file to set custom print criteria. This custom print text file will have a default CPT extension. To select a given printer, use the Printer Setup item. When you select a printer, you will also have the option to modify the printer driver's own dialog, as in the case of printing multiple copies. Portrait or Landscape mode must be set in the Text Print dialog since this selection overrides any setting within the printer's own driver.


Evaluation Procedure

 The Evaluation procedure offers extensive numerical evaluation of View Function(X) and Curve-Fit equations. Use this option to find function evaluations, roots, derivatives and cumulative areas. This option's Generate feature enables the creation of any data table based upon the equation being evaluated.

 Single Data Input: This aspect of the Evaluation requires individual data input from the keyboard. Enter a value in the X, Y, or X2 field and then click on the desired function operation. The result of the Y=F(X), X=Root(Y), Y=dF(X)/dY, Y=d2F(X)/dY2, Y=Area(Xmin,X) or Y=Area(X,X2) is placed in the Evaluation Table. This table accumulates all manually or automatically generated data, up to 16384 total entries. The table lists the data element, the X value, the Y value, and the type of function operation that produced the data. When entering data manually, you may conclude an entry with Enter if you wish a Y=F(X) evaluation. If there are multiple roots within the X range, these various roots will be added to the evaluation table.

 Areas: The cumulative area computations use a Gaussian Quadrature procedure. The precision attained is shown in brackets. A minimum fractional error of 1E-8 is sought.

 Saving the Evaluation Table Data: To save a simple X-Y ASCII file of the data contained in the Evaluation table, use the Save XY button in the button panel. To save a file containing the Evaluation table as it appears in the window (all four columns of information), use the Save item in the Evaluation window's File menu.

 Clearing the Evaluation Table: To clear the contents of the Evaluation table, use the Clear Table button in the button panel.

 Generate Table: This is the option to use if you wish to automatically create either the evaluation table or a file from the function being evaluated. You have the option of generating the input values by specifying the starting value, increment, and ending values, or you may read the input values as a column from any ASCII, Lotus, Excel, SigmaPlot, Quattro Pro, or dBase file. The computed values can be Y=F(X), X=Root(Y), Y=dF(X)/dY, Y=d2F(X)/dY2, or Y=Area(Xmin,X). In the generated option, only the first detected root is reported. You may use this option to generate a file or to fill the evaluation table, up to a limit of 16384 entries.

 Table Format: Use the Font Select item in the Style menu of the Evaluation Table window to change the text font which is common to all text display windows in the program. The selected font will subsequently be used in all of the program's text windows, and saved across sessions. The Evaluation Table is internally formatted to work properly with proportional fonts. You may choose to disable the color text display if you wish. The printing of the Evaluation table will always be in black and white, regardless of the color setting.

 Printing the Evaluation Table: You may select a printer using the Printer Setup option in the Evaluation Table's Print menu. To print the table, use the Print item. You may print only the currently displayed contents of the window or the entirety of the window. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


Auxiliary Functions

 The Auxiliary Functions option is used in the View Function(X) and Curve-Fit graphs to display a function of the equation, rather than the equation itself. You can elect to graph the first derivative, second derivative, or cumulative area rather than the function itself. You can also plot both derivatives, the function and its derivatives, or the function and the cumulative area on a singly scaled plot. The scaling will be adjusted to accommodate the multiple curves. To restore the standard function display, you must select the Function item.


Overlay Data Reference

 The Overlay Data Reference option enables you to overlay up to two different X-Y data sets on the same graph as the current X-Y data. This option is most useful for comparisons between X-Y data sets, although the overlay reference can consist of any data that you wish to superimpose on a graph containing X-Y data or residuals. An Overlay Data reference must be read from an X-Y ASCII file. To overlay data from another format, use the standard Import options to first read the data into the program and then save it back to an ASCII file. Overlay data references are global to all program graphs. You may turn the display of a data reference off without clearing it from memory. These data references are displayed with unfilled triangle and diamond shapes, or as a series of connected lines if the graph's current points are hidden.


View Menu

 The View Menu is used to display a graph of the current data table or to graph and evaluate any function of X.

 Data Graph

 Function(X)


View Data Graph

 The Data Graph option is used to view a graph of the X-Y data table. The graph can be scaled and formatted, overlay data references can be added, and the graph can be printed. On-graph editing operations include sectioning and smoothing-by-eye.

 Scaling: Scaling options include setting Logarithmic Axes, Zeroing Ymin, having the automatic scaling based upon Active/All Data Points, setting Custom Scaling and Zoom-In.

 Formatting: Options to format the data graph include modifying the Graph Point Format, changing the Graph Grid Format, setting Custom Titles and Sizes, selecting the Graph Font, and changing the Graph Color Scheme.

 Overlay Data References: You may add up to two Overlay Data References to the graph.

 Printing the Graph: The Hardcopy option is used to print the current Data Graph.

 On-Graph Editing This View Data Graph option is used for Graphical Sectioning of the X-Y Data. You may section any number of data bands as active or inactive. Inactive points are excluded from the curve-fitting. You may also Process Individual Points toggling them on and off, or moving them to different locations graphically.


View Function(X)

 This option is used to graph up to two functions of X across the X range of your choice. The graph can be scaled, formatted, and printed. You may also plot the derivatives or cumulative area of the functions and you may numerically evaluate a function you have entered.

 View Function(X) Entry: Enter one or two functions of X you wish to graph. You may enter any numeric calculation. All of the functions and constants available within TableCurve can be accessed via a special Function Insert help. The Y= prefixes are automatically supplied. The View Function(X) functions are limited to single line expressions. Use the Copy, Cut, and Paste buttons to paste in expressions from the clipboard, or to copy or modify the function text. If the functions are not successfully validated, the math or parser error causing the failure will be shown and the cursor will be placed at the location in the function where the error was detected. If successful, the function(s) will be graphed.

 Undo: Use the Undo item to return to the Function entry screen in order to revise the functions or X range.

 Scaling: Scaling options include Zoom-Out, setting Logarithmic Axes, setting Custom Scaling and on-graph Zoom-In.

 Formatting: Options to format the View Function(X) graph include modifying the Graph Grid Format, setting Custom Titles and Sizes, selecting the Graph Font, and changing the Graph Color Scheme.

