            DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS
		   
                     for
		 
            Figliola and Beasley,
Theory and Design for Mechanical Measurements,
                Third Edition

------------------------------------------------

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

These programs are Matlab m-files, requiring at minimum either the
Student Edition of Matlab version 5.0 or regular Matlab version 5.0,
installed on either Windows PC or Macintosh.  Either installation should
include the standard package of Matlab toolboxes, which includes the User
Interface Toolbox.  Macintosh users will need Stuffit Expander to complete
installation of these Demonstration Programs.  Most of these m-files
should be portable to other platforms (except the sound feature of
DataSpect may be problematic), but this was not tested.

PC INSTALL

Create a new directory on your hard drive, "C:\Book_m" for instance.
Copy the contents of the "PC" subdirectory on this CD to your new 
directory.
In Matlab, use the path browser to add your new directory to the 
Matlab search path and save the new path.  Otherwise these programs 
will not work if you use any working directory other than your install 
directory.  This is particularly important when you use the DataSpect 
program and import your experimental data sets from other directories.
If you are using Matlab in a network environment, you may find that
the search path reverts to a network default each time you log on,
so your path changes are lost.  In that case you will have to repeat 
the add path operation each time.  Your network administrator may be 
able to overcome this problem.

Macintosh INSTALL

Create a new folder on your Mac hard drive, "Mac HD:Book_m" for instance,
and copy the two files from the "Mac" subdirectory on this CD to your
new folder.  One file is just the Mac-formatted version of this 
ReadMe file.  The other is "BOOKCD.SIT," a Stuffit archive.  Use
Stuffit Expander to unpack this file into your new folder.
In Matlab, add your new folder to the search path as described
above for PC installation.

CONTENTS

There are seven functions to demonstrate concepts of signal characteristics
and measurement system response dynamics.  Most of these functions have
one or more command-line options to accommodate custom inputs, but all can
be invoked by simply typing the function name on the command line.

MainSwitch.m  Opens a window that summarizes the seven functions and
              provides buttons to activate them.  Select "help" from the
              MainSwitch menu for more information on the operation of
              these programs, and how to change display fonts.

FourCoef.m    Demonstrates the calculation of Fourier sine and cosine
              coefficients for several periodic wave-forms, and displays
              the partial Fourier series sum.

FunSpect.m    Takes samples from one of the functions provided, and displays
              the spectrum of the sample set.  Function bandwidth and sample
              number are limited to prevent aliasing and spectral leakage.
  
DataSpect.m   Takes an experimentally sampled data set and displays the
              spectrum.  Matlab variable data, ASCII text data files, and 
              Microsoft .WAV files are supported.

FirstOrd.m    Displays the time-response of a first-order measurement
              system to several forcing functions, including thermal step
              and the start-up transient and steady responses to a simple 
              harmonic input.
  
SecondOrd.m   Displays the time-response of a second-order measurement
              system to several forcing functions, including  mechanical
              step and the start-up transient and steady responses to 
              a simple harmonic input.
  
MultiSys.m    Displays the intermediate responses and the output response 
              of multiple first- and/or second-order systems coupled in 
              series.  The start-up transient response to a square wave 
              forcing function is show, and also a generic step and the 
              steady response to a simple harmonic input.  In Design mode
              all the system parameters can be adjusted, and the frequency-
              domain response plots for the system are shown.
  
Sampling.m    Takes samples from a function, and displays the spectrum of 
              the sample set.  Multiperiodic, broad-band, and user-defined 
              functions are available, and the user has full control of 
              sampling frequency and sample number.
  
Data files    Several example data files for DataSpect are included (in 
              the \Data directory) and also some example wave functions for 
              use with Sampling.
  
HELP

Each of the functions follows the Matlab convention, that a brief function
summary is available by typing "help functionname" on the command line.
If your "Book_m" directory is added to the Matlab search path, these
summaries will also be indexed through the Matlab help window.  In addition,
more extensive documentation of each function is available by typing
"functionname help" on the command line, or by selecting the "functionname"
menu - "help" submenu when the function window is active.

If an error occurs, the displays may become very slow.  This seems to be due
to an error-checking process within Matlab, particularly in the Macintosh
version.  If this happens, bring the offending window the the front and then
push control-c several times, until the Matlab Command Window is brought to
the front.  This should restore fast performance.
