This illustrated tour highlights several of Phaser's most useful or novel features. While taking the tour, it is helpful to bear in mind that Phaser is organized about a Main Application primary window, supported by the Numerics Editor window for setting a wide variety of options. Several other windows (like the Gallery, for example) are available for more specialized tasks. The screen shots used here and within the tour are from the new Phaser 3.0 version (released in April 2007).
|
Phaser Main Application:
The Main Application window
is the display area for Phaser's Views, each implementing a distinct visualization technique
such as Phase Portrait, Bifurcation Diagram, 1-D Stair Stepper, or others. The Menu and Tool
bars placed above and below the graphical area provide convenient access to the entire Phaser
application.
|
|
Numerics Editor and Console:
The Numerics Editor window provides control over the Phaser Views. Its many sub-panels
logically group access to the equation and simulation parameters as well as to the graphical
qualities of the display. Each sub-panel has all modifiable options neatly laid out for
selection by the mouse or direct numeric entry.
|
|
Algorithms for Numerical Solutions:
The Algorithms panel within the Numerics Editor window allows for the selection of an
Algorithm and its control of their settings for numerical computations. The collection of
available algorithms range from the classical Euler and Runge-Kutta to their implicit
counterparts, and to the modern state-of-the-art explicit/implicit Dormand-Prince, ODEX,
and SEULEX!
|
|
Libraries of Equations (MAPs and ODEs):
A distinguishing feature of Phaser is its extensive and eclectic collection of built-in
Equation Libraries. The user can select, from a menu entry on the Main Application window,
any library equation for in-depth study. Each libarary equation comes suited with an
optionally loadable configuration of default numerical and graphical settings.
|
|
Equations Editor and Custom Equations:
New equations are easily created and edited with a special Equation Editor window. User-added
equations are kept in a Custom Equation Library and are controlled from the Numerics Editor
window in exactly the same manner as built-in equations. Custom equations used in Phaser
Projects authored by others may be imported into one's Custom Equation Library.
|
|
Gallery and Projects:
During simulations, the current numerical and graphical states of Phaser can be saved as
a Phaser Project. The Gallery window is a visually-organized workspace for multiple
Projects. Projects and Galleries can be loaded locally or over the Internet. Pictures from
the Gallery projects may be exported as image files (in serveral popular formats). The Gallery
further sports a SlideShow application for animation purposes.
|
|
Phaser Help:
The Phaser Help window is an extensive e-book, that includes the Phaser
reference manual and encyclopedic entries for the built-in library equations.
Also found on the Phaser Help window are carefully crafted step-by-step tutorials
designed to lead the user through all of Phaser's aspects and features. The help
contents are both indexed and searchable.
|
Please browse the subtopics of this tour to see examples of these capabilities. The images presented here and within the tour are actual screen shots from the new and greatly improved Phaser 3.0 Release running on our development and reference machine.