MODLER BLUE is an integrated parameter estimation and data management package that permits a variety of supplementary operations to be performed. For instance, in addition to functioning as a standalone regression program, it allows the estimation, formation, modification and maintenance of econometric models containing from 1 to 1000 equations. These models can be linear or non-linear, simultaneous or recursive, and dynamic or static. They can contain as many as 1200 variables, plus 3500 constant parameters, either estimated or specified a priori.

More generally, the package provides comprehensive data base maintenance facilities, a wide range of general data analysis options, including the capability to generate pseudo random variates, and high quality screen and hard-copy graphics displays, both analytical and presentation quality. The program is thus designed to provide both large-scale number crunching capabilities and the means to produce attractive and informative reports and other presentation materials. A salient feature of the program is its ability to document in detail each aspect of the parameter estimation process, thus potentially providing a complete audit trail.

It can be licensed as a single system or in quantity. All prices include one year's updates, improvements, and unlimited telephone/Email support. On-site training can be provided and an optional yearly AlphaPlus support agreement is available that provides support, updates, and improvements in the second and subsequent years.

The program runs on standard IBM-compatible microcomputers, including notebooks and sub-notebooks. It is compatible with Windows 3.x, Windows 9.x, Windows NT, and Windows 2000. Legacy support for MS/PC/DR DOS is also available. As relevant, the software requires the use of a numeric coprocessor and less than 3 megabytes of hard disk space. Network versions are available for Novell and other network operating systems. Conformable mainframe and minicomputer versions are also available.

The process of evaluating specifications and estimating parameters, particularly when using simultaneous equation techniques, can be data intensive. MODLER BLUE offers scalable time series data base maintenance facilities equal to the demands of any likely task. To provide flexibility and security, it permits the creation and maintenance of both permanent data banks and temporary workspace (Memory) files. Each data bank can contain as many as 10,000 time series, each with a maximum of 1600 observations; as many as 15 such data banks can be accessed simultaneously. Memory Files can store up to 500 series with the same characteristics. In addition, powerful import and export facilities are available to permit the transfer of data between it and other environments, including both government sources, vendors who supply data bases in MODLER data bank format, and the multiplicity of Internet websites.

Internally, MODLER BLUE provides an extensive set of data management functions, operators and features, including Census X-11 quarterly and monthly seasonal adjustment, as well as a wide range of mathematical, statistical, relational, and logical operators; optionally MODLER also supports weekly seasonal adjustment. The platform has the further capability to generate easily such analytic aids as pseudo random variates, correlation matrices and several types of growth triangles. The standard data observation frequencies include weekly, bi-weekly, ten day, lunar, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, semi-annual, annual, and various fiscal and agricultural year frequencies. Under user control, automatic frequency conversion is fully supported.

MODLER BLUE offers a number of access aids. Data Banks and Memory Files are all component-level documented. Moreover, this documentation, which includes that for individual series, can be displayed whole or in part in order to assist in the identification and retrieval of these series. In addition, both series names and documentation can be keyword searched to find particular items. Index and Find buttons appear on dialogue boxes whenever such information is likely to be helpful. As appropriate, a Macro button also appears to allow macro file segments to be included in current commands, thus obviating needless re-keying, not to mention context specific help.

Presentation quality data display features include line graphs, bar charts, dated points, mixed line-bar, and stacked bar charts. Each may be specified as plots of one or more series or expressions against time, or as plots of series or expressions against some other series. Log and semi-log scale plots are supported as well as plots with dual y-axis scales, grid lines and other features. Full screen editing of screen graphics displays is also supported, allowing labels, notes and comments to be placed anywhere. In addition, displays may be saved, generally to the Clipboard, but also JPG, GIF and other such files in order to integrate both text and graphics into reports or support the generation of Web pages. It is additionally possible to autogenerate template macros that permit graphs to be reproduced later using the same or an updated data set.

