Licensed Version: Full phone or e-mail support is provided during normal business hours (weekdays, 8AM - 5PM Pacific Time, except for holiday periods) by email or phone. Email is the preferred means of communication.

Unlicensed Version: Limited support is provided for installation and setup. If additional support is needed, it can be purchased via a service contract or a service visit (contact us for fees). If the user identifies a bug in the software, full support will be provided to resolve that issue.

Manuals: All manuals for PLT Tools can be downloaded. Manuals are also bundled with each installation (see download).

INSTALLATION - procedure and guidelines

As NONMEM users are well aware, installation of NONMEM can be difficult. Historically, most problems related to the interaction between the Fortran compiler and the script used to install NONMEM. In recent years, open-source Fortran compilers (G77 and G95) have become available and these compilers usually allow seamless installation of NONMEM on most platforms using Globomax's NONMEM installer.

Installation of PLT Tools on Windows platforms has been difficult in certain situations. The most common problem is that the setup procedure for PLT Tools selects a flawed or outdated copy of nmfe6.bat. When PLT Tools executes NONMEM, it calls this flawed copy of nmfe6.dat, then fails to run NONMEM properly. Another common problem is that the Fortran compiler is not compatible with PLT Tools.

Installation of PLT Tools in Windows requires the following steps:

1. Fortran must be installed on your computer and the path to Fortran must be set as an environment variable. To test whether Fortran is installed and the environment variable is set correctly, open a Command Prompt window, then type the command that calls Fortran, e.g., G95. If the operating system responds "No input files" or something comparable, Fortran is installed correctly. If the operating responds, "... is not a recognized command", then either Fortran is not installed or the environment variable is not set correctly. You may need assistance from the IT department to set this variable.
2. The Fortran compiler must be compatible with PLT Tools. We have tested G77, G95, GFortran, and Intel Fortran 10 and 11 successfully. Tests with older versions of Digital Fortran (e.g., Digital Visual Fortran 5.0) have largely been unsuccessful. If you are using one of these older versions of Fortran, it is likely that PLT Tools will not work correctly. We recommend that you install G95, a modern, open-source compiler, available at no cost at G95.org (g95.org/downloads.shtml; search for Self-extracting Windows x86). As noted above, after the installation is complete, confirm that the environment variable is set correctly. For NONMEM 7, we recommend Intel Fortran.
3. Once a functioning Fortran is installed, NONMEM must be installed using the Globomax installer or Metrum's installer. PLT Tools is not compatible with Wings for NONMEM. To use the Golobomax installer, follow instructions provided on the NONMEM installation CD. To use the Metrum installer, follow the instructions provided at their web site.
4. Once both Fortran and NONMEM are installed, PLT Tools will function. However, if you attempted to run PLT Toolss before steps 1-3 were complete, it is possible that the version of nmfe*.bat that was copied to the PLTTools-Support folder is flawed. Delete the file \PathTo\PLTTools-Support\nmfe*.bat, then restart PLT Tools.
5. If you are using Intel Fortran, you need to edit a file FortranVars.bat that is provided with the PLT Tools installation. These edits are necessary so that environment variables are configured correctly.
6. If you are unable to run PLT Tools, we recommend the following:
1. Read the messages in the OUTPUT window in the Project Controller. Often, an explanation is provided.
2. Locate the folder PLTTools-Support -- it contains preferences and the files nmfe*.bat (nmfe* in OS X). In Windows, it is located in %APPDATA% (enter %APPDATA% into Windows Explorer). In OS X, it is located in ~/Library/Application Support. The easiest way to access the folder is via menus in PLT Tools: FILE -> OPEN -> Support (Preferences) Folder.
3. If the messages don't clarify the source of the problem (or if the message "NONMEM has not started" appears repeatedly), click "Copy", then paste the contents of the clipboard into an email. Attach a copy of \PathTo\PLTTools-Support\nmfe*.bat (you probably need to change the extension to .txt in order to bypass firewalls). Then email both to support@PLTsoft.com; the Subject line should read "PLT Tools Installation Problem". We will contact you shortly with recommendations.

REQUESTING SUPPORT - guidelines for describing and submitting a problem

Send us a detailed description of the problem. Information needed to diagnose/fix specific problems is listed below:

Failed Installation - Fortran	After installation, the user may encounter the error message: "An attempt was made to call the Fortran compiler that is identified in nmfe6.bat. The operating system returned a message indicating thatthe compiler was not found. This suggests that the original installation of Fortran is flawed. This must be fixed". If this occurs, please email us the file PLTTools\nmfe6.bat. We will provide further instructions.
Failed Installation - "NONMEM has not started"	After installation, the user may encounter the message: "INFORMATION: NONMEM has not started" repeatedly. If this occurs, please email us the file PLTTools\nmfe6.bat. We will provide further instructions.
Graphical interface	For problems related to the graphical interface, specify which window or tab.  If you have received error messages, please send those messages.  If possible, email a screen snapshotdocumenting the problem.
NONMEM output	If the problem relates to the output of NONMEM, please send your exact NONMEM control stream and data or a detailed description of the problem.  Note that PLTsoft is not responsible for faulty NONMEM installations, control streams, or datasets.
Graphics	If the problem relates to the graphics created by PLT Tools, please send the graphics script (a file with the extension .pltg, typically located in the SCRIPTS-GRAPHICS folder in the Project Folder.
Brief Summary	If the problem relates to the Brief Summary file created by PLT Tools, please send the control stream, data, and, if possible, the Brief Summary file.
Other Files Created by PLT Tools	If the problem relates to folder / files that are supposed to be created by PLT Tools, please send a detailed description of the problem.

REQUESTS FOR SPECIALIZED GRAPHICS

PLT Tools can be adapted to provide additional graphics, including graphics tailored to the particular needs of a data analyst or company. Typically, the scripts to create these graphics are created on a consulting basis, billed hourly (most requests can be accommodated with less than two billable hours). PLTsoft reserves the right to incorporate these graphics into future releases with no obligation to the originator.

SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS - submit your suggestions

PLT Tools represents 15 years of evolution from the command-line to a graphical interface. Each release incorporates new features. Please email us your suggestions: all suggestions will be considered and an acknowledgement will be provided if your suggestion is adopted.