Chapter 1

Introduction

Overview

Welcome to Prentice-Hall's Decision Science software packages - DS for Windows, POM for Windows, and QM for Windows. These three packages are the most user- friendly software packages available in their fields. POM for Windows is a package for production and operations management; QM for Windows is a package for quantitative methods, management science, or operations research; and DS for Windows contains the modules in both of those packages. These packages have been designed to help you to better learn and understand these fields. The software can be used either to solve problems or to check answers that have been derived by hand. DS for Windows contains a large number of models and most of the homework problems in POM textbooks or QM textbooks can be solved or approached using DS for Windows.
While the printed version of this manual accompanies DS for Windows, since the look and feel of the three packages are identical this manual can be used for any of the three software packages. In this introduction and the next four chapters, we describe the general features of the software. We encourage you to read them while running the software on your computer. Chapter 6 contains the description of the specific models and applications available in DS for Windows.
You will find that the software is very user-friendly due to the following features:

Standardization

The graphical user interface for the software is a standard Windows 95 interface. Anyone familiar with any standard spreadsheet, word processor, or presentation package in Windows 95 will easily be able to use the software. This standard interface includes the customary menu, toolbar , status bar, and help files of Windows programs.

Even though the software contains 30 modules and more than 60 submodules , the screens for every module are consistent, so that after you become accustomed to using one module you will have an easy time with the other modules.

File storage and retrieval is simple. Files are opened and saved in the usual Windows fashion and, in addition, files are named by module, which makes it easy to find previously saved files.

Data and results, including graphs, can be copied and pasted between this application and other Windows applications.

Flexibility

The screen components and the colors can be customized by the user. This can be particularly effective on overhead data shows.

The user can select the desired output to print rather than having to print everything. In addition, several print formatting options are available.

The software can be set to automatically save a file after data has been entered and/or to automatically solve a problem after data has been entered.

User-oriented design

The spreadsheet-type data editor makes data entry and editing extremely easy. In addition, whenever data is to be entered, there is a clear instruction given on the screen describing what is to be entered and when data is entered incorrectly a clear error message is displayed.

It is easy to change from one solution method to another in order to compare methods and answers. In several cases this is simply a one click operation. In addition, intermediate steps are generally available for display.

The display has been color coded so that answers will appear in a different color from data.

User support

Upgrades are available on the Internet through the Prentice-Hall download library, which can be easily accessed. ( http :// www.prenhall.com /weiss). Help is available by contacting dsSoftware @ prenhall.com and this manual is available online through www.prenhall.com /weiss.

What all of this means to you is that with a minimal investment of time in learning the basics of DS for Windows, you will have a very easy-to-use means for solving problems or for checking your homework. Rather than being limited to looking at the answers in the back of your textbook, you will be able to see the solutions for most problems. In many cases, the intermediate steps are displayed in order to help you check your work. In addition, you will have the capability to perform sensitivity analysis on these problems or to solve bigger, more interesting problems.

Hardware and Software Requirements

Computer

The software has minimal system requirements. It will run on any IBM PC compatible Pentium machine with at least 8 MB RAM and operating Windows 95 or higher.

Disk Drives/CD-ROM

The software is provided on a CD. This requires a CD-ROM player.

Monitor

The software has no special monitor requirements. Different colors are used to portray different items. All messages, output, data, etc. will show up on any monitor. Regardless of the type of monitor that you are using, the software has the capability that allows you to customize colors and/or fonts and font sizes in the display to your liking. This is extremely useful when using an overhead projection system. These options are explained in Chapter 3 in the section entitled Format.

Printer

A printer is not required to run the software but, of course, if you want a hard copy (printout) then it is necessary to have a printer attached. The printing is standard so that no special features, characters, or printers are required. It also is possible to print to a file in order to import the printout into a word processor for further editing.

Typographic Conventions in this manual

1.	When we use boldface, we are indicating something that you type or press.

2.	When we use a bracket, [ ], we are naming a key on the keyboard or a command button on the screen. For example [ F1 ] means Function key F1 , while [OK] means the 'Okay' button on the screen.

3.	We will use [Return], [Enter], or [Return/Enter] to mean the key on your keyboard that has one of those names. The name of the key varies on different keyboards and some even have both keys.

