A USER GUIDE OF RATS AND TSP

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RATS (Regression Analysis of Time Series)

RATS for UNIX in QED is version 4.30 and for DOS in DUN 211/DUN 350 is version 4.20. The major improvement of version 4.20 over 4.10 is the enhancement of graphics capability and different file extension of graphs. This will be explained more details below and in Examples:
RATS for UNIX and DOS may be executed in batch mode or in interactive mode. In interactive mode, you can type in commands one at a time at the prompt. RATS executes each instruction immediately, and directs any resulting output to the terminal. This is suitable if you want to check your programming codes. In batch mode, RATS reads instructions from an input file, and writes the output either to the terminal or to a specified output file. This is best for running long programs.
The major differences between UNIX and DOS are in operating commands only. For instance, in order to execute DOS RATS, one need to type RATS386 whereas one need to type RATS in UNIX. DOS RATS386 has GRAFEDIT and RATSDATA utility but UNIX does not has those utilities. Nonetheless, The application commands and functions are common to both versions.
Although UNIX RATS does not have a convenient RATS editor utility like DOS, one can use Notepad in Microsoft Windows 3.x Accessories to copy and paste commands from your written program using Notepad to the QED Terminal Window providing you are using WINSOCK connecting to QED. The trick is to use EDIT option from the Notepad to copy the comamnds, then go to QED Terminal window , use the right buttom of your mouse and Select EDIT and PASTE to the UNIX RATS ? prompt, and then hit ENTER key. This trick is very handy when you don't have UNIX X windows.
When executing programs, you should always becareful of the path (directory) statemtents in your programs. It is recommended to put a path statement in front of reading data files or procedures.
There are sample programs, data, and procedures located in C:\RATS for DOS version. UNIX's sample programs, data, and procedures are in /usr/local/rats430/examples. The detailed information of the programs and procedures are discussed fully in RATS 4.0 Manual and its supplement.
Beside the Basic Sample Programs in Examples, You can also look at my own written programs or procedures in My RATS386 Programs and Procedures
For more advanced third-party programs and procedures, click below:
RATS PROGRAMS AND PROCEDURES
I will recommend the DOS RATS386 for a beginner or one who needs to do lots of graphics or inputs lots of different data format files. UNIX RATS is superb for a user who has a huge job (e.g. Monte Carlo simulation program which requires lots of RAM ) to run for several days since UNIX can handle background jobs. For Windows 95 user, if you install Windows 95 over your previous DOS/Windows operating systems (e.g. Dual boot with Windows 3.x or still have valid MS-DOS version), you can still run RATS386 by going to MS-DOS prompt. You can take advantage the 32-bit RATS386 software. The DOS version in DUN 211 is not Windows 95 version. Windows 95 version is called as Version 4.3 in which QED does not have it yet.

Select your preferred version below to view more information

UNIX RATS
DOS RATS386

TSP (Time Series Processor)

TSP for UNIX, LINUX in QED and for DOS are all version 4.30A.
Unlike RATS, there are no differences between UNIX, LINUX, and DOS version except the path statements.
To execute TSP in interactive mode in UNIX, LINUX, and DOS, just type tsp in the prompt with . TSP will prompt you a message whether you want to supply a batch filename. If you want to run in interactive mode, just hit Enter. To end the session , just type stop
To execute TSP in batch mode in UNIX, LINUX, and DOS: the output will be stored in first.out automatically.
In interactive mode, you can use up arrow key to retrieve the previous commands or use down arrow key to retrieve the first command. This feature functions like DOSKEY option in MS-DOS.
Unlike RATS, TSP requires a semicolon (;) at the end of each line's commands. Hence, TSP will continue to read your commands in multiple lines unless there is a semicolon at the end of the command line.
TSP 4.3 has option to adjust memory (RAM): put the following line at the top of your program file (.tsp) or in a login.tsp (TSP reads this file first when executing) in the current directory. This command allows TSP to allocate 4 MB of memory for TSP. The default value is 4, and the minimum value is 2.1 . (This is assuming 2MB for the code of TSP, and any additional memory is used for the working space array). The maximum value is limited by the physical RAM available in your PC machine or the remaining RAM left in QED server.
It is important to note that 4 MB of memory for TSP is not equivalent to your 4 MB physical RAM in your PC machine. Also, you don't need to worry this option unless you work with a huge Monte Carlo programs which requires lots of input/output data (e.g. storing several time- series in each random simulation draw). It is also nice not to allocate all of the memory (maximum value) to your program when you are at QED or LINUX server since your colleagues also need RAM to run their programs.
The following is the maximum value that I experiment during daytime (the peak time). This value is for your reference that you should choose a value much smaller than it. The value for LINUX and QED may vary since they all depend on the size of the programs running at the time. Also, if the QED server is crowded, you may not get your preferred value. Then, you should try to run your program at night. This is the maximum value for IBM-compatible PC machine which has 8 MB RAM physically. This is the maximum value for IBM-compatible PC machine which has 32 MB EDO RAM physically. This is the maximum value for LINUX. This is the maximum value for QED. This is the maximum value for SARGAN.
After reading the Basic Sample Programs in Examples, You can also look at TSP advanced programs from TSP Official Web Site

