WISER for Windows - README
Version 4.4
WISER web site: http://wiser.nlm.nih.gov
Provided by the Specialized Information Services Division (SIS)
of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM)
Contents
WISER Overview
The Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) is a system
concept for providing First Responders at the scene of hazardous material
incidents - chemical, biological, or radioactive - with integrated information,
decision support, and communications. The WISER application assists First
Responders in rapidly determining the substance involved, including aiding in
the identification of unknown substances. Once a substance is identified, WISER
quickly and conveniently provides critical information regarding the substance,
allowing the necessary immediate actions to be taken to minimize the effects of
the HAZMAT incident and thus save lives and protect the environment.
Substance information and identification properties come from the
Hazardous
Substances Data Bank (HSDB), developed and maintained by the National Library
of Medicine. WISER contains HSDB information and decision support logic for 440+
substances. The substances were chosen based on First Responder inputs, degree
of chemical hazard, and historical frequency of incidents.
WISER currently exists as a standalone application for
- Windows Mobile PDAs (Pocket PC and Smartphone)
- Palm OS PDAs
- Microsoft Windows PCs (desktop/laptop/tablet PCs/mobile data terminals)
- PC and mobile based Internet browsers
(WebWISER)
For further information, please see the WISER web site.
For help using WISER, see the Quick Start Guide and User Guide documents that are installed
with the application.
Disclaimer
The U.S. Government does not warrant or assume any legal liability or
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any
information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed.
It is not the intention of NLM to provide specific medical advice to the
public, but rather to provide users with information to better understand
their health.
NLM does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, process, or
services.
System Requirements
A personal computer with Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later.
- At least 128 MB of RAM is recommended.
- At least 22 MB of hard disk space is required; more will be required if
the Microsoft .NET Framework must be installed.
WISER is dependent on the Microsoft .NET Framework v3.5 Service Pack 1. The
WISER setup program will install this system dependency automatically if it
detects it does not already exist on your computer. Its installation requires
administrative privileges and could require as much as 500 MB of hard disk,
depending on your computer.
Installation
The latest version can be downloaded here.
Simply execute the setup program, WISER_Windows_Setup.exe, and follow the
instructions.
If the Microsoft .NET Framework dependency indicated above is not detected
on the target computer, it will be automatically installed. If the WISER
setup was downloaded (as opposed to a CD distribution), then this dependency
must first be downloaded; again this will be performed automatically,
and only if necessary.
If the .NET Framework dependency gets installed, it is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that
you verify you have the latest updates for it by running
Windows Update. In particular,
service pack and security updates may be available.
NOTE WELL:
If the Microsoft .NET Framework needs to be downloaded, be aware that it
is large, and thus the download and installation may take some time.
If desired, the Microsoft .NET Framework V3.5 SP1 can be manually downloaded and
installed from
here
the following site before attempting to install WISER.
Checking for Updates
By default, if an Internet connection is available, WISER will automatically
check the WISER web site to see if updates are available each time that it is
started. This option is user configurable, and updates checks can always be
manually initiated.
The first time WISER is run a "WISER Update" dialog prompts you to verify
that WISER should automatically check for updates. If you answer "Yes", the
WISER web site is checked for a new version of WISER each time WISER is
started. If your version is the latest, or if an Internet connection is
unavailable, this check will be transparent. If an update is available, a
"WISER Update" dialog will prompt if you would like to download it. If you
do, a browser window will open at the download page of the WISER web site,
and you can proceed with downloading and installing the new version. If you
choose not to upgrade, then you will continue to be prompted each time WISER
is started until the upgrade is performed.
You can change your preference for automatic update checks as follows:
- Run WISER
- From the File menu, choose "Preferences..."
- Set the Automatic Updates option as desired
Regardless of this setting, you can always manually initiate an update
check by choosing the "Check for Updates..." option from WISER's help menu.
Upgrading
If a previous version of WISER already exists on your PC, it will be
automatically upgraded during the installation of the new version. Any
user information (preferences and saved searches) will be retained.
Uninstalling
Uninstall WISER using Add/Remove Programs in the Windows Control Panel.
Note that WISER may have resulted in the installation of the Microsoft .NET
Framework v3.5. Uninstall this only if you are sure no other programs depend
on it.