4.	We will use boldface and capitalize only the first letter to refer to a Windows menu command. For example, File refers to the menu command.

5.	We will use all capitals to refer to a toolbar command such as SOLVE.

Installing the software

We assume in the directions that follow that the hard drive is named C: and that the CD-ROM is drive D:. The software is installed in the manner that most programs designed for Windows are installed. For all Windows installations, including this one, it is best to be certain that no programs, including virus protection programs are running while you are installing a new one.	1.	Insert the DS for Windows CD in drive D:.

2.	From the Windows Start Button, select, Run.

3.	In the box type D:DSsetup (case does not matter).

4.	Press [Enter] or click on [OK].

5.	Follow the setup instructions on the screen. Generally speaking, it is simply necessary to click [NEXT] each time that the installation asks a question.

Default values have been assigned in the setup program, but you may change them if you like. The default folder is C:\Program Files\ DSwin32 (or C:\Program Files\ QMwin32 or C:\Program Files\ POMwin32 ).

The setup program will ask you for registration information such as your name, university, professor, and course. All items are optional except for the student/user name that must be given. This name cannot be changed later! To change the other information from within the program, use Help, User information.

One option that the program will question you about is whether or not you want to be able to run the program by double clicking on the file name in File Explorer. If you say yes then the program will associate the proper extensions with the program name. This is generally very useful.

Please note that the software installs some files to the Windows System directory. The installation will back up any files that are replaced if you select this option.

Finally, a few users have their individual computers boot Windows from a network rather than from the hard disk. For these users there is an installation option that will install the OCX and DLL files to your system rather than the network. Select this option unless you have permission to write to this system directory.

If you see a message saying that something is wrong during installation and you have the option of ignoring, then choose this option. The program will likely install properly anyway. The message usually indicates that you are running a program or have run a program that shares a file with this software package.

Installing and Running on a Network

With the written permission of Prentice-Hall it is permissible to install the software to a network only if each student has purchased an individual copy of the software. That is, each student must possess his or her own licensed copy of the CD in order to install the software on a network.

The Program Group

The installation program will add a program group with seven options to the Start Menu.

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In addition the installation will place a shortcut to the program on the desktop.

Prior to starting the program, you should check the README file by clicking on the Readme icon in the program group. The manual is produced before the software is finalized. This means that there is time to change the software after this manual has been finished. If changes are made, they will be indicated in this file.

The DS for Windows 2.0 icon is the option that is used to begin the program. Help is available from within the program, but if you want to read some information about the program without starting it first use the DS for Windows 2.0 Help icon.

DS for Windows includes the capability to perform some Normal Distribution computations from within it. This is especially useful for project management and for forecasting. In addition, the Normal Distribution calculator can be run separately by using its icon and the Help can be viewed separately.

The program group contains one icon named Prentice-Hall Web Site Gateway. If you have an association for HTM files with a Web browser (e.g., Netscape or Internet Explorer), this document will point you to program upgrades.

To uninstall the program use the usual Windows 95 uninstall procedure (Start, Settings, Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs). The programs will be removed but the data files will not and will have to be deleted using My Computer or File explorer if you wish to do so.

Starting the Program

The easiest way to start the program is by double-clicking the program icon that is on the desktop. Alternatively, you may use the standard Windows 95 means for starting the program. Click on Start, Programs, DS for Windows 2, DS for Windows 2 in order to use the software. After starting the program, a splash screen will appear.

Name

The name of the licensee will appear in the display. This will be your name if you are running on a standalone computer or the network name if you are running on a network.

Version Number

One important piece of information is the version number of the software. In the example, the version is 2.0 and this manual has been designed around that number. While this is version 2.0 there is also more detailed information about the program version that can be found using Help, About (displayed at the very end of chapter 3). In particular, there is a build number associated with the version number. If you send e-mail asking for technical support you should include the build number with the e-mail.

The program will start in a couple of seconds after the opening display appears.

The Main Screen

The second screen that appears is an empty main screen. The first time that this screen appears a Tip of the day form will appear as displayed below. If you don't want the Tip of the day to show up each time then uncheck the box at the lower left of the form. If you change your mind later and want to see the Tip of the day then go to the Help menu.

Also, please notice the background in the middle of the screen. This is referred to as a gradient. This gradient appears whenever the main screen is empty and it appears on other screens in the software. You may customize the display of the gradient by using Format, Colors as explained in Chapter 3.

