[version 4.1] Short explanation how to create/install the 4nec2 environment (Windows-95/98/ME):

1) Create 4nec2 main directory (normally C:\4nec2)

2) Unzip 4nec2 files by double clicking 4nec2.zip

3) Extract all files into the 4nec2 main/(home) directory

  -->	NOTE: BE SURE YOU SELECTED THE 'use folder names' OPTION !  <-- 

	This option will create the '\exe', '\out' and '\pov' directorys in your 
	4nec2 main directory. Afterwards all the required files are automaticly
	copies onto the corresponding directories.

	If these directory's were not created, do so now manually and move all 
	files except the '*.nec' and '*.txt' files to the '\exe' directory.

	(For windows-me you simply may select all the files in the compresses
	folder and drag them to the newly created 4nec directory)

4) Create shortcut for 4nec2.exe (view.exe, build.exe) and copy shortcut to desktop

	- select file '4nec2.exe' in '\exe' directory
	- click right mouse button
	- select 'create shortcut'
	- drag 'shortcut to 4nec2.exe' to desktop

5) Read the below notes before trying to run the program.

*****************************************************************************************

Note:	a) 4.0 and later versions use some general system files which on most modern com-
	   puters already will be available. To avoid download time, and to keep all on
	   one floppy disk, not all these files have been included in the 4NEC2vXX.zip 
	   package. If one or more of these files do not exist on your computer an error 
	   message containing the name of the missing file is generated. The following 
	   system-files are used:
	   				- msvbvm60.dll		(1352 Kb)
					- msflxgrd.ocx		(239  Kb)

	   The 'msflxgrd.ocx' file is included in the 4NEC2vXX.zip package under the '\exe'
	   directory. Because the 'msvbvm60.dll' file is not very small, it is not included
	   in the package, and you will have to download it from the internet. There are a 
	   number of sites who will deliver this file for you. Both these files have to be 
	   placed in the windows system-directory C:\Windows\System.

  	b) The nec-2 calculations for the 4nec2 program are handled by the nec2dxxx.exe
	   calculation programs. There are different executables available for increasing
	   number of segments. The required executable is automaticly selected by 4nec2
	   according the numer of segments set in the 'settings' menu on the 'main' form.
	   
	   The 'biggest' executable that can be used on your computer depends on the amount
	   of RAM memory available on your computer. If RAM is not enough a memory error is
	   generated, and you will have to decrease the number of segments. 
	   
	   Also the 'smallest' executable that can be used seems related to the amount of 
	   RAM. When using a 'simple' nec input file with few segments in combination with
	   a small executable, but with a big amount of RAM, a pop-up window with the 
	   message "Programm requires MS-DOS mode,...." might be displayed. If this is the 
	   case, increase the number of segments, till the message no longer appears.

	   On the other hand, don't set a far too big number of segments, because this
	   will decrease calculating performance. Initially only executables for 256 
	   and 512 segments are included, however Nec2dxxx.exe's for more segments can be
	   found on the 'unofficial nec-2' home-page.
	   
	c) When you try to read-in an incomplete *.out output file (caused by nec2d errors
	   or because calculation was not yet finished), it is possible that a 4NEC2 program 
	   error is generated because of the incomplete data. To solve the problem, Remove 
	   the '*.out' file from the '\OUT' directory and try again.

	d) See 4nec2.hlp for more information about 4nec2 functionallity.

	e) Nec-2 user documentation can be found at: www.qsl.net/wb6tpu/swindex.html
	   place file as 'NEC2.DOC' in '\EXE' directory for viewing with F10 key.

	f) When key's F6, F8 and/or F9  won't work you probably have a different path to 
	   the notepad, wordpad or word text editor's. You may customise this by changing
	   the MS-DOS directory path specified in 4NEC2.INI.  You may locate your notepad,
	   wordpad or word text editor executables; NOTEPAD.EXE, WORDPAD.EXE or WINWORD.EXE
	   with: start-> find -> files or folders.

	g) For suggestions, questions or remarks: 		Arie,	box73@gmx.net

*****************************************************************************************

Changes with version 4.1

- Increased optimizer functionallity
- Bugs removed, some problems solved
- Geometry builder added

Changes with version 4.0

- Optimizer added to optimize geometry, loading or phase configuration
- The use of variables and constants to declare the nec-2 input data.
- Forms lay-out updated and executable changed to 32-bit.
- ItsHF-plot display viewer added.

