For new version, please read whole textfile.
For installation guidelines see '*****'

Changes with version 3.0

- New and comprehensive help added.
- Near field 3D, 2D and 1D (linear graph) radiation patterns added 
- Smith-chart plot added with included graphical loss and feedline lenght determination
- Automatic generation of far/near field, frequency loopt and ItsHF files added.

Changes with version 2.4

- Bug in ItsHF antenne type 13 generation, introduced with version 2.3, removed.
- IstHF antenne type 13 (area coverage) generation modified.
- IstHF antenne type 14 (point to point coverage) generation added.

Changes with version 2.3

- Getstarted.txt help file added
- It's now possible to display 2D far field patterns for a range of frequency's.
- Bug when comparing far field patterns removed (introduced with 2.2 version) 
- Bug which occasionally causes hanging 4nec2 after output file recalculation removed

Changes with version 2.2

- Shift and zoom in/out commands added to graph plots on IMP form.
- User configurable program settings added.
- Reflection (coefficient) bug removed
- Bug when changing stepsize 2D far field pattern removed.
- Some other minor bugs removed.

Changes with version 2.1

- Structure validation for segment lengths and radius added
- 40 line limit on impedance plot removed.
- Reflection coefficient and SWR graphs added to impedance form
- Characteristic impedance for above calculations added to 4nec2.ini
- Changable dB stepsize on pattern form with Up and Down key's
- Custom configurable path's to NOTEPAD, WORDPAD and WORD included in 4nec2.ini
- Reading of frequency and impedance plot values from *.out file modified.
- Maximum number of segments/points/frequencys included in 4nec2.ini (see note)

Note: 	When increasing the value for the maximum number of segments, also the line:
	"set nec2d=nec2d512.exe" in the 4nec2.bat command file has to be modified !
	The 'biggest' executable thet can be run on a PC depends on the amount of RAM
	you have installed.  (Right click on 'my computer' and select 'performance' tab)
	Nec2dxxx.exe's for more segments can be found on the 'unofficial nec-2 home page'.

Changes with version 2.0

- Menu command structure added on MAIN, GEOMETRY, PATTERN and GRAPH forms.
- Include comment after (') character anywhere in 4nec2 input files.
- You may set the '.nec' file types to automaticly start the 4nec2.exe program.
- Voltage/current/power calculation changed because nec-2 reports max. values.
- About form added

Some of the 4nec2 (1.0) basic functionality:

- Read nec-2 input- and output-files and display geometry structure.
- Rotate, shift, zoom-in and zoom-out geometry structure
- Show, zoom in/out radiation pattern on geometry structure
- Show, zoom in/out RF current amplitude on geometry structure
- Select segment and show segment current amplitude and phase 
- Automatic generation of nec-2 output file from nec-2 input file
- Automatic generation and inclusion of appropriate SOMNEC ground file
- Polar or linear plot for far-field or groundwave radiation pattern.
- Show geometry inside polar plot and toggle on/off
- Load and compare other radiation patterns.
- Show impedance graph for frequency range.
- Generate type 13 antenna file for HFWIN32 propagation software

*****************************************************************************************

Short explanation how to create 4nec2 environment (Windows-95):

1) Create 4nec2 main directory (default is C:\4nec2)

2) Unzip 4nec2 files by double clicking 4nec2.zip

3) Extract all files into the 4nec2 home directory

	Note: Be sure you selected the 'use folder names' option. 

	This option will create the '\exe' and '\out' directory in your 
	4nec2 main directory. After that the files are copies into the 
	main, \exe or \out directory's.

	If the '\out' and '\exe' directory's were not created, do so now manually and
	move all files except the '*.nec' and '*.txt' files to the '\exe' directory.

