STATIC/EX 1.10: new release, new features

Today, August 22, 2025, an updated release of the STATIC/EX, multivariate statistics calculator, is published. New features are added, standard testing has been carried out on all available functions. As soon as the executable code builds for the Microsoft Windows 32-bit platforms for Intel/AMD processors (i386-win32) and Microsoft Windows 64-bit platforms for Intel/AMD processors (x86_64-win64) are ready, they will be posted in the usual place, http://sourceforge.net/projects/jacobi-static, folder STATIC-1.10. Documentation (including description of directives) is available to subscribers of the group http://groups.io/g/Static. If necessary, use any of the available online translators.

A fundamental innovation is the mechanism of «peeping» into live data, which is currently in the data matrix processed by the calculator. The previously existing capabilities of visual representation of already formed and recorded data files in the form of an interactive table are supplemented by the ability to visualize the contents of the RAM of the running program in the same way. In this regard, the composition and total volume of the system has increased somewhat. If this circumstance is critical for any user, use the proven compact release STATIC/EX 1.09.011 (it is located there, in the STATIC-1.09 folder). At the moment, the language implementation and the set of JACOBI directives are absolutely identical for both releases.

The published executable code does not require any special actions to install on a computer (it is quite enough to copy the files to a folder allocated for the system and run them from there – or configure access to the folder through the PATH variable of the Windows environment). As usual, all source codes of the programs included in the system are published along with the executable code. Those who wish can try to compile them themselves (for example, if they are tormented by the question of the presence of some «spying code» or viruses in my programs). I used the Lazarus 3.4 environment for compilation (version from 05/24/2024; includes the FPC compiler version 3.2.2). When creating the STATIC/EX system, no additional components or libraries developed or supplied by third parties were used. I declare all the program code I created to be in the public domain, and I ask only one thing – when using this code (in whole or in part), provide information about me as a developer visible to the end user.

1. COMPOSITION

The STATIX/EX system, starting with release 1.10.012, includes the following programs:

• Static.exe – a calculator itself, an interactive console application. Works in any Windows console window, includes a built-in data exchange server. Accepts command lines, which are JACOBI language directives. An additional message window of the built-in server (opens on request) is available through an icon in the notification area.
• Spector.exe – an interactive data «viewer», a window application; at the same time it is a client designed to interact with the built-in data exchange server. When launched, it opens its own window.
• Tester.exe – interactive test client for interaction with the built-in data exchange server, window application. The opening window allows sending commands to the server, there is a menu for this.

2. PURPOSE

The STATIC/EX system is designed to:

• For training users with computer skills and interest in multivariate statistics.
• For scientific and other data researchers, that identifies patterns and features presented by the data being studied.

The system supports both interactive and batch modes of operation. In interactive mode, interaction with the user is carried out through sequential input of JACOBI directives, the results are displayed in the same console window immediately after the execution of the directives. In batch mode, the sequence of directives is specified by lines of a text file (the .jac extension emphasizes that the file is a program in the JACOBI language); programs can be nested and use parameters passed to them when called.

The system allows:

• to practice the skills of initial formation of a data matrix and various manipulations with it:
  • data entry, including directly from the command line
  • splitting a data set into several and merging several data sets
  • flexible management of data samples (for almost every processing step, you can specify your own set of objects and/or features)
  • saving data to a file and reading it from a file (standard .std files and Comma-Separated-Values, .csv – a sequence of lines of numbers with separators)
  • calculation of a set of traditional statistical parameters of the sample (for each feature – the number of values presented, the minimum, maximum and average value of the feature, its dispersion, standard deviation and error)
  • data transformation (recalculation of values – change via a constant, standard function, or via the values of attributes, one or more)
  • data cleaning from contamination
  • principal component processing
  • obtaining a matrix of eigenvectors, a row of eigenvalues, a matrix of pair correlations (covariances, second moments – depending on the context)
  • visual representation of «phase portraits» in the form of clouds of scattering of objects and spatial distribution of features
  • saving for further use (for example, when preparing publications) the results of statistical processing in the form of .csv files
• conduct statistical studies that reveal:
  • the level of statistically significant proportion of information contained in the data being studied (assessment of the level of “signal” and “noise”)
  • internal patterns consisting of manifestations of the action of independent factors
  • the nature and content of the identified factors, based on correlations between features and their contributions to the eigenvectors
  • autocorrelations for time series with arbitrary lag
  • clustering of scattering clouds of objects, both in the space of original features and in the space of principal components
  • interrelation of features through projections onto phase planes of principal components
  • cyclical (quasi-cyclical) manifestations of processes represented by time series

3. INTERFACE

In the part of the Static multivariate statistics calculator, the system supports a bilingual interface with the end user: queries in Russian are answered in Russian using Russian terminology, and queries in English are answered in English.

The Spector and Tester programs use English in their menus and diagnostic messages; since they do not have many controls, it is not practical to create a duplicate Russian presentation for them.

4. LOGGING

The Static calculator keeps a task execution log (on request), generated as a text file with the .lst extension; the width of the log lines, unless otherwise specified, corresponds to the set console window width (in characters). The log displays the executed directives and their execution results. Directives related to JACOBI programs are displayed in the log with an indication of the nesting level.

5. VIEWING DATA

The data is visually displayed using the Spector program, which automatically detects when launched whether an instance of the Static calculator is already running in the Windows environment (connection is only supported with one instance!). By default, Spector has the automatic connection to the server and automatic reception of data updates modes disabled.

When the asterisk is «highlighted», it means that a Static instance has been found in the Windows environment that you can connect to. Once you connect to the server, the next icon changes highlighting (data refresh).

Spector upon request for an update, sends a command to the server, in response to which the server sends all the information contained in the data matrix (at the current moment): a data description line and all feature values, for all objects. The received data is displayed as an interactive table, for ease of use, various sorting options are supported (by identifiers of rows – objects and columns – features, as well as by feature values in rows or columns).

For convenience, you can enable automatic connection to the server and/or automatic reception of data updates, in any combination. In case of automatic connection enabled, when Static is launched, a connection will be established with all similar instances of Spector. Every time the data in Static changes, the server notifies all connected clients (Spector, Tester).

If automatic data refresh is enabled for the Spector instance, the contents of the displayed table will change. Refreshing does not occur if Static is running in batch mode or if the program is running in interactive mode. In this case, whenever this is necessary, you must request refreshing manually (by pressing Ctrl+U, or using the menu item or icon on the Spector window toolbar).

If a previously recorded file (.std or .csv) is opened for viewing, the connection to the server is disconnected. In this case, automatic modes are not supported (they will resume after the file is closed). You can switch between viewing «live data» and file contents at any time. «Live data» can also be written to a file at any time.

6. SETTINGS

The program settings are contained in the static.ini and spector.ini files, the Tester program has no settings. These files contain text divided into sections; each setting is represented by a parameter line in the corresponding section. Below are only the essential settings, with the necessary explanations.

STATIC.INI file:

  [Bounds]
      Objects=50000     – the maximum number of objects (rows) in the data matrix
      Attributes=10000  – maximum number of features (columns) in a data matrix
  [Format]
      Width=5           – width of the numeric field when outputting to the protocol, by default
  [Files]
      Exec=.\.exec\     – path to the folder with additional programs (in JACOBI language)
      Data=.\.data\     – default path to standard (.std) format data files
      Save=.\.save\     – default path to .csv data files

SPECTOR.INI file:

  [Accept]
      Connections=0     – automatic connection to server (0 off, 1 on)
      Updates=0         – automatic reception of data updates (0 off, 1 on)