After closing the Tip of the day, or if you have chosen not to see the tips, the next screen is the module selection screen (shown in Chapter 2). In order to display all of the screen components, we have selected a module and loaded a data file.

The top of the screen is the standard Windows title bar for the window. At the beginning the title is 'DS for Windows.' If you are using a Prentice-Hall text then the names of the authors of the texts should appear in this title bar at the beginning of the program. (If not, go to Help, User information.)The title bar will change to include the name of the file when a file is loaded or saved. On the left of the title bar is the standard Windows control box and on the right are the standard minimize, maximize and close buttons for the window-sizing options.

Below the title bar is a the bar that contains the Main Menu. The menu bar is very conventional and should be easy to use. The details of the menu options of File, Edie, View, Module, Format, Tools, Window, and Help are explained in Chapter 3. At the beginning of the program, the Edit option is not enabled, as there is no data to edit. The Window option is also disabled, since this refers to results windows and we have no results. While the menu appears in the standard Windows position at the top of the screen, it can be moved if you like by clicking on the handle on the left and dragging the mouse.

Below the menu is a standard toolbar (also called a button bar or ribbon). This toolbar contains shortcuts for several of the most commonly used menu commands. If you move the mouse over the tool for about two seconds, an explanation of the tool (balloon help) will appear on the screen. As with most software packages, the toolbar can be hidden if you so choose (right click on any of the toolbars or use View, Toolbars , Customize). Hiding the toolbar , allows for more room on the screen for the problems. As is the case with most toolbars we allow the toolbar to float. In order to reposition any of the toolbars simply click on the handle on the left and drag.

One very important tool on the standard toolbar is the SOLVE tool. This is what you press after you have entered the data and you are ready to solve the problem. Alternatively, you may use File, Solve or press the [ F9 ] key. Please note that after pressing the SOLVE tool, this tool will change to an EDIT tool. This is how you go back and forth from entering data to viewing the solution. For two modules, linear programming and transportation, there is one more command that will appear on the standard toolbar . This is the STEP tool (not displayed in the figure), and it enables you to step through the iterations displaying one iteration at a time.

Below the standard toolbar is a format toolbar . This toolbar is very similar to the toolbars found in Excel, Word and WordPerfect. It too can be customized, moved, hidden or floated.

There is one more toolbar and its default location is at the bottom of the screen. This bar is a utility bar and it contains six tools. The tool on the left is named MODULE. (This does not appear on QM for Windows or POM for Windows.) A module list can appear in two ways - either by using this tool or the Module option on the main menu. The next tool is named PRINT SCREEN and it is there to emulate the old print screen function in DOS. Due to the nature of Windows and the many possible screen settings, we cannot guarantee that this tool will always print the screen exactly as you see it. If you are working with a desktop that is 640 by 480 or 800 by 600, it should work. The next two tools will load files in alphabetical order either forward or backwards. This is very useful when reviewing a number of problems in one chapter. The two remaining tools allow files to be saved as Excel or HTML files. You may want to remove this toolbar in order to allow for more room on the screen for both the data and solutions.

In the center are two areas, one of which is the main data table. The table contains a heading or title and then simply rows and columns. The number of rows and columns depends on the module, problem type, and specific problem. The large area with no grid is the table background. The caption colors, table colors and background color can be changed by using Format, Colors as explained in Chapter 3.

Above the data table is an area named the extra data bar for placing extra problem information. Sometimes it is necessary to indicate whether to minimize or maximize, sometimes it is necessary to select a method, and sometimes some value must be given. These generally appear above the data. On the right of the extra data panel is an instruction panel. There is always an instruction here trying to help you to figure out what to do or what to enter. When data is to be entered into the data table, this instruction will explain what type of data (integer, real, positive, etc.) is to be entered. The instruction location can be changed by using the View option.

Below the data is an area for annotating problems. A comment may be placed in here. When the file is saved, the information will be saved; when the file is loaded, the information will appear.

Towards the bottom of the screen is the status panel. The panel will display the module and submodule name as you select different modules, as exemplified in this illustration where the title is 'Forecasting/Time series analysis.'; the type of screen (data, results, menu, graph, etc.) and the user name. The status bar can be hidden by using the View option. This panel can not be moved.