 Evaluation: The Eval item is used to perform a full-featured numeric evaluation of one of the functions. If two functions are present, you must choose one for this numeric evaluation.

 Auxiliary Functions: The Aux Fns item is used to display a derivative or cumulative area rather than the original function.

 Printing the Graph: The Hardcopy option is used to print the current View Function(X) Graph.


Automated Fitting

 You may select from seven predefined equation sets to fit: All Equations, Simple Equations, Polynomial/Rational Equations, Peak Functions, Transition Functions, WaveForm Functions, and User Functions Only. You may also choose to fit your own Custom Equation Set. If you have modified the default sort criteria or any of the linear or non-linear fitting controls in the Customize Curve-Fit option, the custom settings will be applied to the selected fit. If you press the Cancel button during the linear portion of the automated fitting, the curve-fit is completely aborted. If Cancel is pressed during the non-linear portion of the fitting, the equation currently being fit is stopped at the current iteration and added to the list of fitted equations. If you do not respond to the message reporting the conclusion of the fit, the Review will be automatically started with the start option last used to begin the Review.

 Background Fit: Use the Fit in Background button to fit the TableCurve equations in the background while working on another Windows task. After clicking this button, simply select the task of interest. When the fit is complete, an audible beep will signal the conclusion of the fit. The TableCurve icon will also appear. Simply click on the TableCurve icon to return to TableCurve or anywhere within the current window to continue this foreground task. When you return to TableCurve, the Review will be automatically started with the start option last used to begin the Review.


Process Menu

 The Process Menu is used to start the automated curve-fitting, to customize the equation set or fit parameters for a custom curve-fit, or to install and inspect up to two User-Defined Functions which can be added to the equation set.

 Curve-Fit All Equations

 Curve-Fit Simple Equations

 Curve-Fit Poly/Ratl Equations

 Curve-Fit Peak Functions

 Curve-Fit Transition Functions

 Curve-Fit WaveForm Functions

 Curve-Fit Custom

 Customize Curve-Fit

 Read Custom Curve-Fit

 Curve-Fit User Functions

 User Function 1

 User Function 2

 Last Session User Functions


Curve-Fit All Equations

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits all of TableCurve's equations, including any installed UDFs.


Curve-Fit Simple Equations

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits TableCurve's 2-parameter equations, the 3-parameter non-linear power and exponential functions, and any installed UDFs.


Curve-Fit Poly/Ratl Equations

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits all of TableCurve's polynomial and rational functions, and also any installed UDFs.


Curve-Fit Peak Functions

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits TableCurve's peak functions by the full non-linear procedure. Also fitted are any installed UDFs.


Curve-Fit Transition Functions

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits TableCurve's transition functions by the full non-linear procedure. Also fitted are any installed UDFs.


Curve-Fit WaveForm Functions

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits TableCurve's waveform functions by the full non-linear procedure. Also fitted are any installed UDFs.


Curve-Fit Custom

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits a custom equation set. This set will either be the default custom set, the set from a prior session if this default set was ever modified, a new set installed via the Read Custom Curve-Fit Process menu item or a new set configured via the Customize Curve-Fit Process menu item. Use the Customize Curve-Fit item to view or change the current custom fit settings.


Customize Curve-Fit

 This is the option used to customize TableCurve's automated fitting. The left side of the dialog is used to select linear families of equations or individual non-linear equations to be included in the equation set that is fitted. The equation selections apply only to the Custom Curve-Fit fitting option. The right side of the dialog is used to specify fitting controls which are used for all of TableCurve's Curve-Fit options. You may choose the goodness of fit criteria initially used to sort the equations. Linear fitting controls include the default fitting procedure, the term significance threshold, the maximum order of equation permitted, and disabling the degree of freedom normally assigned to the error. Non-linear controls include the maximum allowable number of iterations and the convergence precision. You may save a custom fit configuration to disk for recall at any future time.

 Linear Families of Equations: Check the families of linear equations you wish to have fitted. The TableCurve equations are listed in the appendix of the manual and can be viewed by using the F2 Equation Help item in the main menu's Help. The linear equation selections apply only to the Custom Curve-Fit fitting option.

 Linear Maximum Terms: To change the maximum terms permitted when fitting linear equations, use the Max Terms button. The default is 11, which permits all of TableCurve's equations. You may set any value between 2 and 11.

 Linear Term Significance: The default Term Significance is 9. This means that a given term in a linear equation must make at least a 1e-9 (0.0000001%) contribution to the average Y value when evaluations are made at Xmin, Xmean, and Xmax. A term significance of 9 will only rarely discard an equation. You may use the Term Signif button to set the term significance anywhere from 1 to 15. At a low value such as 2 (1e-2,1%), a considerable number of equations may be excluded. Although there is no direct correlation, you may wish to set the term significance at a value slightly above the number of significant figures in your data.

 Linear Fitting Procedure: The Default fitting procedure consists of a variety of methods appropriate for type of equation being fitted. You should leave the linear fitting procedure set at Default unless your expertise in matrix methods suggests a specific method which you wish to use for all equations. Selecting a single method will increase the fitting time and will typically reveal differences only with the higher order polynomial and rational functions. TableCurve uses the SVD procedure to fit all polynomials and rationals of order five and above, and more conventional methods for the lower orders. This is to deal with the ill-conditioned design matrices these higher order equations often produce. If you are not getting the polynomial or rational results you feel you should, you may wish to select the Gauss-Jordan or LU-Decomposition methods. For polynomials and rationals having a matrix condition number less than 5E-14, there will be a profound difference in the coefficients between the SVD and the conventional methods. The coefficients generated by the conventional procedures will tend to have very large positive and negative offsetting values whereas those generated by the SVD will be far more stable. Note also that TableCurve exclusively uses extended double precision (80 bit) floating point math. It is possible that no method selected will match the polynomial coefficients produced by another program which uses double precision (64 bit) or single precision (32 bit) math.

 Non-Linear Equations: Check the non-linear equations you wish to have fitted. The TableCurve non-linear equations are listed in the appendix of the manual and can be viewed by using the F2 Equation Help item in the main menu's Help. The non-linear equation selections apply only to the Custom Curve-Fit fitting option.

