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version 1.2, 2006/01/27 20:17:50 version 1.8, 2019/05/21 15:55:06
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   Version IMaCh 0.99
   Parameter files have new undocumented parameters.
   Look at the archives of imach-users@listes.ined.fr for information.
   
   Current documentation on the web site is for 0.98 (before the
   introduction of varying covariates).
   
 Interpolated Marlov Chain (IMaCh program)  Interpolated Marlov Chain (IMaCh program)
   
 This program is GPL licensed for the part the code that we wrote at  This program is licensed under the GNU GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE.
 INED. But currently (version 0.98b January 2006) maximization routines use  
 a modified version of the patented routines from "Numerical Recipes in  The program estimates Life Expectancies from Cross-longitudinal
 C". If you have the right to use the sources of their software you can  studies as well as age-specific forward and backward prevalences in each state.
 get access to the source code and to the CVS tree of IMaCh.  The main publications are:
   (1) Lièvre, A. Brouard. N, Heathcote Ch. Estimating Health
 The program estimates Health Expectancies from Cross-longitudinal  Expectancies from Cross-longitudinal surveys, Mathematical Population Studies, 10(1), 2003, pp. 1-52.
 studies.  (2) Nicolas Brouard, 2019, "Theory and applications of backward probabilities and prevalences in cross-longitudinal surveys". In: Arni S. R. Srinivasa Rao (Ed.) and C.R. Rao (Ed.), Handbook of Statistics.
 The main publication is Lievre, A. Brouard. N, Heathcote  Integrated population biology and modeling, Part B, Elsevier, p. 435-486.
 Ch. Estimating Health Expectancies from Cross-longitudinal surveys,  http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12204/AWltfxMuXMQCvuZmm9UI
 Mathematical Population Studies, 10(1), 2003, pp. 1-52.  
   
 To be brief, for each people interviewed we need the age and health  To be brief, for each people interviewed we need the age and
 status at each interview. Also the month and year of death should be  state at each interview. Also the month and year of death should be
 known as for birth.  We model the probability to be observed in any  known as for birth.  We model the probability to be observed in any
 state at any age via a parametric model and estimate the parameters  state at any age via a parametric model and estimate the parameters
 and their confidence interval by maximum likelihood. Many tables and  and their confidence interval by maximum likelihood. Many tables and
 graphs are output in HTML. Graphs are built using gnuplot.  graphs are output in HTML. Graphs are built using gnuplot.
   
 In the Windows version, gnuplot is also distributed. Version 4 of  First versions appeared around year 2000. Currently (May 2019)
 gnuplot is out since early 2004 and is used by latest version of Imach  version 0.99r19 can run on any Unix, including OS/X and on Windows 10
 (at least version 0.38i of gnuplot is required).  IMaCh is supposed to work on  (64bit) as well as Windows XP (32bit).
 Linux, Unix, MacIntosh (Panther, Tiger) and Windows (9X or NT/XP).  
   Binaries are usually provided for OS/X (DMG for 64bit), Linux (rpm)
 WINDOWS  and Windows installer (32 and 64bit).
 On Windows it is distributed via a setup file (no more a zip file). As  
 usual, you can put the 'imach' directory in Program Files or  
 wherever. The directory contains at least 2 directories, 'bin' for the  STRUCTURE of the binary
 binaries which are imach.exe and gnuplot.exe, doc for some of the  
   IMaCh is a command line program (no time for a GUI) which means that
   it can be run on a shell by "$ imach foo.imach" where foo.imach is your
   'parameter' file which is a simple text file with a few lines that
   your must edit in order to describe your data as well as your model
   line. In this parameter file you give the name and path of your data
   file which is also a text file.
   
   Even if it is command line program, most operating systems offer
   simplifications of use:
   
   - On Windows, you can click on the imach.exe icon (which opens a DOS
   window) and drag your parameter file into the DOS windows and enter
   return. You can use the right click (once your mouse cursor is on an
   foo.imach file) to either edit the parameter file (with notepad) or
   execute this parameter file via imach. At the end of the run, your are
   asked to enter a character and the terminal will not disappear.
   
