TNT

IF YOU NEED TO DOWNLOAD A BETA VERSION OF TNT,

READ THE FOLLOWING AND THEN DOWNLOAD TNT

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What is TNT?

TNT stands for Tree Analysis Using New Technology, a new program by Pablo Goloboff, Steve Farris, and Kevin Nixon. It is a program that can analyse large data sets (i.e. 300-500 taxa) in reasonable times (minutes to find a shortest tree, hours to produce a reliable consensus).  For some of the new methods already implemented in TNT, see:

Goloboff, P.A. 1999. Analyzing large data sets in reasonable times: solutions for composite optima. Cladistics 15(4): 415-428.

Nixon, K.C. 1999. The parsimony ratchet, a new method for rapid parsimony analysis. Cladistics 15(4): 407-414.

This is a very beta version, still far from complete. It has been posted here only for the following reasons:

(1) documenting the algorithms described in Cladistics 15(4).

(2) facilitating analysis of very difficult data sets, for people who can't deal with their data sets using current software.

Although the program is very beta, we are getting to the point where weíd appreciate some bug reports, for stuff other than searches (either ìtraditionalî and ìnew technologyî). Bug reports for tree diagnostics, consensing, etc., would be helpful, as long as the bugs reported are repeatable (i.e. accompanied by an exact description of the circumstances that cause the error).

Note that for some aspects of the analysis, the results will have to be imported/exported from/to NONA. The macro language is still very incomplete. We anticipate a release of a more polished Beta before 2002. There is still no documentation; only the "help" screen summarizes (some of) the commands.

Additionally, it must be stressed that the program, in its current state, will virtually be of no use for people working with small data sets. The "new technology" algorithms used will produce (on many small data sets) slower analyses than NONA. The difference arises only with large data sets.

Downloading and getting a password

Files

There are 5 executables for TNT.  They are all zipped within a file, TNTZIP.EXE, which is a self-extracting executable.Ý You have to run TNTZIP after you download the file.

The program will request for a password corresponding to a given "serial number." The program cannot be run without this password. If you think your analysis requires a program like TNT, send Pablo Goloboff ( instlillo@infovia.com.ar ) an email, briefly stating the reasons why you want to use the program, and stating that you understand this is a very beta version which we are distributing only to assist people in their analyses (TNT is not being posted up "just for the curious").Ý Please, be explicit.Ý Requests for passwords without specification of data set size or special features, will be ignored.

When writing to Pablo, include "para Pablo Goloboff" in the subject field of your email; this is a shared account.

NOTES

NOTE: in this version, data files MUST be in the same directory with the program. Uninformative characters may cause problems during searches; until this bug is solved, it's better to eliminate them (current version includes an option to do so, under ìDataî).

Download

DOWNLOAD TNT SELF-EXTRACTING EXECUTABLE for windows

If you have difficulty downloading, try clicking with the right mouse button and chosing "save target as..." or "Save to disk"