 Non-Linear Maximum Iterations: The default number of iterations for a non-linear equation is 200. You may use the Max Iterations button to set this value anywhere between 2 and 999. There is seldom much to gain beyond 200 iterations unless you are working with a very complex model.

 Non-Linear Convergence Precision: The default convergence precision is 6. This means that the r2 coefficient of determination must be unchanging in the sixth decimal place for five consecutive iterations to signal convergence. You may use the Converge Prec button to set this value anywhere between 3 and 15.

 Sort Criteria: The sort criteria is the goodness of fit measure that is used to initially prepare the equation list. This can subsequently be changed in the Review. The DOF Adjusted r2 and Fit Std Error options are recommended for approximating functions since these criteria offer true least-squares ordering. The F-statistic is recommended for selecting the best parametric function. The F-statistic is often a very effective way to have the simpler equations appear near the top of the list.

 Saving a Custom Fit Configuration: Use the Save item to save the current configuration to disk. The default file extension is FIT. These are binary files that can only be produced within the program. Custom fit files can be recalled at anytime. The current custom fit is always saved across sessions. You will want to save custom fits to disk if you plan to use more than one custom configuration in your work.

 Reading a Custom Fit Configuration: Use the Read item to read a custom fit configuration from disk. The current settings will be updated to reflect this new configuration. You may also use the Read Custom Curve Fit Process menu option to read a custom fit configuration.

 Fitting a Custom Fit Configuration: Use the Fit item to immediately fit the configuration within the dialog. This is the same as using the Custom Curve-Fit Process menu option.


Read Custom Curve-Fit

 This item reads a custom fit configuration from disk, enabling this new configuration to be immediately fitted using the Curve-Fit Custom item in the Process menu. To view the settings installed by reading the custom fit file, use the Customize Curve-Fit Process menu item.


Curve-Fit User Functions

 This option begins TableCurve's Automated Curve-Fit Processing and fits TableCurve's UDFs, if installed.


User-Defined Functions

 You may install up to two non-linear User-Defined Functions (UDFs) into TableCurve's equation set at any given time. To work with the first UDF, select the User Function 1 option from the Process Menu. To work with the second UDF, select the User Function 2 option. A TableCurve UDF contains all information necessary to fit the function, including the function name, the parameter count, the function's formula, and starting estimates and constraints for each parameter. A special Adjust item allows you to graphically adjust the starting estimates to better assure a successfully converged fit. You may also inspect the partial derivatives for for the UDF to find instances of multiple constants, insignificant parameters, and to expose conditions where a fit would be likely to fail.

 Function Name: This name will be used to represent the function in the curve-fit graphs. You will wish to select a name that is meaningful to you.

 Coefficient Count: This is the number of adjustable parameters in the UDF model. The UDF must contain the number of parameters entered. If, for example, you enter 4 as the coefficient count, the UDF must contain parameters #A,#B,#C,#D (or A0,A1,A2,A3).

 Entering the UDF: The UDF entry uses a simple ASCII multiline editor. You can use the Cut, Copy, and Paste items to move text about or to paste in the UDF formula if you placed it into the clipboard via another program. All of the functions and constants available within TableCurve can be accessed via a special Function Insert help. In a UDF no prefixes are automatically supplied. You may define as many constants as you wish. For example, SQRT2PI=SQRT(2*PI) would be defined on one line and used in subsequent lines. Constant expressions are evaluated once and the numeric result is stored. Any assignment to a variable other than F1-F9 (or #F1-#F9) and Y is assumed to be a constant. Any expression containing X or any of the adjustable parameters #A-#H (or A0-A7) must be assigned either to an F1-F9 expression or to Y. F1-F9 and Y expressions are compiled and are evaluated once for each data point in every iteration. The Y expression must always be the last line in the UDF. Here is a simple UDF example:

 S2=SQRT(2)

 #F1=ERFC(-#D/S2+LN(X/#C)/(#D*S2))

 Y=#A+0.5*#B*#F1

 The S2 expression is a constant that is evaluated numerically and stored for use in subsequent expressions. The #F1 expression calls the complementary error function with an argument expression containing the third (#C) and fourth (#D) adjustable parameters. The last line is the required Y= function expression. It contains the first (#A) and second (#B) adjustable parameters. The #F1 and Y expressions are compiled. In the fit, these expressions are evaluated at the X of every data point for each iteration's particular #A-#D parameters.

 Validation: A UDF is extensively validated before it is compiled. If there is a math or parser error, you will be given a clear indication of the error and the cursor will be placed at the location where the validation failed. If you are having trouble with a UDF, you may save the failed UDF to disk. You can then recall it at some future time in an effort to fix what is wrong.

 Starting Estimates and Constraints: You must enter starting estimates for the parameters in the model. Good starting estimates are sometimes necessary for convergence, and usually result in faster non-linear fits. Minimum and maximum constraints are optional. If a parameter violates a constraint that you set, a penalty function is added to the chi-square to attempt to bring the parameter back into a valid range.

 Reading a UDF: Use the Read item to read a UDF from disk. While the UDF's are ASCII format files, it is recommended that they be created only within the program.

 Clearing a UDF: Use the Clear item to clear an existing UDF from memory or to reset the UDF entry screen.

 Saving a UDF: Use this option to save a UDF to disk. These are ASCII format files with .UDF extensions. The UDF is validated before the Save is made. If the validation fails, you are given an option to save the UDF even though it contains an error. You can then recall it at some future time in an effort to repair what is wrong.

 Immediate Fit: Use the Curve Fit UDF button to immediately fit the UDFs. This is the same as the Curve Fit User Functions item in the Process menu. Note that this option fits both UDFs if there are two installed. The fitting only occurs if the UDF is successfully validated.

 Parameter Contribution Warning: Even with a successful UDF compilation, you may still get the warning Parameter n Makes Less Than .1% Fractional Contribution to Equation in X-Range of Data. Adjustment is Recommended. TableCurve determines the minimum and maximum partial derivative for each parameter. This range of partial derivative is multiplied by the current estimate for that parameter and then compared to the overall Y-data range. If a parameter does not make at least a .1% contribution relative to the Y-data range, this warning is given. This is often a good indicator that the fit will fail because of poor starting estimates. It may also indicate a poorly designed model that contains a parameter that minimally impacts the equation in the X-range of the data. When this message occurs, it is recommended that you use the Adjust procedure to refine the estimates, and if necessary, the Adjust procedure's Derivatives option to see if an insignificant parameter is present.

