RODSTAR has always had the ability to run calcula-tions on several files in a row, unattended. However, getting into batch mode has not been particularly easy, as it requires selecting several files from the File Open box instead of opening a single file. Starting a batch run is explained in Help, but it has never been on any menu or toolbar button and many of you had difficulties using this powerful feature.
One of the new features planned for the next version of RODSTAR is the Batch Run Wizard that will finally make batch mode easy to use. The Batch Run Wizard leads the user through the steps of creating a batch run. The Wizard explains how to select the files needed for the batch run and how to select the batch run options (see Figures 1 & 2).
Before, there were three different windows involved in the batch run process: one to select files, one to select batch run options, and one to view the results of the batch run. All these windows are now part of the Batch Run Wizard. It is easy to move back and forth among the pages of the Wizard (useful if, for example, you find you forgot to include a file in the batch run).
The Batch Run Wizard allows you to select the spreadsheet format you want to use; you no longer have to make sure you choose the format in Setup. If you find you need to create a new spreadsheet format, the Wizard provides a button that opens Setup with the batch mode tab automatically selected. Any changes you make are automatically transmitted back to the Batch Run Wizard. The batch run log has also been made part of the Wizard; there is no separate window to worry about. RODSTAR even reminds to you print the log before closing the Wizard.
We believe that this addition makes RODSTAR's batch mode significantly easier to use, as well as adding useful new features. We look forward to delivering this new version, which will have several additional features, soon.