readme.txt

The program is a general EXECUTABLE ONLY 2-D Rectangular and Polar Pattern Plotter.

                         ANTENNA PATTERN PLOTTER
                               Version 1.21 
                            Copyright (c) 1996
               Atef Z. Elsherbeni and Clayborne D. Taylor, Jr.
                                    
This program is a general EXECUTABLE ONLY 2-D Rectangular and Polar
Pattern Plotter.  The user interface for DOS makes the program easy
to use.  Since only the executable program is included, the user must
first install the program using the following steps:
1.  COPY A:\PLOTTER\*.* C:\PLOTTER\*.*
2.  From the directory  C:\PLOTTER type INSTALL
Using these two commands installs the plotting routines of the program in the
C:\PLOTTER directory.

  In addition, there are a few things the user should know in order to
use the program effectively.

1.  The program would handle the data and the output to the printer
    correctly if one always starts the program from the same directory
    in which it was installed.  The data files can be located at
    different directories.

2.  The format for a data file must contain 2 columns.  Basically, the
    file is read through a FORTRAN free-format specification.  If any
    errors occur during the read process, it is aborted with no plot given.
    The first column of the data represents the angle (in degrees) while
    the second column represents the quantity computed and plotted versus
    angle (i.e. field intensity, directivity, etc.).  The maximum number
    of points that may be read is currently 2048 points.  If the file is
    longer, only the first 2048 points will be plotted.  The heading(s) of
    the two column data should be preceded by the # sign to allow the plotter
    to read the data correctly.  If you use the computer programs "Antenna
    Theory: Analysis and Design" by Constantine A. Balanis, this has already
    been done; therefore neglect the comments.

3.  When the plot window is "on top", a pull-down menu is accessible by
    holding the left mouse button down on the small box in the top left
    corner of the window.  From there, the type of plot or the plot options
    may be selected.  When editing the label text, greek characters are
    available by first typing the '\' key and follow by typing 'A'-'Z' or
    'a'-'z'.  A postscript file named 'FONTLIST.PS' containing the Greek
    font key equivalents may be printed for reference.  Also note that the
    ~ symbol from the keyboard has been replaced by the degree symbol.

4.  To use the plotting program, you can follow the steps that are outlined
    here:
    a.  When you call the plotting program, the following options are
        displayed on the screen:
                CLEAR PLOT
                PLOT DATA FILE
                PRINTER SET UP
                QUIT
    b.  If you want to view the plot but you do NOT want a hardcopy, select
        PLOT DATA FILE.
    c.  Select the data file you want to plot.  The screen shows some
        examples: sine.dat, cosine.dat, pattern.dat, ptest.dat which can be
        used for demonstration.  By typing the path name, you can go to
        another directory and plot your own data.
    d.  Then click OKAY.  When you do this, the program automatically gives
        you a rectangular plot under Plot Window.
    e.  If you click the the small box in the upper left corner of Plot
        Window, other options are displayed:
                POLAR PLOT
                RECTANGULAR PLOT
                PLOT OPTIONS
                PRINT
    f.  Choose the one you want.  Under PLOT OPTIONS, you can change the
        scale of the plot and of the formats of the scales.  Choose the ones
        you want.  For example, if you want to reproduce the normalized
        polar patterns (in dB) displayed throughout the book " Antenna Theory:
        Analysis and Design" by Constantine A. Balanis, choose POLAR PLOT and
        under PLOT OPTIONS select the following:
                min 'rho'       -40
                max 'rho'        0
                'rho' tics       5
                'rho' fmt       F9.1
        Click OKAY.  The plot should now appear on the screen.
    g.  You can switch between POLAR PLOT and RECTANGULAR options.  Click
        CLEAR PLOT if you are done with this plot.  You can repeat Steps 4b-4f
        for any other data file.
    h.  If you want to place more than one pattern on the same plot, do NOT
        clear the first pattern using CLEAR PLOT in Step 4g.  Instead repeat
        4b-4g for the other data file that you want on the same plot.  Both
        patterns should appear simultaneously on the screen, each with
        different line style.  This process can be repeated for other data
        files.
    i.  Click CLEAR PLOT in the main window to clear the plot(s).
    j.  Click QUIT if you are finished with the plotting routine.

5.  If you want a hardcopy of the plot:
    a.  You MUST have a printer with postcript; if not, you can NOT get a
        hardcopy.
    b.  Go to Step 4a and select PRINTER SET UP, and then do one of the
        following:
        i.  If your computer is connected directly to the printer, you can
            use the LPT (i.e., LPT1, LPT2, LPT3 or LPT4) or COM (i.e., COM1,
            COM2, COM3 or COM4) options from the PRINTER SET UP of the
            plotting program; depending to which port the printer is
            connected.  Skip to Step 5c.
        ii. If your computer is connected to your printer through a network,
            then you MUST use the FILE option under the PRINTER SET UP to
            create a postcript file and print later in Step 5d through DOS.
            For example, ARRAY1.PS
    c.  Go and repeat Steps 4b-4h.
    d.  Under PLOT WINDOW click the small box in the upper left corner,
        and select PRINT.
    e.  Click CREAR PLOT in main window.
    f.  Click QUIT in main window.
    g.  Through DOS, go to the appropriate directory and recall the data
        you have created.
    h.  Use the PRINT command in DOS, with the appropriate filename, to print
        the poscript file you have created.  For example, PRINT ARRAY1.PS

6.  Output is written to a file by default.  Pressing any of the other port
    buttons will change the output to that port.  Note that printers
    connected through the LPT and/or COM ports must be properly configured
    through DOS before running the program.  Also note that color postscript
    is supported by selecting the 'COLOR' button.

7.  If your data contains the angular dependence (column number 1) in
    radians, use the provided "conv" program to convert the first column
    from radians to degrees.

Warnings:
========
    If any problems occur during operation of this software, the CPU auto
    detection may not work for this hardware. To specify the hardware and
    software set-up, edit the batch file "plt.bat" according to the 
    information in this batch file. A table along with instructions are 
    listed in the batch file.

    If you start the program from a directory other than the one you
    installed it, expect unpredicted results. 
    
Credit:
======
    If you use the software and you are happy with it, please refer 
    to it in your publications/reports. 


                               DISCLAIMER
                               ==========
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE FOR EDUCATIONAL USE.  THE INFORMATION
AND CODE IS PROVIDED AS DESCRIBED ABOVE WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.  
THE AUTHORS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, 
INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL 
DAMAGES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY RELATED TO THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE.
___________________
  - The protected mode run-time DOS-extender is the property of Rational
    Systems, Inc.
  - The fonts used by this software package are the property of Adobe Systems,
     Inc.
___________________
     The README.DOC file is a duplicate of README.TXT but edited with
     Microsoft Word.  You can access and read it by using Microsoft Word.