The regression methods currently supported include:

• Ordinary Least Squares
• Restricted Least Squares
• Ordinary Ridge Regression
• Weighted Least Squares
• Generalized Least Squares
• Two Stage Least Squares
• Polynomial Distributed Lags
• Autoregressive corrections
• Cochrane-Orcutt
• Hildreth-Lu
• Prais-Winsten
• Durbin

These options may be combined whenever the algorithmic operations involved are inherently compatible. Furthermore, commands may include embedded expressions that can even combine mathematical, logical, relational, and statistical operators and functions, both for dependent and regressor variables.

The usual range of supporting regression statistics and tests are provided, including the basic t-statistics, R2, and Durbin-Watson, plus a very wide range of other useful statistics such as the Log Likelihood function, Durbin h, Schwarz Criterion, Akaike Information Criterion, and tests such as unit root, structural stability and specification tests. MODLER also incorporates various estimation support facilities, including regressor term DROP and ADD commands, the capability to save residual and predicted sample period values, and provisions for making disk or hard copies of most displays; it is also possible to archive both commands and estimation results.

MODLER BLUE is evolutionary in its offerings but is not intended to be a specialty regression package; by design, its focus is on the standard methods commonly used for simultaneous equation models. However, its data link facilities encourage, permit and support the joint use of specialist packages such as MicroFit, TSP, and LimDep, thus offering its users the best of both worlds.

Although it does not permit multi-equation models to be solved, MODLER BLUE provides the capability to create or modify them. The model construction facilities include the ability to autocode estimated equations, to replace or edit existing model equations, and to automatically normalize and renormalize equations analytically with respect to any current period included variables; provided of course that an appropriate inverse exists. Equations can also be normalized or renormalized manually.

Once estimated, models can be changed in various ways. Equations can be copied from one model to another or from one part of a model to another. Alternatively, equations may be directly inserted. With some editing, models estimated in other packages can be incorporated; in particular, it is quite easy to include models created in packages such as AREMOS, EPS, EViews, TROLL, and XSIM. MODLER BLUE and its data can also be used in conjunction with third-party specialist packages such as WinSolve.

Models and model equations can be edited using a fully integrated equation text editor. Models can also be constructed by merging smaller models, which can be simply groups of equations - any group of equations can be treated as a model. These conventions allow models to be built piece-by-piece.

MODLER BLUE is designed to be used with other software, both other members of the MODLER software family and unrelated packages: Data can be imported and exported using standard data interchange formats, including ASCII, Lotus 1-2-3, and TSD. The program can also directly read from spreadsheet cells. More generally, MODLER's DataClp technology permits the capture of text based data from web pages, textfiles and other sources. This facility is extremely flexible in operation: the files can take the form of documents or those that are formatted as data tables. As indicated, they can be located on your machine or they may originate as Internet Web pages. In addition, the observations can be captured singly or as a chronological group. Furthermore, on a custom basis, MODLER BLUE can be integrated into corporate data based systems that are based on standard DBMS technologies.

Virtually all forms of MODLER BLUE output can be incorporated into textual reports, spreadsheet tables, and other displays. Data can be directly copied cell-by-cell to spreadsheet files, and to the files of other relevant number-oriented packages. Provisions also exist to export directly to desktop publishing and advanced word processing packages; the packages specifically supported include Pagemaker, Ventura Publisher, Word, Word Pro, and Word Perfect.

Depending upon the specific application, MODLER BLUE can be operated either using commands or the Windows interface by means of menus, icons, and dialog boxes. Using these Windows facilities, it is also possible to generate automatically macro commands that can be captured in order to perform repetitive periodic operations. In general, commands can be entered interactively or formed into macros that can be preserved from one session to the next. Users who have programming skills, or access to these, can also create programs using Visual Basic, Delphi, or even programming languages such as C/C++ or Fortran, that incorporate MODLER BLUE capabilities.

MODLER offers several types of online help facilities, both general and context specific. The standard help file offers multiple help levels, so as to provide the appropriate amount of help needed in each individual case; application specific help files can be organized in the same way. Users can produce hard copy using the incorporated Print command and can also annotate and otherwise personalize the help pages.