Stochastic 1.0.1
The Random & Psuedo-Random Number Sequence Generator for the Newton
Copyright ©1995-96, Joseph Cicinelli, Coyote Creek Software All Rights Reserved.
Purpose:
Stochastic is a program that generates random & psuedo-random number sequences on your
Newton. These sequences are frequently used by people for things like raffles or
lotteries, statistical sampling, and behavioral research. Particularly in the
behavioral research field, where study participants are exposed to a sequence of
treatment conditions, these sequences are frequently generated in a psuedo-random
manner, with each treatment condition appearing equally often. To accommodate these
situations, the program offers sampling with and without replacement. It can also
produce sequences that are free from undesirable sequential "runs".
Stochastic also offers a Save button so that these sequences can be saved to the
NotePad for later printing, mailing, faxing, or beaming. The software is being
distributed as shareware and as such may be used for a period of 7 days before it will
expire and require a valid serial number. The software is compatible with both Newton
1.3 and 2.0 systems.
Distribution:
Stochastic is copyright ©1995-96, by Joseph G. Cicinelli. All Rights Reserved
WorldWide. The program and its documentation can be freely distributed on Bulletin
Boards, commercial online services such as America Online, eWorld, CompuServe, or the
internet. It is also permissible to redistribute the software electronically in
Compact Disc format as long as this readMe document is distributed along with the
software and the CD encourages the payment of Shareware fees.
Registering The Software:
The software can be registered by sending a $5 (U.S. currency) check made out to Joe
Cicinelli to 3752 W. Alameda Road, Glendale, AZ, 85310-3300. Technical support is
available via eMail at joec@amug.org or by telephone at (602) 581-3865. Shareware
payments can also be made electronically using the Kagi Shareware Payment System by
eMailing the required fee using the Register program to shareware@kagi.com . After
receiving your payment, I will send you a valid registration code that can be entered
into the software (usually within a day or two).
Installation:
1. Stochastic and its User Manual may be installed using a Macintosh or PC with
Apple's Newt Installer or a similar program. Other installers include such programs
as PDA Package Downloader 1.5, or the Newton Connection Kitª (1.3 Systems only).
2. Once the software has been downloaded and installed in the Extras Drawer, it
should look like the picture above. To run the program, simply tap once on the
Stochastic icon.
An Introduction to Stochastic:
When the program is opened, you will be greeted by a splash window telling you the
name of the program, its version number, and the name of its author. If the software
has not yet been registered, a button named "Reg CodeÉ" will appear in this window.
If you don't yet have a registration code, do not fret because the software will work
for a 7 day evaluation period before it will expire.
You can dismiss this floating window by hitting the close box in the lower right
corner.
If you would like to register the software now, simply hit the diamond shaped Register
button in the upper right corner of this window and the Register package will be
launched to process your credit card information. This information can then be
transmitted to Kagi Shareware the next time you exchange electronic mail with your
online service provider.
Once you receive your registration code, Press the "Reg CodeÉ" button and enter your
serial number in the Registration dialog without any extra spaces as shown below. Hit
the Enter button once the serial number has been entered. If the registration is
valid, the window below will disappear and the "Reg CodeÉ" button in the About window
(shown above) will disappear as well.
Setting Upper/Lower Limits:
The first setting of Stochastic that will probably be changed is the range of random
numbers generated by the program. By default, the software generates numbers between
0 and 1, similar to the results of a random coin toss. The Upper and Lower limits can
be set using the quick pickers adjacent to these labels or you can simply write a
value in the space provided. The only constraints on these fields are:
¥ The upper and lower limits must be integer values (1, 2, 5, 10, etc. not 1.5).
¥ The upper limit must be greater than the lower limit, however, both limits can be
negative!
¥ The upper and lower limits can not be equal, or what would be the point of
generating a random number?
Ê
After the Upper and Lower limits have been appropriately set, a single tap on the
Generate button will generate a totally random sequence of numbers.
Setting the Sample Size:
By default, Stochastic generates 1 random number for each tap on the Generate button.
This behavior can be changed, however, by selecting a value other than 1 from the
Samples quick picker or by writing a number in the space provided.
