
				 README.TXT

	    Release Notes for ECON 3.0, Econometric Forecasting

		  Copyright (c) 1994-1997, DC Econometrics

     ********************************************************************
     NOTE: Read "1. Software Installation Information" before installing.
     ********************************************************************

------------------------
How to Use This Document
------------------------
To view README.TXT on screen in Windows Notepad, maximize the Notepad window.

To print README.TXT, open it in Windows Write, Microsoft Word, or another 
word processor.  Then highlight or select the text of the entire document 
and format it for a 10-point or 12-point Courier font before printing.

NOTE: Throughout this document and all ECON software and documentation, 
      "Microsoft", "MS-DOS", and "Windows" are registered trademarks of
      Microsoft Corporation.  


=================
Table of Contents
=================

 1. Software Installation Information
 2. How to Un-install ECON
 3. System Requirements
 4. Problems and Trouble-shooting
 5. Software License Agreement
 6. Getting Started with ECON
 7. Registering the Program
 8. Additional Sources of Information
 9. About the Program


====================================
1. Software Installation Information
====================================

ECON will be installed onto your hard disk and will require up to 1.7 MB 
of disk space, depending on which Windows system files you already have.  

If you have received a 3.5-inch "floppy" diskette, you will install the 
software via your floppy disk drive.  If you downloaded a shareware copy 
of the software, you can install directly from the hard drive.

If you have downloaded a shareware copy of the software, it probably will
be compressed as a ZIP file and thus need to be decompressed using the
WinZip application or the MS-DOS utility PKUNZIP.EXE (which is available as 
part of the PKZIP version 4.02g shareware package).  You should create a 
temporary directory and use it to expand the ECON installation software on 
your hard disk.  The temporary directory and the files it contains can then 
later be deleted after ECON is installed and working.  (You may want to keep
a back-up copy of the installation software and/or the ZIP file.)

-----------
Precautions
-----------
System files or shared files cannot be installed or updated if they are 
in use.  Also, virus protection utilities and screen savers can interfere 
with installation.  Therefore we recommend that you disable any virus 
protection utilities and close any applications you may be running.

To disable virus protection utilities and close all applications:

Windows 3.1 (or NT 3.5x)
------------------------
1 Open the Program Manager.
2 Double-click the StartUp icon.
3 Drag virus-protection or memory-resident program icons to any other 
  program group.  NOTE: You may create a temporary program group if 
  that is convenient.
4 Restart Windows.
5 Perform the installation, as explained below.
6 Drag the moved icons back into the StartUp group.
7 Restart Windows.

Windows 95 (or NT 4.0)
----------------------
1 Click "Start" with your RIGHT mouse button, and then choose "Open".
2 Double-click "Programs".
3 Double-click "StartUp".
4 From the Edit menu, choose "Select All".
5 Drag all icons in the Startup window to your desktop.
6 Restart Windows.
7 Perform the installation, as explained further below.
8 Drag the icons on the desktop back into the StartUp window.
9 Restart Windows.

--------------------------------
Running the Installation Program
--------------------------------
To install ECON, you will need to run SETUP.EXE from the drive and/or 
directory that contains the ECON installation files.

Below are instructions for running the installation program from your
desktop.  For purposes of illustration, we assume that you are installing 
from the root directory of the A: drive.

If you are installing from a directory on your hard disk, substitute the
full path of the directory instead of using "A:".  For example, if your
subdirectory were C:\DOWNLOAD, you could type "C:\DOWNLOAD\SETUP.EXE" in
the "Run" dialogue box.

NOTE: In Windows 95, directories and subdirectories are called "folders".

----------------------------
Installing Under Windows 3.1
----------------------------
1 Disable any screen savers and close any open applications.
2 If installing from diskette, insert it into the floppy disk drive.
  (There is only one diskette, which is referred to as "disk #1".)
3 Open the Program Manager.
4 From the File menu, choose "Run..." to open the "Run" dialog box.
5 Type "A:\SETUP" (without the quotes).
6 Choose "OK".
7 As the installation progresses, follow the instructions on your screen.

