     This is the english README file. For german language consult LIESMICH.
                    Das deutsche "README" heisst LIESMICH.

              Z88 - The free Finite Elements Analysis Program 
              -----------------------------------------------
      by Professor Dr. Frank Rieg, University of Bayreuth, Germany 

              The Z88 homepages are: www.z88.de and www.z88.org

0) Z88 for LINUX is freeware according to the GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE !

   "The licenses for most software are designed to take away your freedom
   to share and change it.  By contrast, the GNU General Public License
   is intended to guarantee your freedom to share and change free software-
   -to make sure the software is free for all its users."

   See the full text of GNU GPL in the file COPYING.

1) You'll find the installation in the Z88 manual Z88MANE.PDF. However, Z88
   for LINUX should have installed properly if you've run 
                         rpm -i z88-10.0-1.i386.rpm
   
2) The Z88- rpm- file assumes the following:
   >>> Mozilla is installed. This browser is used for the online help system.
   >>> Nedit is installed. This small X11 text editor is used for editing
       the several Z88 files.    
   However, after installation, you may change the browser and the editor
   by editing the file
                                    z88.fcd

3) Z88 works totally in German or English depending of your choice !
   Not only the menus and outputs but also the online help system.
   English language is the default. If you want to switch to German, edit
   with an editor, e.g. vi, emacs, joe etcetera the header file
                                    z88.dyn
   DYNAMIC START is followed in approx. line 9 by the keyword ENGLISH or 
   GERMAN. Quit and restart Z88.

4) The rpm- installation script stores the Z88 files as follows:
              /usr/bin                    : the Z88 executables
              /usr/share/z88              : the other Z88 files
              /usr/share/doc/packages/z88 : the manuals

5) Start X11 (if not already launched), open an X-Terminal and launch Z88 
   from the X-Terminal by the script
                                      z88                                  
   This script copies the three very important Z88 files z88.fcd, z88.dyn and
   z88i4.txt into the working directory if they don't exist there. Then the
   Z88 Commander z88com is launched.
   However, it's a good idea to create your own Z88 working directory and to
   start Z88 from this Z88 working directory. Example: Your home directory is
   /home/harry. Add the subdirectory z88. Go to /home/harry/z88 and start Z88
   by "z88".
   Put the Z88-Commander and the X-Terminal which started the Z88-Commander
   side-by-side or over-and-under, in order to see both at a time. However, 
   the X-Terminal is used for input and output of various Z88 modules.
 
6) Basically, work as a normal user and pay attention to correct permissions
   for all files and the directory. Modify if in doubt. Do not work with
   super user authority. 

7) Switch to the page "5.1 Fork Wrench with Plane Stress Elements No.7"in
   the Z88 manual Z88MANE.PDF (or consult the online help by pressing the
   large "Z88 Commander" button - wait for the browser to start) and do your
   first FEA calculation, strictly following this recipe. Doing so should give
   you a good feeling how to work with Z88.

8) Proceed with the other examples. Look at the Z88 input and output
   files with an editor: "nedit" is default but"joe" (recall good old WordStar)
   is pretty and "vi", "emacs" etcetera are also okay. Or "gedit", "kedit".

9) ideas and bug-reports are always wellcome:

        frank.rieg@uni-bayreuth.de
        dr.frank.rieg@t-online.de

        And now fire away - enjoy Z88 !

        Z88 Version 10.0, May 29, 2003
        RPM release from May 29, 2003

        Professor Dr. Frank Rieg
        Chair for Engineering Design and CAD
        (Lehrstuhl fuer Konstruktionslehre und CAD)
        University of Bayreuth
        Germany 
        www.uni-bayreuth.de/departments/konstruktionslehre
