********** HOW TO INSTALL, USE, AND UNINSTALL ADMB **********

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HOW TO INSTALL ADMB
=====================================

1. Install this package by running the command: 
   
   setupADMB_gcc4.2.1_mingw32_xx.exe
   
   where "xx" denotes a version number for this configuration. 
   Presumably, you've already done this, or you wouldn't be reading this 
   file.

2. Obtain Rtools28.exe from http://www.murdoch-sutherland.com/Rtools/, 
   and run this program to install a version of MinGW on your system.

3. At this point, you should have two key directories on your computer, 
   one for ADMB and the other for the GNU C/C++ compiler.

4. In the ADMB\bin directory, locate the file "ADMcall.bat". Edit two 
   lines in this file to indicate the paths in step 3. For example, you 
   might write:
   
   set ADMB_HOME=C:\Utils\ADMB
   set CC_PATH=C:\Utils\Rtools\MinGW\bin
   
   These are the defaults in the enclosed file.

5. Copy the file "ADMcall.bat" to a directory guaranteed to be on your 
   path, such as a standard place where you keep batch files like this. 
   If you don't have such a repository, make one now (e.g., 
   C:\Utils\bat), add it to your path, and put a copy of "ADMcall.bat" 
   there.
   
   You may wish to change the name from "ADMcall.bat" to something else 
   (e.g., "ADMgcc.bat"), particularly if you wish to install multiple 
   versions of ADMB on the same computer.

=====================================
HOW TO USE ADMB
=====================================

6. As an initial test, copy the files "simple.tpl", "simple.dat", and 
   "simple.pin" from the ADMB \docs subdirectory into a test directory 
   of your choice.

7. Open a DOS window in the test directory. From the command line, type

   ADMcall simple
   
   If you modified the batch file name in step 5, use that name instead 
   of ADMcall.
   
8. Step 7 should convert the ADMB program simple.tpl to a C++ program 
   simple.cpp, which is then compiled and linked to the ADMB libraries 
   giving the executable code simple.exe.
   
   Again from the command line, type
   
   simple
   
   You should see output as the model finds paramaters that minimize the 
   "objective_function_value f" in "simple.tpl".
   
9. In general, given a legitimate ADMB model in "model.tpl", along with 
   data "model.dat" and initial parameter values "model.pin", the DOS 
   command "ADMcall model" should produce "model.exe". Running 
   "model.exe" (i.e., typing "model" from the command line) should give 
   parameter estimates that minimize the "objective_function_value".
   
   ADMB offer more possibilities than those mention here. A file can be 
   compiled in "safe" or "optimized" modes, and a "random effects" 
   module allows models to be built in a more generalized statistical 
   framework.

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HOW TO UNINSTALL ADMB
=====================================

This installation puts links in the <Start> <Programs> <ADMB> menu. To 
uninstall ADMB, select "Uninstall ADMB" from the list. Essentially, this 
removes your chosen directory for ADMB and removes the <ADMB> folder 
from <Start> <Programs>.

Links to documentation and examples also appear in the <ADMB> menu. For 
example, you can quickly access user manuals and other material, some of 
it on the Internet.

Note that Windows Vista uses <Start> <All Programs> to access the <ADMB> 
menu.