4) Open '4nec2.ini' in notepad and edit it to set 'path' to the 4nec2 main directory.

	e.g.	'path=C:\nec2\'

5) Copy file '4nec2.ini' to C:\4nec2.ini

6) Create shortcut for 4nec2.exe and copy shortcut to desktop
	- select file: 'exe\4nec2.exe'
	- click right mouse button
	- select 'create shortcut'
	- drag to desktop


Note:	a) When vbrun300.dll is missing on your computer double click on the file
	   exe\vbrun3000.exe
	   This will install the required dll file in your windows directory.

	b) When key's F6, F8 and/or F9  won't work you probably have a different 
	   MS-DOS path to the notepad, wordpad or word text editor's. You may customise 
	   this by changing the MS-DOS directory path specified in 4NEC2.INI. 
	   First locate your notepad, wordpad or word text editor executables; NOTEPAD.EXE,
	   WORDPAD.EXE or WINWORD.EXE with for instance: start-> find -> files or folders.
	   Next trace back all the MS-DOS directory's names. You can find the MS-DOS 
	   filenames by right clicking on the windows directory folder and select 
	   'properties'. Then look for the MS-DOS file name's. 

	c) When you try to read-in the *.out output file, before the nec calculation 
	   is finished (e.g. OK on messagebox before clculation finished) it is possible
	   that a 4NEC2 program error are generated because the output file is incomplete.
	   Remove the *.out file from the \OUT directory and try again.

	d) Nec-2 user documentation can be found at: www.qsl.net/wb6tpu/swindex.html
	   place file as 'NEC2.DOC' on '\EXE' directory for viewing with F10 key.

	e) When upgrading from prevous versions, it is wise to copy the existing
	   4NEC2.INI file and the 4NEC2 home directory to a temporary backup, 
	   to avoid overwriting of your existing *.nec files.  

	f) See 4nec2.hlp for explanation about 4nec2 functionallity.

	g) For suggestions or remarks: 		Arie,	box73@gmx.net

*****************************************************************************************

Minimum required files:

	4nec2.ini		' 4nec2 ini file (must be copied to c:\4nec2.ini)
	ReadMeFirst.txt		' This file
	\exe\4nec2.exe		' 4nec2 viewing program
	\exe\4nec2.hlp		' 4nec2 help file
	\exe\nec2d.exe		' Nec-2 calculation program for 256 segments
	\exe\nec2d512.exe	' Nec-2 extension for 512 segments
	\exe\somnec2d.exe	' Somnec program for generating somnec ground files
	\exe\F77L3.eer		' Used by nec2d512.exe for error reporting.
	\exe\4nec2.bat		' Batch file for running nec2d512.exe
	\exe\4nec2.pif		' shortcut to 4nec2.bat (required for close on exit)
	\exe\smith.dat		' Smith-chart layout (fine)
	\exe\smith1.dat		' Smith-chart layout (coarse)
	\exe\user.ini		' 4nec2 user settings.
	(\exe\nec2d.doc		' Nec-2 documentation)

In/output files:

	*.nec			' Main 4nec2 input file with optional comment(lines).
	\out\*.inp		' Pre-processed *.nec file used by nec2d(512).exe
	\out\*.out		' Nec-2 output files generated by nec2d(512).exe
	\out\*.gnd		' Saved Somnec2d ground file used as input by nec2d(512)
	\exe\nec2.tmp		' Input file for 4nec2.bat
	\exe\som2d.tmp		' Input file for somnec2d.exe
	\out\som2d.nec		' Last generated somnec2d output grond file


Default settings '4nec2.ini':

' 4NEC2.INI	before changing this file make sure you have a copy of it.
'
PATH=C:\4NEC2\					' Main directory path for 4nec2.
'
ITSHF=C:\ITSHFBC\ANTENNAS\NEC\			' ITSHF antenna file directory.
'
' Below the MS-dos path to your notepad, wordpad and word text-editors must be specified
'
NPAD=C:\WINDOWS\NOTEPAD.EXE			' Notepad text editor, used with F6 key.
WPAD=C:\PROGRA~1\ACCESS~1\WORDPAD.EXE		' Wordpad, used with F8 key.
WORD=C:\PROGRA~1\MICROS~1\OFFICE\WINWORD.EXE	' Word, used with F9 and F10 key's.