Sequence Options
Because behavorial research frequently requires that treatment groups appear equally
often to participants in a study, it is sometimes necessary to generate psuedo- or
semi-random sequences instead of completely random ones.
Sample Without Replacement:
When this option is checked, numbers generated between the upper and lower limit have
to each be generated once before they can be regenerated a second time. The following
sequence of numbers is an example of just such a sequence (Lower limit: 1; Upper
limit: 3; Samples: 25):
1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 3, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 2
The key characteristic of this sequence is that the numbers between 1 and 3 appear
randomly in different orders and each appears before any other is repeated a second
time.
No Sequential Runs:
When this option is checked, random sequences will not contain consecutive or
sequential appearances of the same random number. This is sometimes undesireable in
behavioral research where a change in treatment or response is required from trial to
trial. The sequence generated in the previous section has just this kind of problem
with the number 2 and 1 each being generated consecutively in different samples. An
example of a properly generated sequence with this option marked follows (Lower limit:
1; Upperlimit: 3; Samples: 25):
1, 3, 1, 3, 2, 1, 2, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1, 2
This sequence has no sequential runs in it, but unlike the previous sequence, each
number between 1 and 3 can be randomly drawn from the population of possible numbers.
With both of the above options enabled, Stochastic will generate a sequence that
contains no sequential runs and guarantees that each number between the upper and
lower limit appear equally often within the selected sample size. The following
sequence was generated with these options set (Lower limit: 1; Upper limit: 3;
Samples: 25):
3, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 1, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 1, 3
StatusBar Buttons
Stochastic has four StatusBar push buttons along the bottom of the screen. Each is
described briefly in the section that follows.
The Generate Button:
The Generate button on the StatusBar works in conjuction with the Samples setting
appearing above the sequence field. Tapping it once results in the program generating
the number of samples in the sequence equal to the value specified for the Samples
setting. For example, if the value in the Samples setting is 25, then 25 random
numbers between the Upper and Lower Limits will be generated with each tap on the
Generate button. The numbers generated are always appended to the sequence appearing
in the sequence field, so if you want to start a new sequence, first tap once on the
Clear button on the ButtonBar.
The Clear Button:
The Clear button on the StatusBar clears the contents of the sequence field. If you
want to save the contents of this field, use the Save button on the StatusBar first.
The Save Button:
The Save button is used to save the sequence appearing in the sequence field to the
NotePad (in the "Unfiled" folder). From the NotePad, these sequences can then be
Printed, Faxed, Beamed, and Mailed.
The "?" Button:
This button displays an About dialog box that describes the name of the program, its
author and copyright information, and provides buttons for registering the program and
entering a valid registration or serial number.
Newt's Cape BookMaker:
This Newton book was created entirely on the Newton using Steve Weyer & Greg Simon's
Newts Cape 1.2hN, an HTML-based bookmaker. This shareware package takes HTML formatted
text (appropriate for Web pages) and converts it into Newton Book format appropriate
for viewing on either a Newton OS 1.x or 2.0 system.
While other bookmakers such as Apple's BookMaker and Newton Press are available for
Newton Owners who own Macintoshes, Newt's Cape has the following advantages:
¥ No other equipment, other than a Newton (OS 1.x or 2.0) required to create books.
¥ Newt's Cape cost just $35 compared to the $69 and $299 price tag of Newton Press and
BookMaker respectively.
¥ If HTML-based Web pages already exist, little to no HTML formatting is necessary to
create a Newton book.
¥ Newt's Cape is capable of creating Newton-based forms and processing the data
contained in them. Newton Press and BookMaker have no such capabilities.
¥ Newt's Cape can create books which can be viewed in landscape mode on a Newton 2.0
machine.
Many Thanks!
Many thanks go to the following people:
¥ Steve Weyer & Greg Simon - for all the great technical support and for creating such
a wonderful product in Newt's Cape.
¥ Ashley Armstrong - For all the encouragement, help, and proof-reading!
Version History:
1.0.1 Fixed a registration bug in the software that caused the program to expire 7
days after the
build date, not the install date.
Fixed a problem with the register button that caused a crash on the MP110.
Did some general code cleanup.
Built this manual with Newt's Cape 1.2hN.
1.0 First Public Release.
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Macintosh, Newton¨, and BookMaker are registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc.