CATAM News 1996-1997
Old News Headlines
1996 - 1997
21 Apr 1997 Project Submission Arrangements 1996/97 21 Apr 1997 Submission of program and data files 27 Mar 1997 Errata in Project booklets. 14 Mar 1997 Easter Closing Arrangements 25 Feb 1997 CATSL version 2.3 for Windows is now in use. 20 Feb 1997 Part II - project 8.4 clarification. 11 Feb 1997 CATSL version 2.2 for Windows is now in use. 30 Jan 1997 message from Dr.Helen Mason, CATAM Director 22 Jan 1997 CATSL version 2.1a for Windows is now in use. 05 Dec 1996 CATSL version 2.1 available for home/college computers. 23 Oct 1996 Mill Lane PWF PCs reserved on Fridays 10-11am. 22 Oct 1996 Hard disk cleanup on PCs and Macs 22 Oct 1996 Part IB Computational Projects information 22 Oct 1996 Part II Computational Projects information 15 Oct 1996 CATSL version 2.0 for Windows is now in use. 15 Oct 1996 Location of CATAM data and example files
21 Apr 1997 Project Submission Arrangements 1996/97
Note from Helen Mason, April 1997
You MUST submit your project folders to DPMMS (not DAMTP) on the following dates:
Part IIA/IIB : 10am - 4pm, Monday, 28th April
10am - 12am, Tuesday, 29th April
Part IB : 2pm - 4pm, Tuesday, 29th April
10am - 4pm, Wednesday, 30th April
The route to the project submission room in DPMMS will be clearly signposted.
The deadline for submission WILL be strictly adhered to. Any late submissions must go via the college DoS, with a letter.
You will be given your Exam Number at the time of submission.
PLEASE NOTE - FOLDERS ARE AVAILABLE IN DPMMS RECEPTION ------------------------------------------------------
On submission, you must:
i) sign one of the appropriate Submission Lists (Part IB, Part IIA or Part IIB)
ii) hand in your work using the appropriate special binders: Part IB are blue, Part IIA/IIB are red. These are available from DPMMS reception. Each project should be inside a separate plastic wallet.
iii) complete a cover sheet and include it at the front of your folder. This lists the projects which have been attempted (5 for Part IB). In addition, there is a declaration on the cover sheet which you MUST sign.
iv) sticky labels (available at the time of submission) will be attached to the TOP RIGHT HAND CORNER of:
a) the cover sheet (name and Exam. number)
b) EACH plastic wallet (ie each separate project, Exam. number only).
This is ESSENTIAL, since the projects will be removed from the binders and distributed to different assessors. NOTE - the assessors mark anonymously. The projects will be identified ONLY by a student code. Any other mark of identification must be removed before submission.
v) Notes on how to submit computer programs electronically via the PWF have been emailed separately and are also available in CATAM News on the University PWF. In case of any problems you should ask a demonstrator or David Harris, DAMTP.
Project reports and program disks will NOT be returned after marking, so if you want to keep a copy, you must do this before submission.
A few students (at random) from both Part IB and Part II will be called for a Viva-voce Examination, which will consist of a few simple questions on their project work. This is a routine procedure and no cause for anxiety. Please note that the dates for these will be:
Part IB: 12th June - am
Part II: 9th June - am
All students must be available on these dates, in case they are called. Students will be notified via the college pigeon holes.
In the unlikely event of any students being called for an interview, these will be held on:
Part IB: 16th June - am
Part II: 13th June - am
These dates should also be kept available.
Helen Mason CATAM Director
21 Apr 1997 Submission of program and data files
If you have used Borland Pascal or Turbo Pascal for Windows on the University PWF (or on a PC at home or in college) run the SUBMIT command to send copies of your Pascal programs to the Project Assessors for checking (SUBMIT is described below).
If you used other PC software (Maple, Matlab, C, C++ etc.) for some or all of your projects, copy all relevant files into F:\RESULTS on the PWF. The SUBMIT program will copy only .PAS files to the submissions disk, but other files in your RESULTS directory may also be inspected.
If you have used a Macintosh or other type of personal computer you should submit a disk containing your programs. The disk should be enclosed in a plastic wallet, labelled with your student examination code number, and securely attached inside your project folder. Please note that disks cannot be returned after the examination.
If you used some other facility please contact me (email dnh1@damtp) to arrange file transfer of your program source files. The deadlines for submission of programs are the same as the deadlines for handing in of project folders. Please contact me if you have any queries on program submission.
David Harris CATAM Support DAMTP Room G12, X37850, email dnh1@damtp
Submission of programs on the PWF
=================================
You are required to submit copies of your program source (.PAS) files for inspection by the Project Assessors. Part IB students working in pairs should each submit their own copies of all .PAS files produced jointly or individually.