---------------------------
Installing Under Windows 95
---------------------------
1 Disable any screen savers and close any open applications.
  (The taskbar shows all open applications.)
2 If installing from diskette, insert it into the floppy disk drive. 
  (There is only one diskette, which is referred to as "disk #1".)
3 From the Desktop, choose "Start" to bring up the Start menu.
4 From the Start menu, choose "Run..." to open the "Run" dialog box.
5 Type "A:\SETUP" (without the quotes).
6 Choose "OK".
7 As the installation progresses, follow the instructions on your screen.

------------------------
Details of Running SETUP
------------------------
Installation is a two-phase process.  First, the installation program 
(SETUP.EXE) will perform some "initialization", which involves installing
all of the files necessary to run an additional program called ECON Setup
(SETUP1.EXE).  Then it runs ECON Setup, which installs all the files that
are needed by the ECON application.

ECON Setup will be installed into your Windows directory and will overwrite 
any existing file called SETUP1.EXE.  (NOTE: It is a standard practice for 
installation programs to be called "SETUP1.EXE" and to automatically be run 
from the Windows directory, where they are later overwritten by subsequent 
installations.)

ECON Setup will first ask you for the drive or path containing the ECON
source files.  Enter the drive (or use the default entry), which should
be the same drive from which you ran SETUP.EXE -- such as "A:" (without
the quotes).  Then choose "Continue".  ("Continue" is the default button,
so you may press ENTER to choose it.)

Then ECON Setup will ask you to specify a directory (drive and/or path)
where the ECON application and its associated files will be installed.
This will be the ECON working directory, and it should be on your hard
drive.  By default, the directory is named "ECON".  Accept the default 
or enter a different drive and path, and choose "Continue".

ECON Setup will create a program group (ECON300.GRP in the Windows
directory), and will create four items in that group -- the ECON 
application, Help, "Read me", and the User Manual.

This completes the installation.

-----
Files
-----
The ECON Setup program will install the following files into the
designated ECON working directory:

ECON.EXE          ECON executable file
ECON.INI          ECON initialization file
ECON.TXT          ECON User Manual text file
MANUAL.EXE        ECON User Manual executable file 
README.TXT        documentation file
INVOICE.TXT       invoice for registration by businesses
FILE_ID.DIZ       shareware description file
ECONHELP.HLP      ECON Help file
DATAFILE.TXT      data file containing the ECON data records
SAYINGS.TXT       Famous Sayings file

The SETUP and ECON Setup programs will install the following files into
your Windows system directory (asterisk means "installed by SETUP.EXE").

NOTE: For shared versions of Windows, where the system directory is not a 
subdirectory of the Windows directory, the Windows directory will be used 
instead of the system directory.

SETUPKIT.DLL*
VBRUN300.DLL*
VER.DLL*
DDEML.DLL
GRAPH.VBX
GSWDLL.DLL
GSW.EXE
THREED.VBX
MSMASKED.VBX
CMDIALOG.VBX
COMMDLG.DLL
MSAFINX.DLL

If any of these files already exist in your Windows system directory, they
may be overwritten if the existing file is an older version.  However, 
overwriting an older version of a file can sometimes cause a problem for 
applications that are incompatible with the newer version of the file.  
You may want to use File Manager to first create back-up copies of these 
files (if they exist) before installing ECON.

----------------
Additional Files
----------------
Your installation disk contains copies of two MS-DOS utilities for file 
compression/decompression, COMPRESS.EXE and EXPAND.EXE.  You can use 
EXPAND.EXE to decompress an individual file from the installation disk, 
rather than rerunning the entire installation just to restore a file
that has become corrupted.  These two utilities are NOT the same as
the standard MS-DOS utilities with the same names.  Therefore, when
you run them, be sure to specify the directory they are in -- such as,
"\ECON\EXPAND.EXE".

NOTE: The file VER.DL_ on your ECON setup disk is not compressed, despite
the fact that the last character of the file name has been replaced by an
underscore, which is a convention otherwise used only for compressed files.