 If You are Uncertain of Starting Estimates: When working with a new or exploratory model, you may not know what values constitute good starting estimates. In such a case, for each parameter you are uncertain of, simply enter 1.0 for the starting estimate (or some other value for which the UDF is defined). If you achieve a successful compile but get the parameter contribution warning, use the Adjust item to graphically set the estimates. If you do not get the parameter contribution warning, there is a good chance the fitting algorithm may successfully converge. There is no harm in letting the fitting algorithm do the work. Use the Curve-Fit UDF option to fit only the UDFs. If you are successful, you may wish to take note of the successful parameters and modify the UDF accordingly. If the fit fails, you must return to the UDF screen and use the Adjust feature to graphically set the starting estimates to better reflect the data. Alternatively you may with to use the Find and Update feature in the Adjust procedure. This performs a limited convergence fit with a subset of the data and automatically places the parameters in the starting estimate fields.

 Graphical Adjustment of Starting Estimates: Use the Adjust item to open a graph of the X-Y data and the UDF. Do not be surprised if you do not see the UDF at first. If the estimates are too far off, it is possible that no part of the UDF graph will be anywhere within the field of the X-Y data. You may adjust each parameter with the scrollbar or you may enter the actual value. If you enter an actual value, there will be a brief delay before the screen is updated, allowing you to complete your entry. The goal of graphical adjustment is to set the parameters so that the UDF starts to approximate the data. The scrollbar adjustments are based upon the range of the partial derivative for that parameter. This is updated with each value entered. If you enter a value for which the partial derivative range is very nearly zero, or if such is true when you begin, the scroll bar adjustment may produce very large jumps. In this case you must enter a value that brings the UDF back into range.

 Find and Update: The Find and Update button in the Adjust screen initiates a low convergence fit using a subset of the current data table. The results of this very rapid pre-fit are automatically placed within the starting estimate fields. While this is often a very attractive means for refining the starting estimates, the algorithm is as vulnerable to local minima as the main non-linear fitting engine.

 UDF Failures: The two most common causes of UDF failures are having the UDF produce essentially a constant value across the X-range of the data, or to have a parameter set at such a value, that its impact totally masks the impact of X varying across the range of the data. You have to be especially cautious when using a UDF with a very narrow range of X-data. As you adjust the starting estimates graphically, the UDF is being updated. When you return to the UDF screen, the estimates will reflect those set in the graphical procedure. By careful attention in the Adjust feature, no valid UDF should fail to produce the intended fit.

 Inspecting Partial Derivatives: From the graphical UDF Adjustment screen, you can choose the Derivatives option. This displays a similar set of adjustment controls except instead of seeing a graph, you see a table of partial derivative information. The % of Y column consists of the % of the Y data range represented by the range of the partial derivative multiplied by the estimate. The last column reports a relative percent based on all non-constant parameters, and these sum to 100%. The fitting algorithm relies on changes in partial derivatives to guide the revisions in the parameters that occur with each iteration. If a partial derivative is constant, then it should have a value of 1.0, meaning that it is a true constant in the expression. If you see two constants, then at least one of these parameters should be removed. If you find that across wide adjustments of a given parameter there is no significant contribution to the Y-range of the data, whereas the others are making such a contribution, you should seriously question whether this parameter belongs in your model. Note that you can set the estimate of a given parameter so far out of range that no legitimate partial derivatives are found for any parameter in the X range of the data.


User Function 1

 Use this option to access the first of TableCurve's  User-Defined Functions.


User Function 2

 Use this option to access the second of TableCurve's  User-Defined Functions.


Last Session User Functions

 Use this item to immediately load the UDFs that were last used within the program. The file names of the most recently used UDFs are saved across sessions. This option should only be used for data sets which are similar to those these previous UDFs were designed for. This option loads the UDFs, validates and compiles them, and makes them available for the various curve-fit options.


Review Menu

 TableCurve has two options for beginning the Review. The Graph Start option offers a screen where the curve-fit graph and equation list are simultaneously displayed. The List Start option presents a large equation list that is closed after each selection. The Review is designed to be refined as it is used, the layout and functionality taking shape in accord with your preferences. TableCurve saves two separate Review desktops across sessions, one for each of these start options. The Review consists of the following elements: the Curve-Fit Graph, the Equation List, the Residuals Graph, the Numeric Summary, the Data Summary, and the Precision Summary. Each of these windows has its own menu. The Curve-Fit Graph is always displayed. You may display any or all of the other items simultaneously. Each of the elements offers its own particular file and printed output.

 Graph Start

 List Start


Review Graph Start

 The Graph Start option offers an initial Review screen which simultaneously displays the curve-fit graph and equation list. The Review desktop is refined as you determine your particular preferences. The Review consists of the following elements: the Curve-Fit Graph, the Equation List, the Residuals Graph, the Numeric Summary, the Data Summary, and the Precision Summary. Each of these windows has its own menu. The Curve-Fit Graph is always displayed. You may display any or all of the other items simultaneously. Each of the elements offers its own particular file and printed output.


Review List Start

 The List Start option offers an initial Review screen which emphasizes the equation list. This list closes after each equation selection allowing the largest possible curve-fit graph. The Review desktop is refined as you determine your particular preferences. The Review consists of the following elements: the Curve-Fit Graph, the Equation List, the Residuals Graph, the Numeric Summary, the Data Summary, and the Precision Summary. Each of these windows has its own menu. The Curve-Fit Graph is always displayed. You may display any or all of the other items simultaneously. Each of the elements offers its own particular file and printed output.