You should store files in a directory called RESULTS. The first few characters of each file name must give the project number, with the dot replaced by a minus sign or underscore (_). For example, all the programs written for project 2.5 must have file names beginning with 2-5 or 2_5; for instance 2-5prog.pas or 2_5equip.pas.
You should also copy any special data files needed by your programs into the RESULTS directory. These will not actually be submitted to the Assessors but may be accessed by staff when marking your project. Use the above convention for file names to indicate which project each data file is used for, for example 2-5DATA. Do not place copies of standard data files supplied by the Maths Faculty in your RESULTS directory unless, of course, you have made modifications to the data.
Finally, you should submit any .PAS files which are needed to build your own Turbo Pascal Unit (.TPW or .TPU) files. Such files cannot be named with a project number prefix (the syntax of Turbo Pascal unit names prevents it), moreover, you might make use of a unit in several projects. Do, however, choose a unit name which gives an indication of its purpose.
The SUBMIT command
==================
The SUBMIT command sends copies of your Pascal (.PAS) files from your RESULTS directory to the Project Assessors. Before running SUBMIT you can use the SUBPREP command to copy files from other directories into your RESULTS directory, and also to tidy up your filespace by deleting unwanted files. SUBPREP does the following:
- creates the RESULTS directory if it does not already exist
- displays a list of your .PAS and other files in all
your directories. For each file listed you can type C to copy
it to the RESULTS directory, and/or D to delete the file.
SUBMIT copies ALL your .PAS files from RESULTS. If you modify a program which has already been submitted you should place the modified copy in the RESULTS directory and run SUBMIT again.
Note that before using SUBPREP or SUBMIT you should first type CATAM NEWS to display any late news on project submissions. This will also access the CATAM disk where the SUBPREP and SUBMIT commands are stored. If you don't read news first you will have to type the long form of the commands:
I:\CATAM\BIN\SUBPREP
and I:\CATAM\BIN\SUBMIT
Alternatively you can type CATAM to start up Windows and type the commands in a DOS window.
I M P O R T A N T - before running SUBPREP and SUBMIT make sure that the current disk drive is where your own files are stored (i.e. F: on the University PWF). If necessary type F: before starting.
If you have any problems submitting your programs please ask a demonstrator for assistance, or phone me on 37850, or send email to dnh1@damtp.
Submission of programs from College
===================================
If your college network has a connection to the University Central PWF you should be able to submit your programs from college.
You will first need to log on to CENTRAL-PWF and access the CATAM disk:
ATTACH CENTRAL-PWF
User name: ...
Password: ...
MAP root I:=CENTRAL-PWF\UX: (changed 24apr97 - dnh)
set CATAM=I:\CATAM
You should then be able to say:
I:\CATAM\BIN\NEWS
I:\CATAM\BIN\SUBPREP
and I:\CATAM\BIN\SUBMIT
Your College Computer Officer should be able to help you if necessary. After submitting check the list of files submitted in \RESULTS\SUB.MIT. If you have problems submitting from College then you will have to use the University PWF.
27 Mar 1997 Errata in Project booklets.
Some minor misprints have come to light in the CATAM project booklets:
Part IB ------- Project 2.6 (Pascal's Triangle) ----------- The reference in Question 6 to Question 3.3 should be to Question 5. The reference in Question 7 to Question 3.4 should be to Question 6.
Project 2.8 (Regression/Least Squares) ------------ page 2: Under (ii)(c) should read:
"Find the sample correlation coefficients of (AC) with (TSO), and
of (AC) with (pH)"
Part II ------- Project 7.3 -----------
Page 2, Question 3 should read:
"To which point do you think the iteration will eventually
converge?"
Helen E. Mason CATAM Director
March 1997
14 Mar 1997 Easter Closing Arrangements
The Mill Lane Lecture Rooms building will be closed over the Easter period as follows:
Thursday 27 March to Wednesday 2nd April inclusive
When the building is closed, the PWF will be available for use by MLLR keyholders, but a continuous service cannot be guaranteed during the holiday period and faults are unlikely to be fixed with the usual efficiency 8^!
The Mill Lane PWF will operate normally at all other times.
25 Feb 1997 CATSL version 2.3 for Windows is now in use.
Version 2.3 of the CATAM Software Library for Windows is now installed on the University PWF PCs.
The main change for CATSL 2.3 is the addition of a Banded Solver procedure to allow for fast efficient solving of linear equations with a defined bandwidth. This is specially relevant to Project 3.7 in Part II. The fine details of how to use the procedure can be found in I:\CATAM\EXAMPLES\B_DEMOS\B09MATRX.PAS for further information. This explains how to store the matrix in a memory-efficient `compact' form; and preferably, the user will set up the matrix in compact form directly.