User Registration
On the download pages of the WISER web site, and at the end of the WISER setup
program, users are encouraged to register if they have not already done so.
Registration consists of subscribing to an e-mail list (the WISER ListServ),
which is used to send important announcements about WISER, such as data updates,
new functionality, bug fixes, and other important news.
Registration is optional, but because such WISER updates could be critical for the
accurate and safe use of the information WISER provides, we strongly encourage our
users to register. Only an e-mail address is required, and you can unsubscribe at
any time. We will not release or use your information for any other purpose, and
we assure you that any e-mail we send will be infrequent and concise.
Known Issues
Parts of WISER for Windows will not display properly unless the normal (default)
setting is used for the DPI scaling (font size) option. If there are issues with
text/controls getting clipped or not sized properly, then verify this setting as
follows:
Windows XP
- In an open area of your Windows desktop, right-click and select Properties
from the resulting pop-up menu.
- Select the Settings tab.
- Press the Advanced button.
- You should see a "DPI setting" drop-down list. The "Normal size"
option must be selected for WISER to display properly.
Windows Vista
- In an open area of your Windows desktop, right-click and select Personalize
from the resulting pop-up menu.
- In the Tasks on the left, select "Adjust font size (DPI)" (note that
administrative privileges are required).
- In the resulting DPI Scaling dialog, the "Default scale"
option must be selected for WISER to display properly.
Windows 7
- In an open area of your Windows desktop, right-click and select Personalize
from the resulting pop-up menu.
- In the Control Panel options on the left, select "Set custom text size (DPI)" (note that
administrative privileges are required).
- In the resulting DPI Scaling dialog, the "Scale to this percentage of normal
size" setting must be set to 100% for WISER to display properly.
Release History
4.4.116 - 03/11/2010
- Fixed issues found on Windows 7 64-bit
4.4.109 - 03/08/2011
- WISER for Windows rolls out a new, interactive Chemical Reactivity capability
- 19 new substances introduced, including substances in the news such as Crude Oil, Corexit 9500, and Corexit 9527
- All WISER platforms include data updates based on the latest Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB), Radiation Event Medical Management (REMM), Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) for biological agents, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (EPA AEGLs) content.
- Many miscellaneous usability improvements and fixes
4.3.216 - 01/18/2010
- Tools now appear when launching WISER through the integration package.
- Fixed an issue caused by bringing up two protective maps without
specifying an address.
4.3.212 - 11/24/2009
- Fixed issues with opening the previous search, help identify print, and
substance comparison windows.
- Reimplemented the installation check for a running version of WISER.
4.3.208 - 11/10/2009
- Fixed an issue with internet connectivity verification.
4.3.202 - 9/25/2009
- Improved support for low resolution displays during application startup
4.3.199 - 8/24/2009
- The auto update dialog no longer becomes hidden during start up.
4.3.191 - 8/21/2009
- New and improved user interface
- known substance list and unknown identification results list are always visible; reduced navigation; more intuitive
- enhanced data menu maintains context of previous selection and can be kept open for quick navigation
- auto-arrange features for viewing multiple substances
- substance comparison feature
- Link to user preferences from maps and allow immediate application of user preference updates
- Data updates based on the latest HSBD, REMM, CIDRAP (biological agents), and EPA AEGL content
- Miscellaneous fixes, usability improvements
4.2.176 - 4/12/2009
- Fix map painting issues caused by Microsoft Virtual Earth changes
4.2.175 - 2/23/2009
- Add printing support for protective distance mapping view
- Update CoBRA integration to be compatible with CoBRA 4.3
- Bug fixes:
- Draw lines on top of map overlays so not obscured by the filled regions
- Map option for standard vs. metric units may not initialize properly
for non-U.S. culture settings
- "Hide unit labels on map" checkbox was nonfunctional
- A certain scenario would cause Chlorine Dioxide map overlay to be
