***  NONLIN -- Nonlinear Regression Analysis Program  ***

Nonlin allows you to perform statistical regression analyses to estimate
the values of parameters for linear, multivariate, polynomial, and general
nonlinear functions.  The regression analysis determines the values of the
parameters which cause the function to best fit the observed data that you
provide.  Nonlin allows you to specify the form of the function whose
parameters are being estimated using ordinary algebraic notation.  In
addition to determining the parameter estimates, Nonlin can be directed to
generate an output file with predicted values and residuals.  It can also
plot the observed values and the estimated function and the residual
values.  In addition to performing regression analysis, Nonlin can also be
used to find the root (zero value point) or minimum absolute value of a
nonlinear expression.

A "DEMO.BAT" file is included to run several example analyses.

There are two versions of the Nonlin program: shareware and registered. You
are welcome to make copies of the shareware version of Nonlin and pass them
on to friends or post this program on bulletin boards or distribute it via
disk catalog services provided the entire Nonlin distribution is included
in its original, unmodified form.

As a shareware product, you are granted a no-cost, trial period of 30 days
during which you may evaluate Nonlin. If you find Nonlin to be useful,
educational, and/or entertaining, and continue to use it beyond the 30 day
trial period, you are required to compensate the author by sending the
registration form printed in the REGISTER.DOC file with the appropriate
registration fee to help cover the development and support of Nonlin.

In return for registering, you will be authorized to continue using Nonlin
beyond the trial period and you will receive a registered version of the
program, a laser-printed, bound manual, and three months of support via
telephone, mail, or CompuServe.  Your registration fee will be refunded if
you encounter a serious bug that cannot be corrected.

The registered version of Nonlin omits the shareware notification screen
at the start of the run and does not require you to press a key to proceed
with the analysis.  The registered version also includes the ability to
print plots on HP LaserJet printers.

Nonlin requires 512 KB of memory.  In order to use the opional PLOT command
you must have a CGA, EGA, or VGA monitor.  An 80x87 numeric coprocessor
greatly improves its execution speed, but is not required. Nonlin has been
successfully run on dozens of computer types ranging from 8088's and
laptops to 486's.  However, one user reported that it "hung up" while
running on a Gateway brand computer. The author would appreciate receiving
information about any computers on which Nonlin does not successfully
operate.

The Nonlin system consists of the following files:

NONLIN.EXE   -- The executable program.
NONLIN.DOC   -- Documentation file.
REGISTER.DOC -- Form to register and order latest version of Nonlin.
NONLIN.FON   -- Font file used if you request a plot.
NONLIN.LJF   -- HP LaserJet font file (registered version only).
     *.NLR   -- Example command files.
DEMO.BAT     -- DOS batch file to run several demo regressions

To install Nonlin, copy the files into the directory of your choice. The
registered version of Nonlin includes a file named NONLIN.LJF with the
fonts needed for printing plots on HP LaserJet printers. If you do not plan
to generated hard copy output for a LaserJet printer, you may delete the
NONLIN.LJF file. If the NONLIN.FON and NONLIN.LJF files are not in your
current directory, you must place a command of the following form in your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file to tell Nonlin where to look for its font files:

SET NONLIN=directory

Where "directory" is the name of the device and directory where the files
are located. For example, if the files are located in a directory named
NONLIN on the C disk, the following command could be used:

SET NONLIN=C:\NONLIN

Once Nonlin has been installed, it can be started using a DOS command of
the form:

NONLIN command_file

where "command_file" is the name of a file containing Nonlin commands that
control the analysis.

If you are anxious to try Nonlin, a DOS batch file named "DEMO.BAT" is
included which runs several example analyses.  To run it simply type the
command:

DEMO

You can also run examples by entering the following commands:

NONLIN AIDS
NONLIN F33YEAR
NONLIN F33EXP
NONLIN MAGNET
NONLIN COOLING

Read or print the NONLIN.DOC file for further information.