
                COMPUTER PROGRAMS FOR EPIDEMIOLOGISTS (PEPI)
            by J.H. Abramson and Paul M. Gahlinger.  Version 3.0
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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.

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     For information on how to obtain the manual, installation programs 
     for Windows and DOS, and a menu program for DOS, and for Internet 
     sites announcing new versions, and addresses to which comments and
     suggestions can be sent, press F1 after calling up any PEPI program.
  ***************************************************************************
                         
                       FOR BASIC INSTRUCTIONS, READ ON.

  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.

  PEPI30.ZIP contains all the statistical programs in PEPI Version 3.0.  The
  new features in this version (which are listed in UPDATE1.TXT) include:
  two new programs (POISSREG and FREQ); many additions to existing programs;
  and modifications to permit problem-free operation even on high-speed
  Pentium II computers.
    
  PEPI30.ZIP also contains a Program Finder (an 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 and LA.DIC)
  and POISSREG (PA.DAT and PA.DIC).  For a full list, see FILELIST.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, substitute the new files for
  the old ones, by copying them to the directory containing the old ones.
  You can safely replace (overwrite) existing files.  If you previously
  installed PEPI with the INSTALL or WINSTALL program and wish to update the
  PEPI menu for DOS, copy the new SM.CFG to the C:\ root directory,
  and copy PEPIREAD.COM to the directory containing the old programs.
    
  Two programs have been removed from the package: CURVE (now incorporated
  in PAIRS) and POOLING (incorporated in COMBINE).  If you have previously
  installed these, you may delete the respective .EXE, .PIF and .ICO files
  and (in Windows) their icons.  To avoid confusion, you may also delete the 
  old UPDATE1.TXT and UPDATE2.TXT, which are now out-of-date and are 
  superseded by the new manual.  
    

  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 the WINSTALL installation
  program) 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 the WINSTALL installation program) 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,
  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.
    
  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 an 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 when you want to print what is on the screen.  In Windows, this may
  work only for programs installed by the WINSTALL program.
    
  Three of the programs (LOGISTIK, LOGX and POISSREG) offer a word- 
  processing option, permitting the addition of comments to the saved or
  printed results.

