Difference between revisions of "Analytica 4.0 beta Release Notes"

(moved notes for 4.0.0.51 to subpage)
Line 28: Line 28:
 
(since 4.0.0.51)
 
(since 4.0.0.51)
  
 +
== ADE ==
  
 +
* Fixed major problem with '''CATable::GetIndexObject'''.  Build 4.0.0.51 introduced a critical flaw in this routine, such that the CAIndex returned was in a bad state.  This is a critical fix for ADE users.
 +
 +
* The RenderingStyle ReferenceAsText was not previously implemented, but now is.
 +
 +
* In the AdeTest program, when a [[Handle]] is returned for a cell value (e.g., via GetDataByLabels), and the RenderingStyle VarTermFormat is set to 1 (so that a CAObject is returned), the AdeTest program now automatically adds this to the left-hand pane of objects that are currently open.  Also, if a Reference is returned, and the RenderingStyle ReferenceAsText is false, a new CATable object is added to the left-hand pane.
 +
 +
* CAObject::DefTable is supposed to return Nothing (nullPtr) for non-table definitions.  In recent builds, this hasn't been the case, so this was fixed. 
 +
 +
== Graph Setup ==
 +
 +
* The ''Font'' tab has been renamed to ''Text''.
 +
 +
* Default colors for background fills has been changed to non-black.  The defaults make the gradient/hatch example pattern more obvious, and are a more likely choice for a background fill.
 +
 +
* Two new built-in graph style templates were added:  ''Blue Surround'' and ''Teal Pastel''.  Reminder: If you want to use one of these as the default for all graphs in your model, select it in the Style Template pulldown (you can optionally preview it from the preview tab), then select "Global Default" in the Style template pulldown.  When asked, say "Yes -- The graph appearance will remain".  Then end the dialog with '''Set Default'''.  Using '''Set Default''' instructs Analytica to use this style for all graphs, rather than just this single graph.
 +
 +
* A ''More Colors...'' button has been added to the color chooser pulldown (used for selecting font or background fill colors), which brings up an advanced color picker dialog.
 +
 +
== Graphing ==
 +
 +
* The ''Coordinate Index'' has been renamed to ''Comparison Index''.
 +
 +
* The pulldown labels for "Color", "Symbol" and "Symbol Size" have been renamed to "Color Key", "Symbol Key", and "Symbol Size Key".
 +
 +
* Several bugs in which pulldown selections did not match what was shown on the graph were fixed.  These occurred only in fairly esoteric multi-D graph configurations.
 +
 +
== Engine and Built-in Functions ==
 +
 +
* [[ChanceDist]] has been upgraded so that it can be used with named parameters, can be used inside the [[Random]] function, and supports the Over parameter.
 +
 +
* Removed a false cyclic-dependency error message that could occur when a zero offset appears in Dynamic, such as in: ''Dynamic(0, A[Time-0])''.  If there is a real offset elsewhere in the loop, this might not constitute an actual cyclic dependency, so the error was spurious.
 +
 +
* [[ReadTextFile]] transparently handles new-line characters in all three common formats: PC, Unix and Mac.  In all cases, new-lines in the result of [[ReadTextFile]] are always Chr(10), regardless of the newline standard in the underlying file.  Previously this was true for PC and Unix formats, but the Mac format (newlines of [CR]) were not auto-translated.
 +
 +
== Attribute Pane ==
 +
 +
* For variables defined as distributions whose definition displays as a button in the the attribute pane, the display of the parameters has been altered slightly.  They now display as written, rather than being "regenerated".  Thus, the names of named parameters are shown, where they weren't before.
 +
 +
== Function Finder ==
 +
 +
* If you fill in the Over parameter is a distribution function from the function finder, it now pastes as a named parameter without brackets.  E.g.: Normal(0,1,Over:I,J), rather than Normal(0,1,[I,J]).  Also, any parameter in any function, including UDFs, coming after an ellipsis or hidden parameter is pasted to the definition in the named syntax (which it has to be).  Ellipsis parameters paste without brackets.
 +
 +
== Saving and Loading ==
 +
 +
* Fixed a problem that could cause models saved in XML format to be corrupted. 
 +
 +
== Example Models and Libraries ==
 +
 +
* Fixed a corruption with the "Big Mac Attack.ana" example model.  (the XML problem listed above).
 +
* Added [[ParseCsvText]] to "Flat File Library.ana"
 +
* [[ReadCsvFile]] (and the new [[ParseCsvFile]]) handle Mac-style newlines correctly.  Thus lines ending in [CR], [LF], or [CRLF] are all okay, while previous Csv files from Macs, with lines ending in [CR] alone, weren't parsed correctly unless the optional linesep parameter was explicitly specified as [[Chr]](13).
  
 
= Previous Beta Builds =
 
= Previous Beta Builds =

Revision as of 19:30, 10 August 2007

(Back to Beta Tester Page)

These Release Notes apply to Build 4.0.0.51, 1 Aug, 2007.

Installation Notes

  • Analytica 4.0 can coexist with Analytica 3.1 on the same computer. Thus, you can install Analytica 4.0 beta while retaining Analytica 3.1. After installing 4.0, a double-click on a x.ANA file will run the model in 4.0. To run a model with 3.1, start Analytica 3.1, and use the Open Model... option from the File menu to select the model.
  • If you uninstall Analytica 3.0 or 3.1 after installing 4.0, it will wipe out the 4.0 registry tree. So, you will need to re-run the 4.0 installer.

