P-Chem Readme

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About P-Chem
System requirements
Installing P-Chem
Troubleshooting
Getting Technical Support

1. About P-Chem
This highly visual, interactive program will help you better understand the role of
molecular characteristics and environmental variables on physical properties. All of the
major topic areas of physical chemistry - thermodynamics, quantum chemistry, statistical
thermodynamics, kinetics and reaction dynamics, polymers, solid state and surfaces - are
covered in 40 individual modules. You can interactively investigate the effects of
varying system parameters, such as temperature and pressure, over a wide range.
Generally, you can select from a range of predefined molecules of various types, or enter
the data for a molecule of your choice. The results of changes in molecular properties or
system parameters are immediately reflected in colorful plots, animated simulations and
movies. In this way you can formulate trends and make predictions (useful for home
work assignments). Accompanying each module is explanatory material that briefly
reviews the underlying theory, using hyperlinked definitions and biographies. Included
in this text is a question and answer session so you can test your understanding of the
material.
2. System requirements
Windows 3.1x:
486DX 33MHz
8 MB RAM
10 MB free hard drive space
640x480 256c resolution (SVGA)
Package includes Video for Windows
Windows 95:
486DX2 66MHz
16 MB RAM
10 MB free hard drive space
640x480 256c resolution (SVGA)
3. Installing P-Chem. Windows 3.1 Installer.
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Insert CD into the CD-ROM drive.

Using the "File Manager" select the drive letter of your CD-ROM drive.
Double click on the Win 3.1 folder from the CD.
Double click on "Setup".
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete setup.

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Installing P-Chem. Windows 95 Installer.

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Insert CD into CD-ROM drive

In the desktop area, click on My Computer, and select your CD-ROM drive.

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Click on the Win 95 folder to display its contents

Double click on Setup.
Follow the onscreen instructions to complete setup.

4. Troubleshooting
Installation
Problem
P-Chem does not start under Windows 3.1.
Solution
Make sure that you restart your computer after installing the P-Chem program.
Problem
P-Chem starts to load the opening screen but stops with a message concerning
"VCIOCX".
Solution
This message indicates that the routine that performs 3D plots has not been installed
correctly. uninstall P-Chem and re-install. If this does not solve the problem, contact
technical Support.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Program appearance
Problem
The colors of images look incorrect.
Solution
On systems with only 16-color displays, some graphics may look odd. The program is
designed to run on 256-color video adapters. If you have reset the color depth on your
256-color adapter to only 16-colors, reset to 256-colors using Windows Setup from the
Main group.
Note: On systems with customized desktop color schemes some background colors may
look odd.
Problem
The P-Chem window is shifted into the left part of the screen..
Solution
P-Chem is designed to run best at 640x480 256c or 800x600 256c screen resolution. If
you are running at a higher resolution, you may want to drop down to 800x600 256c.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Speed
Problem
Screens and 3D graphs display slowly.
Solution
The speed with which screens load is determined by the speed of the system, the amount
of memory available and how many other programs are running concurrently. If

P-Chem runs slowly on your sytem, make sure that you have shut down other programs
that may be consuming Windows resources. The speed of display of 3D graphs can be
improved, at the expense of appearance, by using the Options choice on the top menu
line. The smoothing option affects the speed of 3D surface plot rendering. If you find
that such plots are slow to display on your system, you can try reducing the smoothing
used. Speed can also be increased by lowering your resolution. If you are running
800x600 256c switch to 640x480 256c.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Printing
Problem
Screens will not print.
Solution
Make sure that the printer is turned on and is On-Line. Also check that you have selected
the printer correctly on the Windows Control Panel. If this does not solve the problem
you may need to obtain a newer version of the printer driver from the printer
manufacturer.
Problem
When printing, some numbers are cut off the page.
Solution
This may be due to old printer drivers. Update your printer driver. You can contact the
manufacturer of your printer and request an update. If available, you can visit their web
site and download the driver.
Problem
The numbers inside some boxes are hard to read on the printed output.
Solution
The quality of the print output depends upon the Windows printer drivers. You may need
to obtain a newer version of the printer driver from the printer manufacturer.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Running the program
Problem
When the module loads, the plotting area of the screen is blank.
Solution
In some modules the data is not plotted or a simulation started until the Plot or Start
button is pressed.

Problem
After changing e.g. the temperature the plot/simulation does not change.
Solution
The plot or simulation is not refreshed until the Plot or Start button is pressed.
Problem
After entering a large number for a parameter, the resulting animation takes a long time.
Solution
Press the Halt button to stop the simulation and reset the parameter to a smaller value.

Problem
A 3D plots refreshes slowly.
Solution
Try reducing the smoothing used in Options choice on the top menu line. The smoothing
option affects the speed of 3D surface plot rendering at the expense of appearance.

Problem
In a module that uses data files the file list is empty.
Solution
The data files for P-Chem are located in the Data subdirectory of the directory in which
the main program is stored. Make sure this directory exists and contains files with the
appropriate suffix for the module (defined in the Exploration section of the Text
window). If they are not present, it is probably best to uninstall the program and then
reinstall. If this does not solve the problem, contact Technical Support.
Problem
In a module that displays movies the movies do not appear.
Solution
The movie files for P-Chem are located in the Movies subdirectory of the directory in
which the main program is stored. Make sure this directory exists and contains files with
the .AVI suffix. If they are not present, it is probably best to uninstall the program and
then reinstall.
If the movie files are present in the correct subdirectory and you are running under
Windows 3.1, then it is possible that Microsoft Video for Windows in missing. In
Windows 3.1 movies can only be played if Microsoft Video for Windows is present (this
set of programs is automatically included in Windows 95). These programs should have
been installed during when P-Chem was installed. Try uninstalling and reinstalling
P-Chem. If this does not solve the problem, contact Technical Support.
Problem
When I try to visualize molecular vibrations nothing happens.
Solution
Molecular Vibration movies needs Video for Windows installed on your system. Either
it is missing or you simply need to updated version. The Pchem program includes the
latest version of VFW. To install, simply click on its icon from the Pchem program
group.
Problem
The text window has disappeared.
Solution
This can happen if you have minimized or closed the window using the buttons at the top

right of the text window. Also, in certain computer systems it is possible that this --window may disappear when you search for a data file using a Data button. First check
to see if this window is minimized. If so, restore it by clicking on the minimized icon
(Win 3.1x), or button bar item (Win 95). Otherwise click on the empty space where the
window should be and it should reappear.

5. Getting Technical Support

Thank you for using Pchem. If your are experiencing technical problems that are not
mentioned in the troubleshooting section above, you can contact technical support at
212-850-6753. You can also visit the Technical Support Website at
www.wiley.com/college/tech/. From the website you will be able to submit technical
questions and comments.