Equation List

 The Equation List window displays a selection list of the curve-fit equations. This list will initially be sorted by the criteria set in the Customize Curve-Fit Process menu option. This list can subsequently be sorted by any one of TableCurve's four goodness-of-fit sort criteria and its content can be filtered to only contain certain types of equations. By default, rational equations with a pole in the range of the X-data are initially excluded. The Equation List window will have its own menu if it is sufficiently large. If you choose to have the Equation List displayed in a small window, its content-related functions can be accessed via the List menu in the Curve-Fit Graph window. The Equation List is toggled on and off by the List button in the Curve-Fit Graph window. You may also close the Equation List window directly using its system menu. The window size and position you choose for the Equation List is automatically saved across sessions. TableCurve saves two Equation List window positions and sizes, one for the Graph Start option and one for the List Start option. Options to save the Equation List to a file, to display the List Window in color, and to print all or part of the list are present only in the List Window's own menu and not in the List menu of the Curve-Fit Graph. To access these functions when the Equation List is too small to have a menu, simply maximize the Equation List window.

 Rank: The first item in each line of the equation list will be the ranking of the equation by the goodness of fit criteria currently set. Initially, all successfully fitted equations are shown except rational equations which have an undefined region in the X-range of the data. These rationals can be included in the list by toggling the Rationals Fully Defined Xmin-Xmax menu item. The rank will always reflect the position within all fitted equations, regardless of how the list is filtered.

 Goodness of Fit: The second item will be the goodness of fit value. This may be the r2 coefficient of determination, the DOF-Adjusted r2, the Fit Standard Error, or the F-statistic. The current goodness of fit criteria will be shown in the window's title bar.

 Floating Point Demand: The third item will be the FP or floating point demand for the TableCurve generated language code for this equation. A value of 1 corresponds to 1 floating point addition. The higher the number, the greater the execution time for the equation code.

 Equation Number and Equation: The last items in an equation list entry will be the TableCurve equation number and the equation expression.

 Selecting an Equation: If you make a selection from the Equation List using a mouse, an equation is selected as soon as you click on it. All Review windows currently open will be updated to reflect the new equation. If the Equation List is the currently active window, you may also move through the list using the cursor keys and make a selection by pressing Enter. If you maximize the Equation List window, regardless of Review startup option, the Equation List window is automatically closed when a selection is made.

 File Menu: The Save ASCII option is used to save the Equation List to a simple ASCII file.

 List Menu: When the Keep List After Selection is checked and the Equation list window is not maximized, the Equation list is not removed after a selection is made. If this Keep List After Selection is not checked, or if the Window is maximized, the Equation list window is closed after each selection. The style items include setting a font for the list. This Font for List font selection is unique to the Equation List and distinct from the font that is common to TableCurve's text display windows. The Color option toggles the display of the list between color and black and white. All equation list printed output will be in black and white.

 Filter Menu: All of the Filter Menu items are also in the Curve-Fit Graph's List menu. You may apply eight different filter options to the equation list so that it contains All Equations, only the Simple Equations, only Polynomial/Rational Equations, only Polynomial Equations, only Rational Equations, only Non-Linear Equations, only Continuous Trend First Derivative equations-those which have a continuously increasing or decreasing first derivative across a specified X-range, or Constant Sign First Derivative equations-those which have a constant sign first derivative across a specified X-range. These options reset the selected equation to the first within the list. For the two derivative scanning options, you can use the Set X Range for Derivative Filtering option to specify the X range as well as how many sampling points are to be used. The default scan will range from Xmin to Xmax+1/2Xrange with 32 points. The larger the number of sampling points, the less will be the likelihood of an equation with an undefined region or pole slipping into the list. The procedure is a linear one, meaning that it will take twice as long to scan the list when 64 sampling points are used. By default, rational functions are not displayed if they have a pole or undefined region in the range of the X data. The Rational Defined Xmin to Xmax option is used to toggle this additional filter.

 Sort Menu: All of the Sort Menu items are also in the Curve-Fit Graph's List menu. You may sort the current list at anytime by r2 coefficient of determination, by DOF-Adjusted r2, by Standard Error (Root MSE), or by F-statistic. If you want the best possible least squares fit without regard to the number of coefficients, use either the DOF-Adjusted r2 or the Standard Error criteria. If you want the equation which represents the best possible model for describing the data, use the F-statistic. The F-statistic sort will often bring many simpler equations nearer the top of the list if the equations do a respectable job describing the data using a modest number of coefficients. A sort resets the selected equation to the first equation in the list.

 Print Menu: Use the Printer Setup item to select the current printer and optionally to configure the printer's own driver. The Print item is used to print either the currently displayed contents of the list, or the entire list. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


Residuals Graph

 The Residuals Graph is a separate window displaying the residuals for the current curve-fit. You may display both a residuals or a residuals % graph. The standard residuals graph also doubles as a standardized residuals graph if the Point format specifies the coloring of residuals by fit standard error. The "runs" value, the number of times the residuals curve crosses the X=0 axis (sign changes), is appended to the Y-title in the graph. The higher the run count, the greater will be the likelihood of randomly distributed residuals. You will probably find it easiest to discern systematic trends in the residuals by using either the bar graph point format or a connected line point format. The Residuals Graph is toggled on and off by the Residuals button in the Curve-Fit Graph window. You may also close the Residuals Graph directly. The window size and position you choose for the Residuals Graph is automatically saved across sessions.

 File Menu: The Save Residuals item is used to save the residuals to an X-Y ASCII file. This file can be read back into TableCurve for fitting or as an overlay reference for the purpose of comparing residuals from different fits. This ASCII file is also easily imported into any technical document.

 Graph Menu: The Residuals Graph menu contains items to scale and format the graph, to access the Overlay Data References used throughout TableCurve, or to set a Residuals % Graph. The scaling options include setting a Logarithmic X Axis, setting Custom Scaling and restoring the automatic Default Scaling. The format options include modifying the Graph Point Format, changing the Graph Grid Format, setting Custom Titles and Sizes, selecting the Graph Font, and changing the Graph Color Scheme. The Overlay Data References item allows an overlay consisting of residual data to be loaded into a data reference for comparison with the current residuals. The Residuals % Graph item is used to toggle between a simple Residuals Graph and one where the Residuals are reported as a % of the original Y-Value.

 Print Menu: The Hardcopy option is used to print the current Residuals Graph.


Numeric Summary

 The Numeric Summary is used to display all numerical information associated with the curve-fit for the current equation. This summary includes goodness of fit criteria, coefficient standard errors and confidence limits for the fitted parameters, measured values such as area and extrema of the function and its derivatives, the fitting method(s) used, an analysis of variance, and data table statistics. The Numeric Summary is toggled on and off by the Numeric button in the Curve-Fit Graph window. The window size and position you choose for the Numeric Summary is automatically saved across sessions.