Upward compatibility for Models from Analytica 3.1

Most models created in Analyica 3.1 load and evaluate fine in 4.0. We hope beta testers will check that 4.0 works and gives the same results as 3.1 -- unless there is a good reason why they should be different. There are two areas where you should expect results to be different:

  • Graph settings: Some Graph Setup options will not transfer to 4.0, because 4.0 offers different (and much richer) graphing options. For example, settings for axis ranges in 4.0 may attach to the Index rather than the graph. So, expect to do some tweaking of graphs -- and to enjoy the new options.
  • 0*NaN and 0*INF: Analytica 4.0 supports the IEEE 754 Binary Floating Point Arithmetic standard: Thus 0*NaN or 0*INF return NaN. In 3.1, the result was zero. If your model took advantage of the old behavior to zero out NaNs or INFs, you may find NaN or Null in downstream results that were not there in 3.1. If you check Show result warnings in the Preference dialog, it will warn you if your model relies on the old behavior and help pinpoint where this occurs.

See Changes in 4.0 that could impact 3.x models for a more comprehensive list.

Not working yet

  • There may be some problems saving models in XML format, especially related to system variable settings. For important stuff, stick with the default Analytica file format for now.
  • Auto recovery does not correctly recover "Add Linked Module" actions. Some problems after "Add Module". OLE links are not re-established. In the latter two cases, saving the model after crash recovery, then reloading should fix the problem. It is best to save after adding a module or library, rather than relying on auto recovery.

Changes in 4.0.0.53

(since 4.0.0.51)

ADE

  • Fixed major problem with CATable::GetIndexObject. Build 4.0.0.51 introduced a critical flaw in this routine, such that the CAIndex returned was in a bad state. This is a critical fix for ADE users.
  • The RenderingStyle ReferenceAsText was not previously implemented, but now is.
  • In the AdeTest program, when a Handle is returned for a cell value (e.g., via GetDataByLabels), and the RenderingStyle VarTermFormat is set to 1 (so that a CAObject is returned), the AdeTest program now automatically adds this to the left-hand pane of objects that are currently open. Also, if a Reference is returned, and the RenderingStyle ReferenceAsText is false, a new CATable object is added to the left-hand pane.
  • CAObject::DefTable is supposed to return Nothing (nullPtr) for non-table definitions. In recent builds, this hasn't been the case, so this was fixed.

Graph Setup

  • The Font tab has been renamed to Text.
  • Default colors for background fills has been changed to non-black. The defaults make the gradient/hatch example pattern more obvious, and are a more likely choice for a background fill.
  • Two new built-in graph style templates were added: Blue Surround and Teal Pastel. Reminder: If you want to use one of these as the default for all graphs in your model, select it in the Style Template pulldown (you can optionally preview it from the preview tab), then select "Global Default" in the Style template pulldown. When asked, say "Yes -- The graph appearance will remain". Then end the dialog with Set Default. Using Set Default instructs Analytica to use this style for all graphs, rather than just this single graph.
  • A More Colors... button has been added to the color chooser pulldown (used for selecting font or background fill colors), which brings up an advanced color picker dialog.

Graphing

  • The Coordinate Index has been renamed to Comparison Index.
  • The pulldown labels for "Color", "Symbol" and "Symbol Size" have been renamed to "Color Key", "Symbol Key", and "Symbol Size Key".
  • Several bugs in which pulldown selections did not match what was shown on the graph were fixed. These occurred only in fairly esoteric multi-D graph configurations.

Engine and Built-in Functions

  • ChanceDist has been upgraded so that it can be used with named parameters, can be used inside the Random function, and supports the Over parameter.
  • Removed a false cyclic-dependency error message that could occur when a zero offset appears in Dynamic, such as in: Dynamic(0, A[Time-0]). If there is a real offset elsewhere in the loop, this might not constitute an actual cyclic dependency, so the error was spurious.
  • ReadTextFile transparently handles new-line characters in all three common formats: PC, Unix and Mac. In all cases, new-lines in the result of ReadTextFile are always Chr(10), regardless of the newline standard in the underlying file. Previously this was true for PC and Unix formats, but the Mac format (newlines of [CR]) were not auto-translated.

Attribute Pane

  • For variables defined as distributions whose definition displays as a button in the the attribute pane, the display of the parameters has been altered slightly. They now display as written, rather than being "regenerated". Thus, the names of named parameters are shown, where they weren't before.

Function Finder

  • If you fill in the Over parameter is a distribution function from the function finder, it now pastes as a named parameter without brackets. E.g.: Normal(0,1,Over:I,J), rather than Normal(0,1,[I,J]). Also, any parameter in any function, including UDFs, coming after an ellipsis or hidden parameter is pasted to the definition in the named syntax (which it has to be). Ellipsis parameters paste without brackets.

Saving and Loading

  • Fixed a problem that could cause models saved in XML format to be corrupted.

Example Models and Libraries

  • Fixed a corruption with the "Big Mac Attack.ana" example model. (the XML problem listed above).
  • Added ParseCsvText to "Flat File Library.ana"
  • ReadCsvFile (and the new ParseCsvFile) handle Mac-style newlines correctly. Thus lines ending in [CR], [LF], or [CRLF] are all okay, while previous Csv files from Macs, with lines ending in [CR] alone, weren't parsed correctly unless the optional linesep parameter was explicitly specified as Chr(13).

Previous Beta Builds

Comments


You are not allowed to post comments.