PLTsoft is pleased to announce the release of PLT Tools version 1.3 (see below for enhancements), software tools to facilitate the conduct of NONMEM* analyses on either the Windows, Linux, or OS X platforms. PLT Tools is a suite of tools that accomplish the following:

• Project Controller: Using a graphical interface, run NONMEM, automatically create numerous files containing NONMEM outputs and tables, create extensive graphics, and perform various statistical analyses.  Folders are created automatically, all source documents are archived, and all files are time-stamped, facilitating Part 11 compliance.  Tables created by NONMEM are copied, then reformatted so that they open automatically in Excel. A unique feature is a 1-2 page summary ("Brief Summary") showing the objective function, the number of significant digits, final estimates (and standard errors if available) for thetas, omegas, and sigmas and diagnostics of NONMEM boundary conditions. Examples can be downloaded.

• Compare Runs: Compare one or more pairs of runs:

The output is a text file that can be inserted as an appendix in a study report.  In addition, a comma-delimited table summarizes differences between runs, objective functions and the change between models, the P value for the likelihood ratio test, the number of non-fixed thetas, etas, and sigmas in each model, and comments entered by the user.

• Create Archive: With one click, bundle together the outputs of multiple runs into a time-stamped archive. Ideal for transfer or archiving of a completed project.

These tools are facilitated by the following:

• Graphics Editor: Using a graphical interface, select options for the creation of graphics.  No knowledge of S-Plus/R code is required.

• Run Listing Editor: During an analysis, timestamps for all runs are tabulated.  Using pull-down menus, select the runs to be used by the Compare Runs and Create Archive Tools.

ENHANCEMENTS IN VERSION 1.3:
• NONMEM 5: PLT Tools is now compatible with NONMEM 5. See the User's Manual for instructions on implementation. Users can select between NONMEM 5 and 6 for a single control stream, a Working Folder, or a Project.
• NONMEM 6, version 2.0: PLT Tools is fully compatible with NONMEM 6, version 2.0. See FAQ to ensure that PLT Tools will access the correct version of nmfe6.bat.
• Fortran compilers: Additional Fortran compilers, including Intel Fortran 10.1, have been evaluated successfully with PLT Tools.
• Use of R: Previous versions of PLT Tools required that registered users use S-Plus rather than R. The Free Software Foundation (home of the GNU Project) has determined that PLT Tools does not violate R’s GPL (General Public License). As a result, all users of PLT Tools can now select freely between R and S-Plus.

ENHANCEMENTS IN VERSION 1.2:
• Condition Weighted Residuals: Code provided by Andrew Hooker, Uppsala, has been modified to work with both S-Plus and R.
• Parameter Table: The parameters for a NONMEM run are displayed in spreadsheet form.
• Simulation and Simulation / Estimation: Now fully supported including separate graphics for each subproblem and a single table displaying the parameters from all subproblems. In addition, separate tables are provided for each subproblem.
• Batch Processing: The user can stack NONMEM runs to be performed sequentially.
• Simulataneous Processing: The user can perform more than one simultaneous run on a single computer. If the computer contains multiple processors, this is likely to increase throughput. Requires registration.
• Network Processing: If the user can access a network on which computers are configured to run NONMEM, PLT Tools will determine which computer is available, copy files to that computer, run NONMEM, then copies files back to the local machine for post-processing. Requires registration and a supplemental fee.

ENHANCEMENTS IN VERSION 1.1:
• Default Graphics: If the user has not populated, then selected a Graphics Script (using the Graphics Editor), PLT Tools will attempt to create graphics. These graphics will be limited.
• Error Detection: Many levels of error protection added. For example, if a subject ID contains 7 digits, NONMEM will output only 6 digits to a table, potentially leading to ambigious IDs.
• Graphics: Multiple minor changes in appearance and minor bug fixes.
• Naming of Tables: The names 'AllRecords.txt' and 'FirstRecords.txt' are now accepted.
• Elements Required for Tables: If the user omits certain key elements from a table, these are accessed from FDATA.

PLT Tools is available via download from this website. The free version provides nearly all features (see Licensing for details). Licensing unlocks the remaining features.

* NONMEM is a registered trademark of the Regents of the University of California. Licenses for NONMEM can be obtained from Icon Development Solutions.

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