 File Menu: From the File menu in the Numeric Summary window you can save the contents of the window to an ASCII file. This ASCII file can then be imported into any technical report.

 Style Menu: Use the Style menu in the Numeric Summary window to select the text font and size for all of TableCurve's text display windows. Although the information can be displayed in color, it is always printed in black and white.

 Print Menu: Use the Print menu in the Numeric Summary window to select the current printer and optionally to configure the printer's driver. The Print item is used to print either the currently displayed contents of the window, or the entire content. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


Data Summary

 The Data Summary is used to display a point by point data summary for the current equation with the X and Y value of each data point, the predicted value, the residual and %residual, the confidence limits, and the prediction limits. The Data Summary is toggled on and off by the Data button in the Curve-Fit Graph window. The window size and position you choose for the Data Summary is automatically saved across sessions.

 File Menu: From the File menu in the Data Summary window you can save the contents of the window to an ASCII file. This ASCII file can then be imported into any technical report.

 Style Menu: Use the Style menu in the Data Summary window to select the text font and size for all of TableCurve's text display windows. Although the information can be displayed in color, it is always printed in black and white.

 Type Menu: The Type menu is used to select the display of residuals, confidence limits, prediction limits, or all three types of information. You will need to select a small font size in order to fully print all three types of information on a standard size page.

 Print Menu: Use the Print menu in the Data Summary window to select the current printer and optionally to configure the printer's driver. The Print item is used to print either the currently displayed contents of the window, or the entire content. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


Precision Summary

 The Precision Summary is used to determine how much precision is preserved in the current equation when the successively fewer digits of precision is used in the coefficients. The error is measured at Xmin, Xmean, and Xmax. For linear equations, the impact of removing (zeroing) each parameter is also shown. The Precision Summary is toggled on and off by the Precision button in the Curve-Fit Graph window. The window size and position you choose for the Precision Summary is automatically saved across sessions.

 File Menu: From the File menu in the Precision Summary window you can save the contents of the window to an ASCII file. This ASCII file can then be imported into any technical report.

 Style Menu: Use the Style menu in the Precision Summary window to select the text font and size for all of TableCurve's text display windows. Although the information can be displayed in color, it is always printed in black and white.

 Print Menu: Use the Print menu in the Precision Summary window to select the current printer and optionally to configure the printer's driver. The Print item is used to print either the currently displayed contents of the window, or the entire content. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


Curve-Fit Graph

 The Curve-Fit Graph is the central point in the TableCurve Review. This graph will display the X-Y data along with the fitted equation, and optionally with confidence and/or prediction intervals, data references, and a fit reference. The graph can be scaled and formatted, a variety of file output options are available, the graph can be printed, derivatives and cumulative areas of the fit equation can be displayed, and a full numeric evaluation can be made of the selected equation. The Curve-Fit graph is also the control point for toggling on and off the the Equation List, the Residuals Graph, the Numeric Summary, the Data Summary, and the Precision Summary. The Curve-Fit graph cannot be closed during the course of the Review. You may move and size this window as you wish, although you may not hide the menu or control buttons. The position and size of the Curve-Fit graph are saved across sessions.

 Buttons Controlling Other Windows The List button is used to toggle the Equation List window on and off. The Residuals button is used to toggle the Residuals Graph window. The Numeric button is used to toggle the Numeric Summary window. The Data button is used to toggle the Data Summary window. The Precision button is used to toggle the Precision Summary window.

 Buttons Controlling Curve-Fit Graph Elements The Zoom-Out scroll-bar is used to select one of 10 automatic zoom-out levels. The LogX and Y buttons set Logarithmic Axes. The Intervals button is used to toggle the Intervals currently set in the Intervals menu on and off. The Fit Ref button similarly toggles the Fit Reference set in the Reference menu on and off. These controls exist as buttons because of their frequent use within the Review. All of the scaling and formatting items for the Curve-Fit graph are found within the Graph menu.

 Scan Buttons There are three scan buttons in the control panel. These are used to go to the top of the list, to scan up one equation, and to scan down one equation.

 Evaluation The Eval Button is used to perform a full-featured numeric evaluation of the curve-fit equation. While the Evaluation procedure is active, all other Review processes are suspended.

 Printing the Graph: The Hardcopy option is used to print the current Curve-Fit Graph.

 On Graph Operations: The Zoom-In operation is done on-graph. If you place the mouse cursor on a data point, the numeric value of the residual will be shown in the information bar.

 File Menu: The Lotus 123 option is used to write a WK1 curve-fit worksheet. The WK1 file can optionally have 8 XY data named graphs and 5 Generated named graphs. You must specify a starting and ending X value for the 100 generated points that will automatically be written to the WK1 worksheet. The worksheet's last column will also contain a Lotus 123 representation of the equation. The SigmaPlot option is used to write an SPG file containing one of four predefined graph formats. The Statistical Graphs consist of a Curve-Fit Graph, a Residuals Graph, and a Graph containing Confidence and Prediction Intervals. The Engineering Graphs consist of a Curve-Fit Graph, a Derivatives Graph, and a Cumulative Area Graph. You must specify a starting and ending X value for the 100 generated points that will automatically be written to the SPG worksheet. The Harvard Graphics option will generate a Curve-Fit .CHT file. The Code Generation option will write either a Full Test program or Function code for the current curve-fit equation in either C, PASCAL, FORTRAN, QuickBASIC, BASICA, or TurboBASIC. You must specify the name of the function, subroutine, or procedure for the curve-fit equation. After the file is written, you are presented with a display of the generated code. The Parameters option simply writes the current equation coefficients, with maximum precision, to an ASCII file.