Procedure Band ( n, n0, lbw, ubw: integer; ap, bp, xp: arrayptr;
var det: CTreal);
These arguments are the same as for ELIM, except for the addition of lbw and ubw which define the positions of the lower/upper bandwidths. BAND will handle matrices of several hundred columns and rows. A new version of ELIM, called ELIM2, has been added, and this also can handle large matrices.
Giles Thompson, one of our demonstrators, has written the new routines, and any queries should be made direct to him: G.Thompson@statslab.cam.ac.uk or to catam@damtp.cam.ac.uk
Resulting from the above, improvements have been made to system routines for acquiring and releasing memory. This should not affect any student program.
We have recently noticed instances of the Errorflag causing problems. For example, the incorrect formatting of numbers for display may cause the flag to be set, resulting in a subsequent curve-drawing routine immediately exiting. The general philosophy to be adopted from now on is that errors occurring in one routine will not directly affect another routine. In CATSL 2.3, this has been applied to all the high- level graphics routines.
J. Evans (DAMTP G22, tel 30849)
20 Feb 1997 Part II - project 8.4 clarification.
Project 8.4, page 2, 4th para from top (line 4) - add "(potentials)" after the phrase "node numbers", to read:
"Your program should be able to print out the current flow and node numbers (potentials) each time it returns to Step 2."
------------------------------------------------------------------
Helen Mason CATAM Director
11 Feb 1997 CATSL version 2.2 for Windows is now in use.
Version 2.2 of the CATAM Software Library for Windows is now installed on the University PWF PCs. This version provides fast, easy to use "screendumps" of a window to a printer. This process can be started from the window's Control Menu, or by calling the CTdump procedure. For further information see the file I:\CATAM\CATSL\CATSL22.TXT
Also, in this version some procedures have been moved into different (more appropriate) CATSL units. To avoid problems, simply include the full list of CATSL units in your program, as shown in the example programs.
The Unit files for the previous version (CATSL 2.1a) are held in directory
I:\CATAM\CATSL2.1a
30 Jan 1997 message from Dr.Helen Mason, CATAM Director
To: ALL Part IB and Part II Students
From: Dr H.E. Mason, CATAM Director
I hope that you are all well advanced in your Computational Project work. If any of the Part IB students are still having problems getting started, the CATAM demonstrators are on duty in the Maths PWF from 2-4pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. They would be happy to give you some individual tuition.
It should be noted that the Part IB Computational Project work has the equivalent credit to a 16 lecture course in the Tripos. The first two compulsory projects carry more credit (1.5) that the other three projects, since they usually take longer to complete.
The submission deadlines will be strictly adherred to. Please note a serious mis-print in the Part II booklet wrt the submission dates.
THE SUBMISSION DATES for Part II are:
Monday 28th April, 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 29th April, 10am - 12pm
THE SUBMISSION DATES for PART IB are:
Tuesday 29th April, 2pm - 4pm
Wednesday 30th April, 10am - 4 pm
If, in exceptional circumstances, any of you cannot meet this deadline, your project work must be submitted through your college TUTOR, with a covering letter. It is best to ask your college tutor to warn me in advance if this is likely to happen. A technical fault in your own or college equipment is not a valid excuse for late submission. You have plenty of time to do this project work and other facilities are provided.
You should be writing up each project as you complete it. You should not leave all the report preparation until the end. If you hand in a computer listing without a report, you are awarded NO MARKS and vice versa. This has happened in previous years and it seems such a pity.
Some students, at random, WILL be called to a viva voce examination. This is a short, painless process in which a few straightforward questions are asked about their project work. It is no cause for anxiety or concern.
Although we provide Maths Public Workstation Facilities (PWF), many students find it convenient to work at college. The CATAM Software Library for Pascal (CATSL) is available free of charge to undergraduates for use on a PC or Macintosh at home or in college. The latest version of CATSL is 2.1a. The file I:\CATAM\INSTALL\README.TXT on the University PWF network gives instructions on how to copy and install the the PC software. You will need to purchase the appropriate PASCAL licence. Macintosh users should email catam@damtp for advice.
