Nest-o-Patch Files

Nest-o-Patch version 1.2.
The program is distributed under the GPL v 3.0 license. Text of the license
must be included in the package which you have received. If it is not there,
the copy may be found at http://fsf.org/

1. Program description

This program was designed mainly for “preconditioning” and analysis of electro-
physiological data, including patch-clamp and 2-electrode voltage clamp recordings.

The program includes tools both for basic analysis of wholce-cell recordings and 
analysis of single channel properties. Single channel conductance, kinetics, 
NPo, as well as number of channels in a patch and their open probability may be 
estimated with the analysis of dwelling time at each conductance level.

The program directly reads files, created by Pulse and PatchMaster software (HEKA 
Elektronik Dr. Schulze GmbH) as well as ASCII files.

2. What's new in Nest-o-Patch 1.2 compared to 1.1

2.1 Functionality
- Butterworth and Bessel filters were replaced with Gauss and Moving average.
- Minimization of the sum of simple (unweighted) squares was added as a test for 
  binomial distribution fitting.
- Overlayed sections of a Trace can be exported into a multi-column csv table. 
  Selected portion is saved if a selection exists, complete trace if no selection 
  is defined. Note: this is write-only export; such table cannot be opened by 
  Nest-o-Patch.
- At a large zoom, markers for individual points of a Trace optionally may be shown.
- Options to use comma or semicolon in csv files is added. (Previous behaviour: 
  only semicolon was used; this is default option now).

2.2 Usability
- In the "Follow baseline" mode, last point can be removed by pressing [Backspace]. 
- A user can now leave "Follow baseline" mode by pressing [Esc] key. 
- Commands added to set vertical scale to the Borders or to the complete data range. 
- Keyboard can now be used for navigation along X axis.
- Buttons to visit official site of the program, to add bug report, to start a topic 
  in the forum and to write to the author were added to aboutbox.
- "Undo" and "Redo" buttons added, which allow to undo or repeat last Baseline 
  correction. "Redo" may be useful in 2 situations. (1), after unwanted pressing 
  "undo" button and (2) if you have for some reason reloaded a Trace.
- Additional Levels can now be added to an earlier defined set. In the Amplitude 
  histogram tab, Levels can be moved by a mouse.
- After Selection, not only borders of a selected fragment, but also its length 
  is reported in the Notebook. Therefore, this instrument may be effectively used 
  for measuring distances along X axis.     
- "Bubble" tips are used along with Satusbar for all speedbuttons. 
- New icons for many speedbuttons, hopefully more clear and less ugly.
- Statusbar tip created for almost every control in the program.
- Tab order is optimised.
- "Select all" for Trace now is enabled only when Tracesheet is active, which 
  makes possible to use Ctrl-A in the Notebook.

2.3 Bug fixes
- configuration file is saved not in the folder of the program, but in a
  user's local AppData directory. Therefore, it is possible to install Nest-o-Patch 
  to a normal "Program files" folder.
- "Wipe selection" deletes all points inside the selected area (earlier last one 
  was left; deletion of a single point was impossible).
- Scrollbar page and arrow work even at very large zoom.   
- Program will not irreversibly crash upon decreasing window size to minimum.
- Program will apply corrections to the whole Trace in linear view even when 
  highlight exists.

3. Package content
NSTPatch.exe: main program
ReadPulse.dll: readpulse library (needed for reading of Pulse files).
ReadPMaster.dll: readpmaster library (needed for reading of PatchMaster files).
NstPatchGuide1_2.pdf - Nest-o-Patch manual.
readme_1_2.txt - this text.

4. System requirements.

Operating systems supported: 
Windows XP or higher. 
Linux with "Wine" windows simulator.
(Tested on Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Wine)

Hardware: any computer running the abovementioned operating systems and 
3 MB of free space on hard drive.

5. Installation
Just copy nstpatch.exe, readpulse.dll, readpmaster.dll to any desired user directory.

The program creates nstpatch.ini file in the user's local software configuration folder.

6. Getting support and bugs report is possible at the official site:
https://sourceforge.net/projects/nestopatch/

Best way to report a bug is to open a ticket: 
https://sourceforge.net/p/nestopatch/tickets/ 
Alternatively, you may post your questions and suggestions at the forum: 
https://sourceforge.net/p/nestopatch/discussion/
or contact the author directly:
viatcheslav.nesterov@gmail.com