 Graph Menu: These items are almost identical to those in the button control panel in the Data Graph option accessed via the TableCurve's main View menu. The scaling options are listed first in the Review's Graph menu. These include setting Logarithmic Axes, having the automatic scaling based upon Active/All Data Points, Zeroing Ymin, setting Custom Scaling and Restoring the Default Scaling. You can also restore the Default scaling by clicking on the left button of the Zoom-Out Zoom-Out scrollbar. Options to format the curve-fit graph include modifying the Graph Point Format, changing the Graph Grid Format, setting Custom Titles and Sizes, selecting the Graph Font, and changing the Graph Color Scheme. The Aux Fns item is used to display a derivative or cumulative area of the curve-fit function rather than the curve-fit function itself. X-Y data points will be shown if they fall within the scaling of the auxiliary function. You must use the Function option to retore the standard curve-fit function display.

 Intervals Menu: The Intervals are toggled on and off using the Intervals button in the Curve-Fit Graph's control panel. Simply select the Confidence or Prediction items to toggle this type of Interval on and off for display. You may select 90%, 95%, or 99% as the confidence limit for the Review. This applies not only to the confidence and prediction intervals in the graph, but also to confidence limits on the parameters in the Numeric Summary, and to the confidence and prediction ranges for the data in the Data Summary as well as to all File and Printed output containing confidence information.

 Reference Menu: This menu offers both the data and equation references. The Overlay Data References item is used to add X-Y data references to the curve-fit graph. While this option can be used to overlay any type of X-Y data, you will probably wish to use the Fit Reference option to compare another equation with the current curve-fit equation. The Lock Current Fit as Reference item is used to make the present equation a reference that can be used to compare other fits. The Fit Ref button in the Curve-Fit Graph's control panel is used to turn this Fit Reference on and off. A Fit Reference does not have to come from the current data set. You can save an equation to disk using the Save Current Fit as Reference item and recall it at any future time with the Read Reference Fit option, regardless of the data set being fit. You may wish to combine multiple data sets which when fitted together will represent a current standard, and then save this to disk for recall when fitting individual sets in the future.

 Scan Menu: This First Equation, Next Higher Rank, and Next Lower Rank items duplicate the VCR buttons in the control panel and are likewise used to select the highest ranked fit, the next higher ranked fit, and the next lower ranked fit. The Last Equation item selects the worst ranked equation in the set. The Search Specific Equation item is used to directly select the TableCurve equation desired. You must enter the TableCurve equation number. If the equation is not in the list for any reason, you will be shown a message that explains why the equation is not available. This is the fastest way to find a TableCurve equation when you know in advance which equation it is you seek.

 List Menu: This menu completely duplicates the content items in the Equation List window's own menu. The Equation List window's menu will not be shown if it is small in size. All output options associated with the Equation List are available only via the Equation List window's own menu. If the menu is not shown, simply maximize the Equation List window in order to display the menu.


Help Menu

 The Help Menu offers this index-based Windows Help as well as a special equation help which lists all equations in TableCurve's equation set.

 Index    F1

 Equation List    F2

 About TableCurve


Index Help

 The TableCurve Index Help uses the standard Windows help application to display help for all of TableCurve's key operations. This help can also be accessed by pressing F1 from the main menu or by the Help button located in most of TableCurve's dialogs.


Equation Help

 This Equation help displays all of TableCurve's equations. This help can also be accessed by pressing F2 from the main menu. This help offers the means to save the equation list to a file, to change the font and to toggle color in the display, to select and optionally configure a printer, and to print either the equations currently displayed in the window or all equations.

 File Menu: You may save the Equation List to a simple ASCII file. The Exit item is used to close the Equation Help Window.

 Style Menu: Use the Style menu to select the text font and size for all of TableCurve's text display windows. Although the information can be displayed in color, it is always printed in black and white.

 Print Menu: Use the Print menu to select the current printer and optionally to configure the printer's driver. The Print item is used to print either the equations currently displayed in the window, or all equations. The Text Print dialog is used to customize the printing of the information.


About TableCurve

 This dialog will list the current version of the product along with your name, company, and serial number.


Contacting Jandel

 Jandel Scientific

 2591 Kerner Blvd.

 San Rafael, CA 94901

 Sales: (800) 874-1888

 Sales Outside USA: (415) 453-6700

 Sales FAX: (415) 453-7769

 Tech Support: (415) 453-7196

 Tech Support FAX: (415) 453-7789

 Tech Support BBS: (415) 453-7889


METAFILES
Windows Metafiles

 TableCurve offers three options to export TableCurve's own graphs to other software. You may save any of TableCurve's principal graphs as a disk-based Windows Metafile or you may copy a graph directly to the Windows clipboard in either the Windows Metafile or Windows Bitmap format. Windows Metafiles consist of a series of Windows graphics vector instructions which are intended to reproduce the original image. Windows Metafiles offer superior resolution and scaling, although the program importing the image may have difficulties in properly rendering text elements such as superscripts, subscripts, and symbols in their proper positions. The Windows Bitmap format does not evidence this weakness, but does suffer a significant loss of resolution when scaled, especially with a very different aspect ratio.  TableCurve's disk-based metafiles are "placeable" and based upon the Aldus specification. This is the Windows Metafile format preferred and sometimes required by high-end desktop publishing and drawing software. The clipboard-based Metafile images use a different Windows Metafile format supported by most Windows word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics software.

 Generating Placeable Metafiles: From the Print Hardcopy option available with all of TableCurve's principal graphs, simply select the Placeable WMF option in the Windows Metafile area. The only options that apply to Metafiles are the bounding frame and the use of color. When the Frame Graph box is checked, there will be a thin-box at the boundaries of the image. To generate a Page-White image, simply uncheck the Use Color item. The default file extension for Metafiles is [.WMF]. If your software is unsuccessful in importing the placeable metafile, you should try copying the graph to the Windows Clipboard.

 Copying Metafile Graphs to Clipboard: From the Print Hardcopy option available with all of TableCurve's principal graphs, simply select the Clipboard option in the Windows Metafile area. This copies the graph to the Windows clipboard using the clipboard's native Metafile format. The only options that apply to clipboard images are likewise the bounding frame and the use of color. In most cases, you will use a Paste item in the Edit menu of the software importing the image. You may wish to paste a TableCurve curve-fit graph directly into the Excel, Lotus Windows, or Quattro Pro Windows spreadsheet containing the data from which the fit was generated. If you are unsuccessful in pasting the clipboard image into your software, first check the Windows Clipboard Viewer to insure the image is actually there. If so, and if your software supports WMF images, try importing a disk-based metafile generated by the Placeable WMF option.

