16 May 2006 -- Beta Distribution of GRBL2.

GRBL2_xxx.ZIP (where the xxx is a version number) contains the a set of  gauss program for
estimating a variety of economectric models.
Currently, a variety of discrete choice models are supported.

In addition, GSRUN5.ZIP is distributed seperately.

Note: current versions of these programs can be obtained from http://grbl.danielh.org/grbl2/

To install:

* Create a x:\GRBL2 directory (where x: is one of your hard drives)

* Copy GRBL2_xxx.ZIP to this directory.

* UNZIP it. Make sure that subdirectories are created!

* Run GAUSS version 5.0.
    If you don't have GAUSS 5.0, see below ...

* Run one of the several "compiled" GRBL2 programs; all of them have a .GCG extension.
  These include:
    * CVM.GCG : Several dichotoumos choice estimators, and robust computation of CVM
    * DISCRETE.GCG : a variety of MNL and single/double bounded models
    * REG.GCG      : a variety of linear regression models (OLS, TOBIT, FE panel, ...)
    * EDITDATA.GCG : View the contents of a GAUSS dataset
    * MAKEDATA.GCG : Create  & modify GAUSS datasets
    * SNP.GCG : Several semi-non-parametric estimators and CVM estimators
    * STATS.GCG : Compute a variety of statitics

If you don't have GAUSS 5.0, you can use the GAUSS 5.0 run time module. To install it:

 * Create a GSRUN50 subdirectory under x:\GRBL2
 * COpy GSRUN5.ZIP to this directory, and then unzip it.

The GRBL2 Program:

  GRBL2.GCG is a "control" program. If you have installed GSRUN.EXE in the GSRUN50 subdirectory of
  x:\GRBL2, then you can use GRBL2.GCG to choose which program to run.

  This adds no functionality, but it can be helpful if you are running several
  different programs sequentially.

The following documentation you may find useful:

   * CVM.TXT        -- Brief, and outdated, description of the CVM program.

   * DISCRETE.TXT   -- The manual for the DISCRETE program.

   * REG.TXT        -- The manual for the REG program.

   * DOUBLE.PDF     --  A complete description of DISCRETE's single and double bounded dichotomous
                        choice estimators. As MIXED.PDF, DOUBLE.PDF is easier to read, but less
	                extensive, than DISCTETE.TXT.


   * GRBL2_BATCH.TXT -- Describes the bells and whistles of "GRBL2" input files.
			Most of these progams use GRBL2 input files to specify models,
                        variables, etc.  You can do a lot in these input files (such as IF and
                        GOTO statements).

   * MIXED.PDF      -- A complete description of DISCRETE's mixed logit model; describing the
                       many variants supported, and how to run them.  MIXED.PDF is not as complete
		       DISCRETE.TXT (some of the minor options are not explained), but it should be
		       a lot easier to read.

   * MAKEDATA.TXT   -- Description of the MAKEDATA program.

   * SNP.TXT        -- Descrription of the SNP program (not very detailed)
              For a detailed description of the SNP models, see:
              Joseph Cooper.  "Nonparametric and Semi-Nonparametric Discrete
	      Choice Methods," Chapter in "The Handbook of Contingent Valuation",
              J. Kahn, D. Bjornstad, and A. Alberini (Eds.), forthcoming, 2000.
              Edgar Elgar, London.

   * STATS.TXT      -- Description of the STATS program

  BTW: MIXED.DOC and DOUBLE.DOC, in the SOURCE\DISCRETE directory,
       are MS word versions of the above PDF files.


Other directories:

The several directories created, when GRBL2xxx is unzipped, include:

  * HELP : on-line help files (used by some of the GRBL2 programs)
  * TEST : contains some test data sets and input files (still in beta, so they are kind of haphazard).
  * DATA : test data sets (currently empty)
  * SOURCE : the source code for the various programs (and the GRBL2 common components).


Questions: contact Daniel Hellerstein at 202 694 5613 or danielh@ers.usda.gov.


Note that this is a middle beta. Documentation WILL be improved. More models WILL be
supported.