Changes with version 3.1

- Bugfixes

Changes with version 3.0

- New and comprehensive help added.
- Near field 3D, 2D and 1D (linear graph) patterns added 
- Smith-chart plot added for feedline lenght determination
- Automatic generation of far/near field, frequency loop and ItsHF files added.

Changes with version 2.4

- Bug in ItsHF antenne type 13 generation, introduced with version 2.3, removed.
- IstHF antenne type-13 (area coverage) and -14 (point-to-point) generation modified.

Changes with version 2.3

- Getstarted.txt help file added
- It's now possible to display 2D far field patterns for a range of frequency's.

Changes with version 2.2

- Shift and zoom in/out commands added to graph plots on IMP form.
- User configurable program settings added.

Changes with version 2.1

- Structure validation added
- Reflection coefficient and SWR graphs added

Changes with version 2.0

- Menu command structure added on MAIN, GEOMETRY, PATTERN and GRAPH forms.
- Comment possibilitys added.
- Autostart 4nec2.exe for *.nec files.

Some of the 4nec2 (1.0) basic functionality:

- Read nec-2 input- and output-files and display geometry structure.
- Rotate, shift, zoom-in and zoom-out geometry structure
- Show, zoom in/out RF currents/radiation-pattern on geometry structure
- Select segment and show segment current amplitude and phase 
- Automatic generation of nec-2 output file and SOMNEC ground file from nec-2 input file
- Polar or linear plot for far-field or groundwave radiation pattern.
- Show geometry inside polar plot.
- Load and compare other radiation patterns.
- Show impedance graphs for frequency range.
- Generate type 13 antenna file for HFWIN32 propagation software

Required files:

	ReadMeFirst.txt		This file.

	\exe\4nec2.exe		4nec2 executable.
 	\exe\4nec2.ini		Initialisation file.
 	\exe\constant.ini 	General constants file.
	\exe\4nec2.hlp		Help file.
	\exe\4nec2.rtf		Help text-file.
	\exe\4nec2.bat		Batch file to start nec2d executables.
	\exe\4nec2.pif		Shortcut to 4nec2.bat (required for close on exit).

	\exe\default.pov	Default settings for povray file generation.

	\exe\edit.dat		File containing data for 4nec2 editor .
 	\exe\smith.dat		File containing display data for smith chart (fine).
 	\exe\smith1.dat		File containing display data for smith chart (course).
	\exe\4nec2a.ice		Default ICEPAC area-coverage file
	\exe\4nec2p.ice		Default ICEPAC point-to-point file
	\exe\4nec2a.rec		REC533 files
	\exe\4nec2p.rec
	\exe\4nec2a.voa		VOACAP files
	\exe\4nec2p.voa

	\exe\view.exe		ItsHF picture viewer.
	\exe\view.ini	  	Initialisation file.
	\exe\view.hlp		Help file.
	\exe\view.rtf	  	Help text-file.

	\exe\build.exe		4nec2 geometry builder
	\exe\xxx.gif		picture files used by build.exe

	\exe\F77L3.eer		Used by nec2d.exe for error reporting.
	\exe\nec2d.exe		Nec-2 calculation core for 256 segments
	\exe\nec2d960.exe	Nec2d extension for 960 segments (default)
	\exe\nec2d***.exe	Nec2d extensions for other number of segments
	\exe\somnec2d.exe	Nec2d extension for generating somnec ground files
	\exe\nec2d_la.exe	Nec-2 calculation core using virtual memory 	

	\exe\cop_run.bat	Batch file for copying required run-time files.

	C:\Windows\System\msvbvm60.dll		Visual basic run-time library
	C:\Windows\System\msflxgrd.ocx		Microsoft flexgrid control (optimizer)

In/output files:

	*.nec			Main 4nec2 input file.
	build.nec		Structure created by geometry builder
	\out\*.inp		Pre-processed *.nec file used by nec2d.exe
	\out\*.out		Nec-2 output files generated by nec2d.exe
	\out\*.gnd		Saved Somnec2d ground file used as input by nec2d.
	\pov\*.pov		Generated povray input files.
	\exe\nec2.tmp		Input file for 4nec2.bat
	\exe\som2d.tmp		Input file for somnec2d.exe
	\out\som2d.nec		Last generated somnec2d output grond file
