NeuralTools for Excel ReadMe

Version 5.7
September 2010
Palisade Corporation
All Rights Reserved

Contents
About This Product
Release Notes
System Requirements
Installation
Technical Support Information
Software Activation/License Transfer
Student Version Information

About This Product

NeuralTools 5.7 is a neural network add-in to Microsoft Excel version 2000 or higher. For a
version history of the NeuralTools application, please see the Version History.rtf file in the
Documentation\English subdirectory of the main NeuralTools program directory.

Release Notes
Compatibility with Excel 2010 (32-bit and 64-bit editions)
NeuralTools 5.7 can be used with both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions of Microsoft Excel 2010.

Compatibility with Excel 2007

NeuralTools 5.7 is fully compatible with Excel 2007. However, we highly recommend you
upgrade Excel 2007 to the latest service releases available from Microsoft. The original release
of Excel 2007 is significantly slower than its later service releases.

Code Page Settings

Non-English editions of Palisade products require the correct Windows code page. For example,
to use the Japanese version of NeuralTools, you must be on a computer with the active code
page set to Japanese. If you are running on Japanese windows, this will automatically be set by
default. However, if you are running Japanese NeuralTools on a non-Japanese machine, you will
need to change the default Windows setting, which can be found on the “Advanced Tab” of the
“Regional and Language Options” control panel.

Installing NeuralTools 5.7 as an upgrade to NeuralTools 5.x

If you install NeuralTools 5.7 as an upgrade to an already installed version of NeuralTools 5.x, you
must have a current software maintenance agreement with Palisade Corporation. If you do not
have a current maintenance agreement the upgrade will be registered as a 30-day trial version of
the software. Contact your Palisade sales representative to purchase or check the status of your
software maintenance . NOTE: To return to NeuralTools 5.x after having installed
NeuralTools 5.7, you will need to uninstall NeuralTools 5.7 and reinstall NeuralTools 5.x.

Installing Side-by-Side with NeuralTools 1.0:

NeuralTools 5.7 and NeuralTools 1.0 may be installed on the same computer. The two products,
however, cannot be running simultaneously on a single machine, even on two different copies of
Excel. NOTE: NeuralTools 5.7 is an update to NeuralTools 5.0 and not an entirely new
version. Thus, it is not possible to have NeuralTools 5.0, NeuralTools 5.5, or NeuralTools
5.7 simultaneously installed on the same machine.

Model Compatibility between NeuralTools 5.7 and previous versions:

NeuralTools 5.7 will read networks created by earlier versions of the program. Earlier versions of
the program will generally read networks/predictors created by NeuralTools 5.7; the exceptions
are as follows:
(1) NeuralTools 1.0.0 will not read networks created by later program versions.
(2) "Linear Predictors" are stored as results of linear regression, which is available in NeuralTools
starting with version 5.5.0; earlier versions of NeuralTools will not be able to use Linear Predictors
or workbooks with stored Linear Predictors.
NeuralTools 5.7 will read definitions of data sets created by earlier program versions. Also, earlier
program versions will read definitions of data sets created by NeuralTools 5.7.

System Requirements
Access Privileges:
To run this installer, you must have local administrative rights. After you install the program, no
special permissions are required to run the program.

Operating Systems:
NeuralTools 5.7 for Excel requires Windows 2000 SP4, Windows XP, or later. NeuralTools 5.7 for
Excel will not run under Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows NT 4.0, Windows NT
3.5.1, or Windows 3.1. NeuralTools 5.7 for Excel will not run on the OS/2, Macintosh, or UNIX
platforms.

Spreadsheets:
You must have an installed copy of Microsoft Excel 2000 or higher. NeuralTools for Excel will not
run with Microsoft Excel 97 or earlier. NeuralTools is not compatible with non-Microsoft
spreadsheet packages such as Lotus 1-2-3.

Help Files:
Palisade help files are in Microsoft HTML-Help format. Microsoft requires you to have Internet
Explorer 4.0 or later installed on your machine to view this file, although you are not required to
specify Internet Explorer as your default browser.

Online Manuals:
To view Palisade's online manuals, you must have version 4.0 or higher of Adobe Acrobat Reader
installed on your machine. Adobe Acrobat Reader is available without charge from
www.adobe.com.

