NumXL Release Notes

(January 26th, 2012) - NumXL 1.52.40934.5 - New version

1. Revamped support for generalized linear models (GLM):
   • Added a new menu, toolbar and Wizard to assist user with GLM construction
   • Added support for two new link functions: probit and complementary log-log, for the Binomial GLM
   • Added support for calibration using Excel solver.
   • Added residual diagnosis and Goodness-of-fit functions (e.g. GLM_LLFⁱ, GLM_AICⁱ, GLM_RSQ).
2. Fixed an issue in license manager related to network time-out during the activation process.

(January 20th, 2012) - NumXL 1.51.40927.3 - Maintenance release (IV)

1. Resolved issues related to regional/international settings on non-English Windows and Microsoft office (e.g. decimal point interpretation, solver add-in listing, etc.
   (blog: Issues reported with Spanish version of Excel )
2. Resolved an issue related to MS Excel Solver 2010 which yield to sub-optimal calibration. This was due to a new default (introduced for Excel 2010) for Non-negative values constraints.
   (FAQ: The calibration with Excel 2010 Solver does not give optimal coefficients.)
3. Fixed an issue related to missing first constraint (stable model check) in the Excel Solver Dialog Box. This issue related to a limitation on Excel Solver, but we added a workaround for it.
   (FAQ: Why does the calibration function in NumXL shows the constraint's rhs of 0.9999?)

(December 30th, 2011) - NumXL 1.51.40907.5 (ORB)- Maintenance release (III)

1. Fix for Ticket #901734 - AIRLINE_FORESD over-estimates the forecast errors and the forecast confidence interval.

(November 16th, 2011) - NumXL 1.51.40863.1 (ORB)- Maintenance release (II)

1. Minor enhancement and fixes for license activation.

(November 11th, 2011) - NumXL 1.51.40857.1 (ORB)- Maintenance release (I)

1. Several Enhancements to the license Manager.
2. Minor fixes for license activation for trial and permanent-key users.

(September 23th, 2011) - NumXL 1.51 (ORB) - Maintenance Release

1. improvement product diagnosis and troubleshooting
2. major enhancement on the license management
   
   • retrieve license key
   • generate new license key automatically
3. forms made simpler
4. integrated with new manual activation form online, for activation code
5. various minor fixes

(June 14th, 2011) - NumXL 1.5 (FINAL) - Official Release

Installation

1. [NEW] (Start Menu) Custom icons, shortcuts
2. [NEW] (Start Menu) NumXL is now stored in own folder, rather than under Spider Financial
3. [NEW] (Start Menu) License Manager and uninstallation now available
4. [NEW] Can detect previous installation (SP3 and lower)
5. [NEW] Can detect whether Excel is running before installing or uninstalling
6. [REVISED] Installation time and pages have been cut down, enhancing user experience by removing unnecessary steps
7. [REVISED] Enhanced installation readability, use, and stability
8. [REVISED] Enhanced support for single-user installation
9. [UPDATED] New graphics, logo
10. [UPDATED] (License Manager) automatically launches at the end of installation, is not dependent on the installation any more (can be launched at a later time)
11. [UPDATED] (License Manager) Direct Connection automatically shows license key, if available/activated previously
12. [UPDATED] (License Manager) Manual Activation includes license key, if available, and machine ID
13. [FIXES] Miscellaneous code fixes and enhancements
14. [REMOVED] Documentation and case-studies from installation, moved to website

User Interface (UI)

1. [NEW] Airline, Forecast Models
2. [NEW] Nag Window
3. [NEW] Excel 2003 has now custom icons relevant to NumXL
4. [UPDATED] Excel 2007 and 2010 icons
5. [FIXES] Enhances usability, miscellaneous fixes

Documentation

1. [UPDATED] New models, examples
2. [MOVED] Moved the documentation from the installer to the website
3. [REVISED] Help file

(September 2nd, 2010) - NumXL 1.0 (SP3) - Maintenance Release

1. Fixed Issue: Using the toolbar/menu in Excel XP (2002) triggers a compiler error.
2. Fixed Issue: The installer program does not support MS Excel/Office 2010.
3. No code/feature change.

(January 30th, 2010) - NumXL 1.0 (SP2) - Maintenance Release

1. Fixed Issue: The spreadsheet examples (tutorial & case studies) were not updated to reflect the latest changes.
2. No code/feature change.

(January 26th, 2010) - NumXL 1.0 (SP2) - Maintenance Release

1. Fixed Issue: GARCHⁱ/EGARCHⁱ out-of-sample volatility forecast does not mean-revert to long-run value.
2. Fixed Issue: How can I construct an EGARCH model and to forecast the long-run average volatility.
3. Fixed Issue: Cannot use keyboard shortcuts to select ranges.
4. Fixed Issue: A missing leading zero in significance level field locks up excel.
5. Fixed Issue: NumXL VBAⁱ compile errors.
6. Minor Enhancements:
   • Revised the arguments list for EWMAⁱ and EWXCF.
   • Revised the arguments list for GARCH/EGARCH/GARCHM_FORESD.
   • Support for term structure volatility forecast.
   • NumXL dialog pops up on Excel main window upon startup (and is never hidden).
   • A splash window pops up for 3 seconds upon Excel startup.

(January 5th, 2010) - NumXL 1.0 (SP1) - License support

1. Activated the license management subsystem. The downloaded add-in operates in professional mode during the trial period. Afterward, the add-in reverts to lite (function-restricted) mode.
2. No code/feature change.

(October 6th, 2009) - NumXL 1.0 - Security release

1. Complying with software industry security policy and practices, the NumXL 1.0 package is signed using a CA-issued digital certificate to ensure authenticity and integrity.
2. No code/feature change.

(October 1st, 2009) - NumXL 1.0

1. Added Function, EWXCF, to compute the correlation time series using exponential weighted volatility and covariance.
2. Added Functions to calibrate the user's model(s). The need for such functions arises in the model's parameter stability and back-testing using rolling windows.
3. Added Support for building hybrid models (e.g. ARMAⁱ for the mean and GARCH for the vol, GLM+ARMA for the mean and EGARCH for the vol, etc.)
4. Added Generalized Linear Model (GLM) to the list of supported models. The GLM is introduced to present linear models for exogenous factors (e.g. calendar events, economical data, etc.)
5. MINOR: NumXL clears any messages posted to Excel's status bar upon loading.
6. Added Calibration (i.e. model fitting) functionality to NumXL UI's menu and toolbar. Upon selection, NumXL initializes the Solver's Add-in fields with the selected model's values and launches it on screen.

(July 24th, 2009) - NumXL 1.0 RC

1. Added Toolbars and Menu - A new add-in (NumXL UI), written in VBA, is designed to assist our users to automate the process of data analysis. The new add-in includes a dialog box and wizard to capture user's input and insert the corresponding analysis blocks (with equations) into an Excel worksheet.
2. Added Tutorial Document to introduce basic principles of data analysis using NumXL. An online version is available as well.
3. Redesigned Function Categories to ease finding specific NumXL functions.
4. Fixed Minor Issues in the help file related to the tree view.
5. Fixed Minor Problems in the installer with regard to registering the add-in with Excel.
6. Removed Functions - TSAVG, TSSD, TSSKEW and TSXKURT: With the introduction of RMNA, our users can use Excel's built-in functions to acheive the same goal. For instance, TSAVG(Data) is now equivalent to AVERAGE(RMNA(Data)).
7. Added Function - RMNA: RMNA removes missing values (#NA) from a given data set while preserving the original order of the series.
8. Performance Revision - Revised the INTERPOLATE function to accept an array of target values and return an array of values.