=========================
2. How to Un-install ECON
=========================

Delete all files from the ECON working directory and then remove the 
directory itself, using the File Manager or MS-DOS Prompt.  Then delete
the ECON 3.0 program group and its items from your desktop.  Since most
of the files that get installed into your Windows system directory are 
shared by other Windows applications, do not delete those files.


======================
3. System Requirements
======================

In order to install and run ECON, it is required that your computer system
be configured appropriately.  These requirements are listed below.  Also,
since ECON requires certain resources which may already be in use by other
applications, in rare situations it could be necessary to shut down other
applications and restart ECON.

Although we list all these requirements in detail, nearly all Windows
PCs will meet these basic needs.

- Microsoft Windows 3.1 or a later version.

- Up to 1.7 MB of free space on your hard disk.

- Additional disk space may be needed when running the application, such as
  when printer output is temporarily "spooled out" to a disk file.

- 3.5-inch HD floppy disk drive (for installing from diskette).

- Some sort of disk caching system, such as SmartDrive (optional).  This
  will improve performance related to file access.

- At least a VGA video display with screen resolution of 640x480 or greater.

- A video display driver that supports Windows "Small Fonts".  Otherwise,
  text could be too large and cause clipping and/or improper wrap-around.

- The following screen fonts installed on your Windows system: System,
  Fixedsys, MS Sans Serif, Arial, Courier, and Symbol.  These are all
  common fonts.  One way to verify the existence of fonts is to use the
  Character Map utility (CHARMAP.EXE).  The list of Installed Fonts in
  Windows Control Panel may not include the System and Fixedsys fonts.

- A printer with graphics capability (optional).  There should be at least 
  two types of printer fonts installed: a fixed-pitch font, such as Courier,
  used on most prints, and a Swiss style (variable-pitch Sans Serif) font, 
  such as an Arial font, used on prints of the graphs.

- A system color scheme (selectable in the Windows Control Panel) that is
  compatible.  In other words, unusual color schemes can cause problems,
  such as text that cannot be seen.

- Fonts that are compatible.  (Windows allows fonts to have "alias" names
  and to replace other fonts.  Also, in Windows 95, the desktop font and
  font size are selectable.  These things could potentially cause certain
  incompatibilities, such as text that doesn't fit.)


================================
4. Problems and Trouble-shooting
================================

Check to see that your computer meets the system requirements above.

If the software won't install, disable all virus protection utilities
and restart your computer.

If ECON Help does not work, make sure that the file WINHELP.EXE exists
in your Windows directory.  If it doesn't, install it from the Windows
installation diskettes.

If ECON won't run, check to see that all files listed at the end of the
setup instructions were actually installed.  You may have to reboot and
run setup again.

One source of potential problems involves duplicate and/or older versions
of DLL and VBX files.  Normally, these files belong in your Windows system
directory.  If duplicate and/or older copies of these files exist in the
Windows directory or another directory within the MS-DOS path (use the PATH
command at the MS-DOS Prompt to see the list of directories in your MS-DOS
path), this can interfere and cause system errors.  The solution is generally
to copy the newest versions into the Windows system directory and delete all
other versions and copies.  However, it may be a good idea to back-up any file
before deleting it.

There is also a problem that can occur with older versions of Norton Desktop.
If you use version 2.0 or 2.2 of Norton Desktop for Windows (instead of using
Windows Program Manager as your Windows desktop), you will get an error at the
very end of the setup/installation of ECON 3.0, saying, "An application using
DDE did not respond to the system's exit command".  This error is a harmless
time-out error; nothing is actually wrong.  Simply choose "Close" to continue.

There is a known problem with running a two-phase installation program (such
as ECON employs) under the Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS).  This
problem is known to occur in SMS 1.0 or 1.1 under OMNIWIN or Package Command 
Manager (PCM) for Windows 3.x, or with EXECUTE.EXE under SMS 1.2.  Use the 
Program Manager instead, if possible.  Or, when failure occurs after the
first phase of installation, you can resume installation by running SETUP1
in your Windows directory.

