DVD CONTENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS
 

The DVD accompanying the text contains the following files: 

- "readme.txt": this is a help file in plain text format.

- "Chapter3.xls" and "Chapter4.xls": these are Excel files 
containing the data sets and algorithms used in 
implementing the decomposition techniques (excepting 
the splines method) applied in Chapters 3 and 4, 
respectively. 

- "datachapter3.csv" and "datachapter4.csv" are the same 
data sets, in csv format files. These are the inputs for the 
spline-based analysis in Chapters 3 and 4.

- "dataread.m" is a Matlab m-function that reads the 
databases in CSV format.

- "chapter3splines.m" is a Matlab executable file ("m-
file") which implements the splines method as used in 
Chapter 3.

- "chapter4splines.m" is an m-file for the spline-based 
analysis required in Chapter 4.


NOTE: The above m-files require the Spline Toolbox of Matlab to 
be installed.


SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING THE MATLAB CODES

First, copy "data chapter3.csv" and "datachapter4.csv" to the desired 
directory (by default, the root directory C:). Then copy 
"dataread.m", "chapter3splines.m" and "chapter4splines.m" to the 
desired location (e.g., the "bin" folder of Matlab), making sure that 
the location is accessible from Matlab (the proper "path" must be 
specified, if necessary). The files "chapter3splines.m" and 
"chapter4splines.m" can be opened and edited by using Matlab 
Editor. A different data set may be specified (provided the 
information it contains is structured as in datachapter3.csv or in 
chapter4splines.m). Both multiplicative and additive decompositions 
are allowed. By typing the function name (chapter3splines or 
chapter4splines, respectively) on Matlab's command window, the 
selected function is executed and the results of the spline-based 
decomposition analysis are displayed on screen.