David Harris, CATAM Support Computer Officer in DAMTP, has recently emailed college Computer Officers with the latest information about installing Pascal and CATSL on college computers. If you want to improve the facilities in your college, you should lobby your college Computer Officer, DoS and tutor.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
A few minor misprints have come to light in the project booklet. These are listed below.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
** Part IB
Project 2.1 -----------
Page 1, Question 1(i), first line should read
... a sample from $R[0,1]$
and not
... a sample from $R[0,\theta_0]$
**Part II
Project 7.3 -----------
p.1, line above expression (4):
"y_1" should read "x_2"
p.3, expression (9) says:
p=g(x0 + lambda*s) - g(x0) { s in italics }
It should read:
p=g(x0 + lambdastar*s) - g(x0) { s in bold, lambda starred }
On the line above expression (9), vectors p, q, g and x should be in bold.
Project 1.7 -----------
p.3, section 4, line 1:
"...are simply v^ = iku^_k " should read "...are simply v^_k = iku^_k "
Project 15.5 ------------ p.2, section 4, line 2:
"quadratic equations" should read "quadratic equation"
----------------------------------------------------------------------
22 Jan 1997 CATSL version 2.1a for Windows is now in use.
Version 2.1a of the CATAM Software Library for Windows is now installed on the University PWF PCs. This version fixes some problems in the handling of Metafiles.
The Unit files for the previous version (CATSL 2.1) are held in directory
I:\CATAM\CATSL2.1
05 Dec 1996 CATSL version 2.1 available for home/college computers.
The CATAM Software Library for Windows (CATSL) is freely available to
Cambridge Colleges and undergraduates for use in programming the Maths
Tripos Computational Projects with Borland Pascal 7.0 or Borland's
Turbo Pascal for Windows 1.5.
See file I:\CATAM\INSTALL\README.TXT for details of how to install CATSL on your own computer. Please email catam@damtp if you require further advice or assistance.
[Addendum:
CATAM installation is configured by editing SET commands in a configuration file called DEFINES.BAT, as described in README.TXT
A SET command should not contain any trailing space characters at the end of the line, otherwise the CATAM installation process may fail. I have added a note about this in DEFINES.BAT - dnh - 9dec96]
23 Oct 1996 Mill Lane PWF PCs reserved on Fridays 10-11am.
Please note the the PCs in the Mill Lane CATAM Room are reserved for a Statistics course on Fridays between 10-11am this term.
22 Oct 1996 Hard disk cleanup on PCs and Macs
Please note that the local hard disk drives on the Mill Lane PWF PCs and Macs will be cleaned up regularly with little or no warning. You should not keep any permanent files on the hard drive unless you have made arrangements to do so with CATAM staff (email catam@damtp). In particular, never store your Computational Project files on the hard drive where they might be deleted or read (and copied) by others.
22 Oct 1996 Part IB Computational Projects information
Welcome back to Cambridge. You should now all have your Part IB project booklet. One misprint has come to light and is given below.
If you missed the introductory practical at the end of last term, demonstrators will be on hand to help you get started on Monday (21st Oct) and Monday (28th Oct) from 2pm onwards in the CATAM PWF (Mill Lane).
An error in Project 2.1 ------------------------
Page 1, Question 1(i), first line should read ... a sample from $R[0,1]$
and not ... a sample from $R[0,\theta_0]$
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Dr Helen E. Mason CATAM director
22 Oct 1996 Part II Computational Projects information
CATAM - Part II 1996/97
Welcome back to Cambridge.
A few errors have already come to light in the Part II Projects Booklet. In particular, the SUBMISSION DATES!!!
These should be: Monday 28th April, 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 29th April, 10am - 12pm
Some other small mis-prints:
Project 7.3 ----------- p.1, line above expression (4): "y_1" should read "x_2"
Project 1.7 ----------- p.3, section 4, line 1:
"...are simply v^ = iku^_k " should read "...are simply v^_k = iku^_k "
Project 15.5 ------------ p.2, section 4, line 2:
"quadratic equations" should read "quadratic equation"
Dr Helen E. Mason CATAM director
15 Oct 1996 CATSL version 2.0 for Windows is now in use.
Version 2.0 of the CATAM Software Library for Windows is now installed on the University PWF PCs.
The main changes in CATSL 2.0 are described in file
I:\CATAM\CATSL\CATSL20.TXT
These changes are incorporated in the 1996/97 Manual. It is recommended that those who used the system last year should run demo programs A09user, A10array and B01scrll.
The Unit files for the previous version (CATSL 1.7a) are held in directory
I:\CATAM\CATSL1.7A
15 Oct 1996 Location of CATAM data and example files
Data files required for the Projects are in I:\CATAM\DATA. File README describes the files.
Examples are held in I:\CATAM\EXAMPLES\A_DEMOS. More advanced examples are in directory B_DEMOS, and really wizard stuff is in C_DEMOS. Example programs from Dr.Hinch's lectures are in H_DEMOS.
The CATSL units CTbase etc. are stored on the PWF in directory I:\CATAM\CATSL.