There is also a known problem involving an older version (date: 7-Aug-91) 
of LZEXPAND, which could potentially affect the setup program.  (This older
version could become installed when installing certain applications.)  If
you find this file in your Windows directory or Windows system directory,
delete it or rename it (e.g., call it LZEXPAND.OLD) and install a newer
version into the Windows system directory -- which can be done by running 
the Windows Setup Program from your Windows installation diskettes.


=============================
5. Software License Agreement
=============================

By installing and/or using the ECON software, you agree to be bound by the 
terms of this license.

ECON is copyrighted software of DC Econometrics, and all rights are reserved.
You are authorized to make backup copies, give away copies, and post it to 
public bulletin board systems.  You may not distribute copies of the output 
forecasts without written permission from DC Econometrics.

You agree that the liability of DC Econometrics, its affiliates, agents, and 
licensors, if any, arising out of any kind of legal claim (whether in contract,
tort, or otherwise) in any way connected with this software shall not exceed 
the amount you paid to DC Econometrics for the software and documentation.


============================
6. Getting Started with ECON
============================

ECON will forecast the S&P 500 Index, T-bond and T-bill interest rates, zero 
coupon bonds, gold prices, and inflation, using econometric models derived by
multiple linear regression.

Once a month you must enter 9 numbers.  You get statistically optimized
forecasts for 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months into the future.  You will
also be given recommendations regarding asset allocation, telling you how
much of each asset to hold based on conservative and aggressive strategies.

The program has a full help facility (available by pressing the F1 key)
if you need assistance.  There is also a User Manual.


==========================
7. Registering the Program
==========================

ECON is a software product of DC Econometrics and is marketed as shareware.  
Shareware is not the same as free or public domain software.  Shareware 
provides low-cost distribution (sharing) whereby prospective customers 
try out a program, decide whether they will use it, then register if so.

There are also extra advantages to registering.  The data file might be
somewhat outdated on shareware copies of the program.  When you register,
you will receive an up-to-date data file -- which saves you the trouble
of having to look up and enter all that data.  You will also receive a
printed User Manual and the latest version of the program.  Registered 
users may also purchase updates to the data file for $10 -- in case they 
accidentally corrupt the data file or allow it to become outdated.  Also,
all registered users will be notified of any future upgrades to the ECON 
software.

ECON 3.0 has a registration fee of $49.95, which should be mailed to:

   DC Econometrics
   1001-A E. Harmony, #349
   Fort Collins, CO  80525

The program has a menu option for filling out and printing a registration
form.  Also, the text file INVOICE.TXT is a business invoice which may be
printed and filled out.

If you ordered this program directly from DC Econometrics for $49.95, then
you are already registered.


====================================
8. Additional Sources of Information
====================================

In addition to the information in this document, there is a printed User
Manual that you will receive when you register.  There is also an on-line
User Manual (MANUAL.EXE) and a Help file (ECONHELP.HLP).  And there is a
brief shareware description file (FILE_ID.DIZ).


====================
9. About the program
====================

ECON 3.0 is a software product of DC Econometrics.  It is designed to run
under the Microsoft Windows version 3.1 (and/or later versions) operating
system.  It is 16-bit software but can also be run on 32-bit systems.

ECON 3.0 was created entirely using the Professional Edition of the Microsoft
Visual Basic 3.0 programming language and software development environment --
including the setup/installation program for ECON, which was created with the
Setup Wizard that is provided as part of that development system.

The ECON software is copyrighted by DC Econometrics.  All rights are reserved.

As is typical of programs written in Visual Basic 3.0, ECON will not
respond to the desktop commands to tile or cascade.  Also, ECON is designed
so that only one copy of the program can be run.  Attempting to run ECON when
a copy of it is already running will merely activate the copy that is already
running.

Also note that minimizing any window within the ECON application will cause
the entire application to be reduced to an icon.  Restoring it restores the
entire application.

***