   - On OSX, you can click on the IMaCh application and a terminal window will be
     opened: either type in the name and path of your parameter file or
     drag it from the finder.
   
   The output of your run consists in many text files which are grouped
   into a sub-directory having the same name as of your parameter
   filename 'foo'. In addition, you will find two other important files
   on the same directory as your parameter file:
   
   -1- a text file named 'foo.gp' which is a gnuplot file. This gnuplot
   is automatically runned by imach in order to create the graphs from
   the various result text files.
   
   You can edit this gnuplot file, customize it at your will and run it
   to get additional figures or modified figures to be published. Just
   click on gnuplot executable and type "load foo.gp" for example.
   
   Gnuplot is a well known grapher under the GPL license too. As it is
   changing often, the OS/X and Windows installers are providing binaries
   for gnuplot 2.6.5.
   
   -2- a text file named 'foo.htm' which is an html file. It can be
   opened by your browser and it will display various hyperlinks to most
   of your results as well as your graphs.
   
   
   Since the era of 64bit processors and their wide use on OS/X and
   Windows 7, 8 or 10, we discovered that our usual GNU compiler were not
   efficient on Windows 64 and current binaries are compiled with the
   Intel C compiler.  On OS/X the native LLVM C compiler from Apple is
   very efficient too.
   
   Usually IMaCh binaries are distributed under two subdirectories, 'bin' for the
   binaries which are imach.exe and gnuplot.exe and 'html' for some of the
 documentation, and 'mytry' in order to test the program on a parameter  documentation, and 'mytry' in order to test the program on a parameter
 file name 'mypar.imach'.  file named 'mypar.imach'.
   
 You still can click on the imach.exe icon (which opens a DOS window)  By default the file 'gnuplot.exe' is located on the same directory as
 and drag your parameter file into the DOS windows and enter  imach and is used by imach with its absolute path. Thus, if you have
 return. But with the newly installable version (>0.97) you can use the right  another gnuplot program which is already in your path it will not be used by
 click (once your mouse cursor is on an foo.imach file) to either edit the  
 parameter file (with wordpad) or execute this parameter file via  
 imach.  
 If the program runs well you get a main foo.htm file which can be viewed  
 with your browser and which includes all the results.  
   
 As the program output a file named foo.gp which is executed by gnuplot  
 in order to draw all the graphs, you can edit it and customize it at  
 your will.  
   
 By default the file gnuplot.exe is located on the same directory as  
 imach and is used by imach with its absolute path. Thus if you have  
 another gnuplot program which is in your path it will not be used by  
 imach (we tried to simplify the installation process).  imach (we tried to simplify the installation process).
   
 If you download a newer version of IMaCh you are supposed to Uninstall the  If you download a newer version of IMaCh, you are supposed to Uninstall the
 former version with the standard Install/Uninstall process of Windows.  former version with the standard Install/Uninstall process of Windows.
   
 The Windows version is compiled via cygwin (gcc -mno-cygwin -o imach  
 imach.c). It can be used on a command line with the command "imach  
 foo.imach". But then imach.exe must be in your path.  
 The program can be used (with more comfort?) on Linux or on a  
 MacIntosh.  
   
 Enjoy (?) using IMaCh.  Enjoy (?) using IMaCh.
   
 You may subscribe to imach-users@listes.ined.fr by sending a mail at  You may subscribe to imach-users@listes.ined.fr by sending a mail at
Line 69  Other comments are included on the Wiki Line 107  Other comments are included on the Wiki
 http://euroreves.ined.fr/imach/wiki, please use it ask questions too.  http://euroreves.ined.fr/imach/wiki, please use it ask questions too.
   
 Nicolas Brouard (brouard at ined point fr)  Nicolas Brouard (brouard at ined point fr)
 Agnès Lièvre (lievre chez ined dot fr)  Institut national d'études démographiques
 Christopher Heathcote  133 Boulevard Davout
   75014 Paris
   
   Earlier versions were also written by
   Agnès Lièvre (former PHD student at INED)
   Christopher Heathcote (ANU)
   
     
   
Removed from v.1.2  
changed lines
  Added in v.1.8

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