You can borrow TSP Reference Manual (Version 4.3), TSP User Guide (Version 4.3), and RATS 4.0 Manual and supplement manual from our QED system administrator, Julie McCarthy (DUN 331) at mccarthj@qed.econ.queensu.ca
Copyright @1997 Irene Chan
Last Modified: January 8, 1997
If you have any comments, please feel free to email me chani@qed.econ.queensu.ca

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UNIX RATS

To execute RATS in interactive mode, just type rats and hit Enter or Return key. RATS will bring up a ? prompt and will execute any instructions you enter. To quit the session , type end.

To execute RATS in batch mode in UNIX:
the output of the program first.prg is stored in first.out

the output is displayed to the terminal

The UNIX version do not include a built-in editor and on-line help like the DOS version. If you need more help, the RATS manuals are available to be signed out in Dunning 331 from Julie. There is no specific RATS manual for UNIX as the commands are the same as for the PC version.

UNIX RATS creates graphics files in its own RGF (Version 4.30) format. This RGF format is incompatible with previous versions. The UNIX RGF files can be downloaded, as binary files, to a personal computer for viewing and printing using the current DOS RATS386 (Version 4.20) GRAFEDIT program. Warning: There will be an error message and a core file whenever there is an "open plot graph.rgf" statement in the program. Further, don't execute the open plot statement interactively. I just could not exit to the UNIX prompt. My recommendation is to execute the batch program. Then, delete the core file (a garbage file). I have no problem of viewing the UNIX rgf file from my DOS rats386 grafedit utility.

The alternative solution for UNIX user is to print the graphics file using PostScript printer by. converting the GSP graphics files to PostScript format on qed using the program rgf2pst. The program expects an input and output file name as arguments on the command line. The input file is a graphics file created by RATS, and the output file will contain the equivalent PostScript code. For example the command:
It will create a PostScript file graph.pst which you can now print it QED PostScript printer only in DUN 211 or for viewing on a PostScript previewer using ghostviewer. Also, there is a brief information about this viewer in my Econ 815 Course Page

DOS RATS386

To execute RATS in batch mode in DOS:
the output of the program first.prg is stored in first.out , you need to put a comma between first.prg and first.out
the output is displayed to the terminal

Do not type RATS in dos prompt as this is a PC RATS version which is a limited version for 386 machine users! Type RATS386 for the full version of the software.

To execute RATS in interactive mode in DOS, type rats386 at DOS prompt The following screen appears:
click here to View the full screen

DOS RATS386 will start a RATS386 editor window named NONAME00.PRG{io} automatically. This window is being called NEW from the FILE menu. Unlike UNIX RATS, there is no ? prompt in that window, you just type in commands and DOS RATS386 will exceute any instructions whenever you hit Enter key.

The "{io}" notation in the NONAME00.PRG{io} of the window indicates that this window is both the "input" window and the "output" window. This means that we can execute instructions in this window, and that RATS will display any output generated by those instructions to this same window. You also have the option of using separate windows for input and output. The following screen appears: click here to View the full screen

An alternative option is that you can select Local from the bottom menu Ready/Local using mouse or by hitting CTRL + L key simultaneously, you can type in commands in block, RATS will not execute the commands even when you hit Enter key in order to go to next line as you are in Local mode. After finishing typing, you have to go back to Ready by selecting the bottom menu Ready/Local using mouse or by hitting CTRL + L again. Now, you can use mouse to select the block of commands and hit Enter key or select Go from the bottom menu of the window. This option is most convenient for loops.

If you want to execute your own written program file instead, use FILE menu to close the NONAME00.PRG{io} window and use FILE menu to open your own written program file. The DOS RATS386 has convenient features in both top and bottom menus of the window. For more advanced tips of using those windows, please drop by my office hours at DUN 350 (WED 10:00 - 11:30 am and THUR 11:30 - 1:00 pm).

DOS RATS386 has the nice GRAFEDIT and RATSDATA utility programs. The DOS RATS (Version 4.20, newer version) store the graphic file in its own RGF format, not the GSP format (Version 4.10 or older, UNIX). You can print this RGF format using laser / bubble jet printers or even DOT MATRIX (24-pin, I am not sure about the printer in DUN 350) printer from GRAFEDIT program. In addition, GRAFEDIT has the option of exporting its RGF graph format into LOTUS 123 (PIC format), HPGL (PLT format), and POSTSCRIPT (EPS format). My recommendation is Lotus PIC file because it can be exported easily to Microsoft Word, Excel, WordPerfect or Corel Draw for advanced publishing quality of graphs.

RATSDATA utility can transform spreadsheet, ascii or Dbase data format files into RATS own data format file (*.rat) or vice versa.

There is an excellent on-line help in DOS RATS386.