System Applications:
NeuralTools 5.7 for Excel requires the installation of the following Microsoft system applications,
which are installed along with the NeuralTools 5.7 for Excel application if not found on the
installation system. They will be seen in the add/remove programs following installation.
 Windows Installer 3.1
 Microsoft C++ 8.0 Runtimes
 Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0

Installation

Directory Structure:
By default, this installer creates a main Palisade program directory located at Program
Files\Palisade (on 32-bit systems) or Program Files (x86)/Palisade (on 64-bit systems). The
product itself is installed as a subdirectory of the main Palisade program directory. This is similar
to how Excel is often installed into a subdirectory of a main “Microsoft Office” directory.

Installed Files:
The installer places several files into the main program directory. All of these files are needed for
the software to run properly. In addition, this directory includes example files and help files.
Several files which are shared among several Palisade products are copied into the Program
Files\Palisade\System directory. The installer also copies several Windows support files into your
Windows\System directory.

Registry Keys
Palisade products store system-wide settings in the registry in
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Palisade. All user-specific settings are stored in the registry
in HKEY_CURRENT_USER. If you need a more complete description of registry usage, contact
Palisade’s technical support department.

Uninstallation:
To uninstall your product, double click the Add-Remove Programs icon in the control panel and
click the ‘Remove’ button for the product from the list shown.

Technical Support Information

Palisade is dedicated to providing quality technical support for our customers. If requesting
technical support via our website, fax, email, or post, please be sure to supply the following
information:
1. Your name, serial number, and a return email address, phone number, or fax number.
2. The Palisade product and version number you are using (e.g. NeuralTools 5.7).
3. The version of the Windows operating system you are using (e.g. Windows XP).
4. If relevant, the version of Office software you are using (e.g. Office 2003).
5. A description of the problem. Please be as specific as possible.

World Wide Web:

Palisade’s web site is www.palisade.com. The site contains a technical support knowledgebase
(a searchable database of technical support questions and answers) as well as information on
how to obtain the latest software upgrades and patches. The site also contains all the latest
product information, news, and software demos.
Email:
Palisade technical support can be reached at support@palisade.com For general sales
questions contact:
in the United States and Canada: sales@palisade.com
in South America and Latin America: ventas@palisade-lta.com
in Europe: sales@palisade-europe.com
in the Asia/Pacific region: sales@palisade.com.au

Fax:
Palisade’s fax number is (607)-277-8001 in the USA, +44 1895 425051 in Europe, and +61 2
9252 2820 in Australia.

Phone:
Palisade technical support can be reached via phone at (607)-277-8000, Monday through Friday
8:30am-5:00pm Eastern Time in the USA. In Europe, technical support is available at +44 1895
425050, Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:00pm GMT. Asia-Pacific customers may call our
Australia office at +61 2 9252 5922 from 0900h to 1700h AEST.
Please note: telephone technical support is not available for student versions of Palisade
products.

Post:
Palisade technical support can be reached via mail at

Palisade Corporation
Department of Technical Support
798 Cascadilla Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
USA

Or

Palisade Europe UK Ltd.

31 The Green
West Drayton
Middlesex
UB7 7PN
United Kingdom

Or

Palisade Asia-Pacific Pty Limited

Department of Technical Support
Suite 404, Level 4
20 Lotus Street
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

Software Activation/License Transfer

What is software activation?
Activation is a one-time license verification process that is required in order for your software to
run as a fully-licensed product. An Activation ID is on your printed/emailed invoice and may
resemble a dash-separated sequence like "01-5001257-8C2E53-AE4". The Activation ID is not
case sensitive. If you enter your Activation ID during installation or from the NeuralTools
Help/License Activation menu, the software will request the license from the Palisade license
servers service.palisade.com and service2.palisade.com, using HTTP protocol (TCP/IP port 80).
No personal user information is sent during the request, and the digitally signed license is
transferred from the Palisade server to your machine. After activation, your software will be
licensed and no further user action will be required.

What if my software is not activated?

If you do not activate your license, your software will run as a trial version with time and/or
number of uses limitations. The software must be activated to run as a fully-licensed product.

How long can I use the product before I have to activate it?
Software that is not activated may be run for fifteen days. All of the product's features are
present, but the License Activation dialog will appear each time the program is launched to
remind you to activate and to indicate the time remaining. If the 15-day trial period expires, the
software will require activation in order to run.

How do I view the License Activation dialog?

The License Activation dialog is viewed through the start menu Palisade DecisionTools/Palisade
License manager shortcut (or within the software’s menu command e.g. NeuralTools
/Help/License Activation). This dialog allows you to view the status, activate, and deactivate your
license. Activated software shows a status of "Activated" and trial version software shows a
status of "Not Activated" If the software is not activated, the remaining time that the software is
allowed to run is displayed.

