WHAT IS INCLUDED

XltrFun

XlXtrFun contains functions that look intrinsic to Excel. These functions are primarily interpolating and curve fitting, and include both two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) interpolating.

The two 3D interpolate functions in XlXtrFun, Interp3D and InterpMatrix, require the data to be in groups of constant X’s. For example, suppose you have a data set of the elevation above sea level for 1,000 locations for a given area of some planet, say, Earth. If the 3D data collected was along lines of constant longitude or lines of constant latitude, then you can use XlXtrFun's Interp3D function.

SurfGen (Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data)

If you have (X,Y,Z) data that cannot readily be put into groups of constant X’s, use SurfGen (Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data) to generate data in the format that can be used by XlXtrFun's Interp3D and InterpMatrix functions. SurfGen is not part of XlXtrFun (and therefore does not appear as an intrinsic Excel function). Because the procedure to generate a surface from scattered 3D data takes up to a second to run, a spreadsheet with many cells containing calls to such a time-consuming function would recalculate painfully slowly.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

Computer:

486DX PC or above.

Memory:

Sufficient for Windows.

Disk Space:

0.5 MB

Operating System:

Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 3.51, NT 4.0, 2000, XP.

Other Software:

Microsoft Excel for Windows 95/97/2000/XP. To use exported functions only, Microsoft Excel is not required.

1. Exit (shut down, quit, stop) Excel.
2. Unzip XlXtrFun.zip.
3. Put XlXtrFun.xll wherever you want and use Excel's Add-In Manager to install XlXtrFun.xll.
   
   1. Start Excel.
      
   2. If a workbook is not already showing, open or create a new workbook.
      
   3. Click on Tools - Add-Ins - Browse to wherever you put XlXtrFun.xll - OK - OK.
   OR ...
   Put XlXtrFun.xll in the sacred location listed below.

I also recommend putting the help files, XlXtrFun.hlp and XlXtrFun.cnt, in the sacred locations listed below, but this is not necessary for XlXtrFun to work.

• Put only the .xll file in XlStart.
• Do not put anything else in the XlStart folder.

SACRED LOCATIONS

• the XlStart folder may be hidden.
• Also your locations might be different. I would appreciate it if you would tell me your locations if they are different from the following. I can then add them to the table below to help others.
• The usual sacred locations are listed below, but we recommend you verify the locations of the XlStart folder and the folder with the other Excel help files for your particular installation of Excel.

• You will probably have to navigate to the help file's location the first time you access the help, but after that, Windows should remember where the help file is located.
• The other .xls files in XlXtrFun.zip are examples, and can be put anywhere except XlStart.
• The other files in XlXtrFunDistribution.zip (the file you actually download which includes XlXtrFun.zip) are well named and extend the capabilities of XlXtrFun into less commonly needed areas. They are not required for the basic functions of XlXtrFun.
• Most functions have detailed descriptions and examples in the help file. However, the help file is still under construction. However (again), most of the functions are simple to use or have very similar argument requirements. Using the Excel Function Wizard will guide you through the argument requirements the first few times you use them.
• Network Administrators: When you update XlXtrFun (i.e., replace old XlXtrFun files with newer ones), the old files may remain in disk cache. This results in users experiencing the same old version, even when they quit and restart Excel. The old version needs to be flushed from the server's disk cache.

1. Install XlXtrFun.xll as described above.
2. Put SurfGen.dll in your path, e.g, C:\Windows\System32.
3. Put SurfGen.xls wherever you want. It will never be seen by the user. I recommend putting it in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office (The only consideration is that there is a button on the xlt that is linked to a macro in SurfGen.xls, and it makes things easier if all potential users have SurfGen.xls in the same location.)
4. Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data.xlt is a template. This is the file you will actually see and use. Put it in the folder that has your other Excel templates, and it will be available to you whenever you do File - New. (Alternatively, you can put it in the folder specified in Tools - Options - General - Alternate startup file location or the same folder as XlXtrFun.xll.)
5. Button Link: There is a button in Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data.xlt that is linked to a macro in SurfGen.xls. Right now, the button assumes that SurfGen.xls is in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office. If you put SurfGen.xls in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office in step 2 above, you are done. If not, you will need to,
   1. Open Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data.xlt as a TEMPLATE (not just as an xls, but as an xlt. Check the title bar at the top of your Excel window. It should read, "Microsoft Excel - Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data.xlt").
   2. Edit - Links and change the source file to wherever you put SurfGen.xls in step 2 above. Save Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data.xlt.

To use: File - New - Surface Generation from Scattered Input Data

Advanced Systems Design and Development

346 Atlantic Avenue
Red Lion, PA 17356

e-mail: XlXtrFun@Verizon.net
http://www.netrax.net/~jdavita/XlXtrFun/XlXtrFun.htm

Copyright © 2003 by Advanced Systems Design and Development. All rights reserved.
All specifications subject to change without notice.
XlXtrFun is a trademark of Advanced Systems Design and Development.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies or mark holders.