
                COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS (PEPI)
            by J.H. Abramson and Paul M. Gahlinger.  Version 3.01
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  The PEPI programs are primarily for use in the planning or analysis of
  epidemiologic studies, but most can be used in other contexts also.  Many
  of the programs may be useful for learning or teaching purposes.  The
  programs are interactive, generally offering a variety of options.
  
  Most of the programs facilitate secondary calculations after observations
  have been tabulated or counted, and require keyboard entry of data; some
  can read data files.  Results are shown on the screen, and can also be
  printed or saved as text in a disk file.

  **************************************************************************
   For information on how to obtain the full package (with a printed manual,
   installation programs for Windows and DOS, and a menu program for DOS), 
   Internet sites announcing and providing new versions, and addresses for 
   comments and suggestions, press F1 after calling up any PEPI program.
  **************************************************************************
                         
                       FOR BASIC INSTRUCTIONS, READ ON.

  PEPI301.ZIP contains all the statistical programs in PEPI Version 3.01.
  It also contains an updated Program Finder (index to the programs) in two 
  formats: FINDER.HLP (a Windows help file) and FINDER.COM (for use in DOS) 
  and test files for use with LOGISTIK and LOGX (LA.DAT. LA.DIC) and
  POISSREG (PA.DAT, PA.DIC).  For a full list of contents, see FILELIST.TXT.
  The new features in Version 3.01 are listed in UPDATE.TXT.

  After extracting the files you can run the programs from any disk or
  directory, in Microsoft Windows (3.x, 95, 98 or NT) or in DOS.  In
  Windows, run them as DOS applications.

  If you copy the programs to your hard disk and intend to use them in DOS, 
  ensure that the directory to which they are copied is included in the 
  PATH statement in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

  If you installed an earlier version of PEPI, copy all the new files 
  (except SM.CFG) to the directory containing the old files, replacing the 
  old ones; if you use the PEPI menu in DOS, copy the new SM.CFG to the C:\ 
  root directory.  


  FINDING THE PROGRAM YOU NEED
          
  The Program Finder will help you to identify the program you need.  You
  can search for a statistical procedure (e.g. "binomial test"), or what 
  you want to accomplish (e.g. "smoothing of curves") or compute (e.g. 
  "kappa"), or the kind of study (e.g. "cohort study").  
    
  In Windows, run FINDER.HLP or (if you used WINSTALL or WINST) click on
  the "Program finder" ("Help") icon.  In DOS, run FINDER.COM or (if you
  used an installation program) type "PEPI" to call up the menu, and then
  select the "Program finder" option.  The Program Finder is also printed
  in the Manual.
    
  To obtain thumbnail descriptions of programs: In Windows, run FINDER.HLP
  or (if you used WINSTALL or WINST) click on the Program Finder icon, and
  then press "Search" and enter a program's name).  In DOS, run
  PROGRAMS.COM or (if you used an installation program) type "PEPI" to call
  up the menu, and then select "The programs".  You can also also obtain a
  thumbnail description of any program by pressing F1 after calling up the
  program.
    
  The best way of finding what a program does is to use it.  You need not
  fear getting "stuck" in the program - there are numerous escape hatches;
  for example, just pressing <Enter> during the data-entry phase generally
  provides an option to quit.
  

  USING THE PROGRAMS - BASIC INSTRUCTIONS
       
  In Windows, run the programs as DOS applications.  If you used WINSTALL
  or WINST, just click on the program's icon. 
    
  In DOS, either run the program from the directory in which it is situated,
  or make sure this directory is in your PATH.  If you used an installation
  program, you can type "PEPI" to call up the menu; then move the highlight
  bar with an arrow key or a mouse, and press <Enter> or the left mouse
  button to select a program.  To quit the menu, press <Escape> or the right
  mouse button.  The menu will work only if the directory to which the
  programs have been copied is in your PATH, and SM.CFG is in the C:\ root
  directory.  [Do not use the menu while in Windows or in a DOS shell with 
  little free memory].  
    
  The programs are easy to use.  Follow the instructions shown on the
  screen.  Many programs display "Press F1 for help" messages.  Fuller
  explanations will be found in the manual.

  If you wish to quit a program at the data-entry stage (and no "quit the
  program" option is offered), try pressing <Enter>.  You can quit a program
  at any time by pressing <Ctrl><Break>; there may be a delay.  In a real
  emergency, press <Ctrl><Alt><Del>.
     
  In the instructions, <Ent> refers to the <Enter> or <Return> key, and
  <Esc> refers to the <Escape> key.

  When choices are offered, e.g."Type A if .. or B if ..", it is generally
  sufficient to tap the key, without pressing <Enter>.  You may use either
  lower-case (a, b) or upper-case (A, B).

  After entering a number you will almost always have to press <Enter>.
    
  When there are no further data to enter, you are generally asked to signal
  this by pressing <Enter>.
    
  When rates are entered, you will generally be asked what their base is; 
  if the rate is 4 per 1,000, enter 1000.  A proportion is always between 0 
  and 1, with a base of 1.  In the instructions the term "rate" is used both 
  for measures whose denominators are numbers of individuals (prevalence, 
  cumulative incidence, risk) and for rates whose denominators are person-
  time units (incidence density, mortality density).  

  If you do something wrong - for example, if you enter a letter instead 
  of a numeral - the program will usually beep and ask you to try again.  

  The programs do not store data or retrieve data from computer files, 
  with some exceptions: LOGISTIK and LOGX can read data files and create 
  and use dictionary files, DIRST and INDIRST can store standards entered 
  at the keyboard, POISSREG and SURVIVAL can store data for their own 
  subsequent use, and WHATS stores results, constants and formulae.  

  If a program creates a disk file for data storage, you will be asked to
  supply a name for the file.  Make a note of the name, or you will not be
  able to retrieve the data.
  

  PRINTING AND SAVING THE RESULTS 
                                                                
  Most of the programs offer optional printing and saving of the results.
  
  If you wish to be discriminatory about what you print, do not select the
  printing option, but instead use the computer's "PrintScreen" (<PrtSc>) 
  key whenever you want to print what is on the screen.  In Windows, this 
  will work only for programs installed by WINSTALL or WINST.  It may not 
  work with newer versions of Windows.  
  
  Three of the programs (LOGISTIK, LOGX and POISSREG) offer a word- 
  processing option, permitting the addition of comments to the saved or
  printed results.


  NOTICE
 
  The programs are copyrighted, but may be freely copied and distributed 
  for personal use.  They may not be exploited commercially without 
  permission.  They are provided without any warranties, whether expressed
  or implied, and without any liability to users.  

  