How do I activate my software?

If you do not have an Activation ID you may obtain one by clicking the Purchase button in the
License Activation dialog. An online purchase will be immediately given an Activation ID and an
optional link to download the installer should reinstallation become necessary. For a complete
listing of Palisade products, visit http://www.palisade.com/products.asp. To purchase by phone call
(800) 432-7475 or (607) 277-8000.

Activation if you have Internet Access

In the Palisade License Activation dialog box, type or paste the Activation ID and click "Automatic
Activation". A success message should appear after a few seconds and the License Activation
dialog box will reflect the software's activated status. Make sure you enter the Activation ID
exactly as given -- including any dashes. The Activation ID is not case sensitive.

What if Automatic Activation fails?

If you attempt to use Automatic Activation and receive a message that it has failed, the failure
may be due to a number of reasons. Check to make sure that you have entered the Activation ID
correctly, including all symbols, but without any leading or trailing blanks. Check to make sure
that the license is not currently active on another computer. If you have a firewall there may be a
failure when attempting to create a direct Internet connection between your computer and
Palisade's license server. Please use the interactive web page located at:
https://activations.palisade.com/useractivation/
If you are still encountering problems, please send an email to
support@palisade.com
Please include your Activation ID, a description of the problem and a screen shot of the License
Activation dialog.
I have Internet Access but I am still unable to Activate/Deactivate automatically.
Your firewall must be set to allow TCP access to the licensing server. For single user (non
network) installations, your firewall must permit http://service.palisade.com and
http://service2.palisade.com.

Automatic Activation was successful, but my product still won't run

If you were successful activating your license, but your product still appears to be a trial version
when you launch it, there may be a mismatch between your license and the product you have
installed. For example, if your Activation ID is for NeuralTools 5.7 Professional, it will not work
with NeuralTools 5.7 Industrial, The DecisionTools Suite 5.7 Professional, or any other
product/version combination. If you have the wrong product installed, simply uninstall it and
install the product which corresponds to your Activation ID. There is no need to deactivate or
reactivate your license, since it will remain on your computer during the process of changing the
installed product.

How do I transfer my software license to another computer?

If you need to move your software license from one computer to another (for example, if an old
computer is being replaced with a new one), the license must first be deactivated on the old
computer and then activated on the new computer.
1. On the old computer, start the Palisade License Manager from its start menu shortcut ,
and click "Automatic Deactivation". Wait for the success message. The license has now been
removed from the old computer and returned to Palisade's license server.
2. On the new computer, install the Palisade software. In the installer welcome screen,
enter the Activation ID to activate the software during installation.
If you do not enter the Activation ID during installation on the new computer, the software is
installed as a trial, and you may later activate the software from the Palisade License Manager:
Click the Palisade DecisionTools/Palisade License Manager start menu shortcut
Type or paste your Activation ID
Click "Automatic Activation".

The license is now transferred to the new computer.

If either machine does not have Internet access then you will need to use the "Manual
Deactivation" and "Manual Activation" buttons. Follow the instructions in the dialogs for
generating and sending XML files to Palisade.

Please keep in mind that Palisade requires at least 90 days between each license transfer of a
standalone license. If your situation is such that frequent license transfers are needed, please
contact Palisade's Sales Team for information on Concurrent Network licensing. Transferring a
single user license does not permit the simultaneous use of the Palisade software on two
machines.

Student Version Information

If you are using the student version of NeuralTools, please read this section.

Student License Agreement

The student version of NeuralTools is for academic use only. Any non-academic use of the
student version of NeuralTools is strictly forbidden and represents a violation of the terms of the
student license agreement.

Limitations of the Student Version (for Student Versions Included in Textbooks Only)
NeuralTools student versions are limited to 1000 cells per variable. Analysis can not be
performed on any models that exceed these limitations. This restriction only applies to student
versions included with textbooks.

Watermarks on Graphs
All graphs created with the student version of NeuralTools are “watermarked” with the text
“NeuralTools Student Version, For Academic Use Only”. It is considered a violation of your
license agreement to attempt to remove or alter this watermark.

Expiration
The student version of NeuralTools will expire after a fixed period of time. Student versions
obtained directly from Palisade Corporation typically expire after one year. Student versions
bundled with textbooks typically expire after two years.