README for MFDTool1.3

20 February 2001

Greg Francis (gfrancis@psych.purdue.edu)
http://www.psych.purdue.edu/~gfrancis/home.html

MFDTool is a software aid for the design of multifunction displays (MFDs). MFDTool applies an optimization algorithm to designer-specified constraints thereby creating the best layout of MFD information for MFD hardware. The guide specifies the types of MFD situations where MFDTool applies and describes the steps needed to define constraints and start the optimization approach. A sample MFD design problem (involving an automated teller machine) is discussed. 

MFDTool 1.2 varies from earlier versions in that it now provides a means of specifying multiple types of interactions with the MFD. This allows a designer to consider a multitude of different types of human-computer interfaces and optimize over all of them. Additional changes include a new interface, easier definition of constraints, user control of optimization parameters, editing of MFD hierarchies, editing of MFD hardware properties, and manual creation of MFD designs. 

MFDTool 1.3 includes a slightly enhanced user interface, minor bug fixes, and an installation program for W95/98/NT.

The rational behind and the use of MFDTool is described in the Designer's Guide, which is in Portable Document Format (PDF) in the file MFDToolGuide.pdf. 



Installation
MFDTool is written in the Java programming language, which allows it to be run on any machine with a Java Runtime Environment (JRE). JREs are available for nearly every modern operating system; so, in principle, MFDTool should run almost anywhere. MFDTool does not come with a JRE, but one can be freely downloaded from http://www.javasoft.com. You will need to download either the Java Development Kit (JDK), sometimes also called the Standard Development Kit (SDK) or the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). Either option will allow you to run the compiled code. (Although many web browsers include a JRE, they cannot run MFDTool. MFDTool must read from and write to the computer's hard drive, and the JREs in web browsers prohibit such actions.)

After installing the JRE, you can install MFDTool (you can also reverse the order). The mechanisms for doing this vary depending on your operating system. The following is believed to be correct, but it may vary somewhat as operating systems change. In particular, many operating systems are planning to allow Java programs to start with a double-click from the user interface. 

The following instructions are only for the installation of MFDTool. You need to install the JRE on your own.

Windows 95/98/NT

Double click on the MFDTool1.3setup.exe icon to start automatic installation of MFDTool1.3. 

To run MFDTool, select the MFDTool option from the Start menu.

If for some reason the installation program should not work, you can install MFDTool by hand using the instructions for UNIX/Linux systems. To run MFDTool you can then go to the MFDTool directory and double click on the MFDTool.pif file.

UNIX/Linux

Uncompress the file MFDTool1.3.tar.gz. Move the folder MFDTool to where ever you want to install MFDTool.

To run MFDTool, open a terminal to the MFDTool directory and type java MFDTool. Certain UNIX systems allow you to double click on Java class files to make them run. If so, just double click on the file MFDTool.class.

MacOS

Installation is the same as for UNIX/Linux. You can use Stuffit to uncompress the tar.gz file. 

The following is based on the Sun web site's description of how to run a Java program on MacOS. This does not include MacOSX, which may be different.

To run MFDTool, open the Tools folder, then open the Application Builders folder. Finally, open the JBindery folder, which contains the application JBinder. Drag and drop the MFDTool.class file in the MFDTool folder on top of the JBindery icon. You should now see a dialog box. Click on Run, and MFDTool should start. 