 Preserving Formatted Text: Windows contains no intrinsic support for subscripts, superscripts, or changing to a symbol font in the middle of a text string. As such, a title containing formatted text requires multiple text output instructions. When a metafile image is placed and scaled, the software importing the file may not preserve the proper character spacing across the separate text segments. If this occurs, try initially placing the image in the aspect ratio of your video display. If this fails, you must answer No to the Preserve Superscripts, Subscripts, and Symbols? query.


BITMAPS
Windows Bitmaps

 TableCurve offers three options to export TableCurve's own graphs to other software. You may save any of TableCurve's principal graphs as a disk-based Windows Metafile or you may copy a graph directly to the Windows clipboard in either the Windows Bitmap or Windows Metafile format. Windows Metafiles consist of a series of Windows graphics vector instructions which are intended to reproduce the original image. Windows Metafiles offer superior resolution and scaling, although the program importing the image may have difficulties in properly rendering text elements such as superscripts, subscripts, and symbols in their proper positions. A Windows Bitmap is a raster image which will accurately retain the positioning of all elements within the graph and its titles. The main drawback to using a bitmap image is the significant loss of resolution that occurs when the program importing the graph stretches, shrinks, or otherwise scales the image. This is especially true for an aspect ratio that differs significantly from the original image. Most Windows word processing, spreadsheet, and graphics software can paste in Windows bitmaps.

 Copying Bitmap Graphs to Clipboard: From the Print Hardcopy option available with all of TableCurve's principal graphs, simply select the To Clipboard option in the Windows Bitmap area. This copies the graph to the Windows clipboard using the clipboard's native bitmap format. The size of the image will be exactly that of the graph being copied. For a larger or smaller bitmap, simply resize the window containing the graph. The only print options that apply to clipboard images are the bounding frame and the use of color. When the Frame Graph box is checked, there will be a thin-box at the boundaries of the image. To generate a Page-White image, simply uncheck the Use Color item. In most cases, you will use a Paste item in the Edit menu of the software importing the image. You may wish to paste a TableCurve curve-fit graph directly into the Excel, Lotus Windows, or Quattro Pro Windows spreadsheet containing the data from which the fit was generated. If you are unsuccessful in pasting the clipboard image into your software, first check the Windows Clipboard Viewer to insure the image is actually there. If so, try the Windows Metafile format.


README
TableCurve Windows v1.00 Release Notes

 The following changes and revisions have been made since the v1.0 documentation was prepared.

 Quattro Pro Windows Data Import: With the initial v1.00 release, import support has been added for Quattro Pro Windows [.WB1] files. TableCurve's Quattro Pro Windows import procedure only accesses the data in the first of the 3D worksheets. This is the A notebook page. This differs from how TableCurve imports data from the 3D [.WK3] spreadsheet files generated by Lotus v3.x and Lotus Windows. For Lotus [WK3] files, TableCurve reads a given column across all of the 3D worksheets. You can thus use the 3D Lotus [.WK3] format to store a succession of similar data sets intended for simultaneous fitting.

 DIF File Import: The initial v1.00 release also includes support for the Data Interchange Format (DIF). You may build the TableCurve data table from single column, X-Y, or multi-column DIF files.

 Metafile Support for Graphs: This initial v1.00 release offers the means to export the actual TableCurve graphs to other programs via a disk-based Windows Metafile [.WMF]. TableCurve's Metafiles use the Aldus Placeable Metafile format. This format is compatible with most publishing and drawing software. From the Print Hardcopy option available with all of TableCurve's principal graphs, simply select the Placeable WMF option. The only options that apply to Metafiles are the bounding frame and the use of color.

 Copying Graphs to Clipboard: This initial v1.00 release also offers two methods for copying a TableCurve graph to the clipboard. Once stored in the clipboard, a TableCurve graph can be pasted into a variety of word processing and spreadsheet software. The image can be in the clipboard's Windows Metafile format or in the clipboard's Windows Bitmap format. The Windows Metafile format consists of vector instructions which offer superior resolution, although the program importing the image may have difficulties in properly rendering superscripts, subscripts, and symbols in their proper positions. The Windows Bitmap format does not evidence this weakness, but does suffer a significant loss of resolution when scaled, especially with a very different aspect ratio. To copy a Metafile format graph to the clipboard, select the Clipboard item from the Windows Metafile area in the Print Hardcopy dialog. To copy a Bitmap format graph to the clipboard, select the To Clipboard item from the Windows BitMap area in the Print Hardcopy dialog. The only print options that apply to clipboard images are the bounding frame and the use of color.

 Absolute Frequencies in FFT: The frequency-magnitude graph produced in the Fourier Domain Editing option will have an absolute frequency X-scale if uniformly-spaced X-values are detected during the prescan procedure. When you place the cursor on the top of a bar (or on a point), the status display will report the actual wavelength. When fitting overlapping waveform data, you can thus obtain wavelength estimates simply by placing the cursor at the top of the spikes or peaks in the FFT. If uniformly spaced X-values are not present, the the data is assumed to have equally spaced X-values for the purpose of constructing frequency channels with a spacing of unity.

 Calculations in TableCurve Editor: When a Calculation is entered in the TableCurve Editor, you may now immediately apply the calculation to all entries in the data table. This is identical to Applying a Calculation from the main menu. An active calculation in the TableCurve editor is applied to each new entry as it is entered.

 HP Plotter Output: When the HP Plotter driver is used, you must set the orientation for the plot within the printer configuration dialog. For all other devices, the page format specified in the TableCurve Print dialog will determine the orientation. You will probably also find that the HP Plotter driver does not support rotation for True Type and Adobe Type Manager fonts. You may need to use the Modern, Roman, or MS San Serif font in order to have the proper rotation for the the Y-axis title. Due to the procedure TableCurve uses for enhanced grid lines with digital devices, grids will not appear in Plotter output.

 Uninstalling TableCurve: TableCurve writes no information to WIN.INI nor does TableCurve alter the path in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. To remove TableCurve from your machine, simply delete all files in the TableCurve directory (C:\TCWIN is the installation default), delete this directory, and then delete the TableCurve icon in the Windows Program Manager.