incorrect (all-directions vs. downwind distance issue)
- Non-default dpi setting caused right/bottom clipping of help-identify window
4.2.151 - 1/15/2009
- fix proxy-server compatibility issues for mapping and check-for-updates features
- fix crash if use edit menu on map location text boxes
- fix for wrong context-sensitive help page displayed after switching from map to data view
4.2.140 - 12/17/2008
- Rad reference materials: sync with REMM source content
- Mappings: guide 145, 146, 148 evac distance is in all directions
4.2.137 - 12/12/2008
- Add printing ability to the ERG tool
- Bug fix: non-US culture settings result incorrect distance overlays for the mapping
- Bug fix: installer was verifying .NET 3.5, but not SP1
4.2.128 - 12/15/2008
- Bug fix: auto-update user preference not saved
4.2.126 - 12/4/2008
- Add mapping feature with protective distance overlay
- Add Transport (placards/rail cars/road trailers) to Help Identify Unknown feature
- Add signs/symptoms imagery to biological agents
- Data updates based on the latest HSBD, REMM, CIDRAP (biological agents), and EPA AEGL content
- New substances: p-Cresol, Dicrotophos, Acrylamide, and Ethyl Acetate
- Account for ERG 2008 errata
- Improved user interface for results list grouping in Help Identify Unknown feature
- Many miscellaneous user interface enhancements and fixes
- Migrated to v3.5 SP1 of the Microsoft .NET Framework
4.1.41 - 4/30/2008
- Bug fix: double-clicking column headings in ERG list can cause a crash
4.1.39 - 4/24/2008
- ERG 2008 update
- Add find-by-guide and find-substance-for guide to ERG Tool
- Misc. ERG Tool enhancements
- Add picocuries and terabecquerels to radiation unit converter
- Support for 64-bit Windows
4.0 - 3/12/2008
- Add biological substance data
- Add WMD Response Guidebook data
- Add additional substance categories for WMD agents
- Add Radiation Unit Conversion tool
- Add automatic update check
- Data updates based on the latest HSBD
- Updated AEGL data
- New substance: Sodium Nitrate
- Miscellaneous app and data maintenance and enhancements
3.1.52 - 11/3/2007
- Updates for compatibility with new CoBRA 4.2 release
3.1.46 - 10/1/2007
- Write temporary html files to user app data folder to avoid security issues
3.1.45 - 7/12/2007
- Reinsert "license" display in setup wizard
3.1.44 - 7/11/2007
- Fix Vista installation issue (virtualization of wiser.db)
3.1.35 - 7/6/2007
- Add enhanced substance printing capability
- Updated AEGL data
- Fix display of NFPA 704 health hazard values
- Make tools (rad, ERG) available in 3rd-party integration support
- Fix searching in 3rd-party integration support (e.g., CoBRA)
- Fix printing in the reference document viewer
- Miscellaneous minor fixes and enhancements.
3.0.354 - 6/1/2007
- Fix CoBRA integration issues
3.0.351 - 5/29/2007
- Add radioisotopes to the substance list
- Add substance category filtering to the substance list
- Support wild-card searches in the substance list
- Add substance categories to Help Identify Unknown Substance feature
- Add ERG 2004 tool
- Add tools/reference materials in support of radiological events
- Add 9 new chemical substances
- Sync data with the latest HSDB
2.3.231 - 1/30/2007
- Upgrade System.Data.SQLite.DLL to v1.0.39.1; fixes "cryptographic provider
not available" error encountered by a couple users
2.3.230 - 11/30/2006
- Migrated to v2.0 of the Microsoft .NET Framework
- Database migrated to SQLite; system dependencies for database no longer exist
- Enhanced support for 3rd-party integration
- Database upgraded to latest HSDB content
- Added new substances: Acrylic Acid and Ethyl Methyl Ether
- Added new data item: Ionization Potential (see Physical Properties data menu)
- Added new data item: Acute Exposure Guideline Levels (AEGL) (see Medical
data menu)
- ERG 2004 data and display enhancements
- NFPA 704 data update, including addition of special hazards data
- NFPA 704 data display now includes display of the placard
- Help Identify: NFPA 704 feature now supports special hazards (white diamond)
- Add TOXMAP to substance data form's on-line lookup feature
- Add event tracking (logging)
- Time/date stamp saved searches
- Minor data and application fixes and improvements
2.2.95 - 6/5/2006
- Don't require .NET 1.1 installation if 2.0 is installed
- fix toolbar enabling bug in the CoBRA integration
2.2.94 - 4/23/2006
- Added 15 new substances
- Database update to match the latest HSDB content
- Help Identify functionality: new NFPA 704 search feature
- Supports integration with CoBRA v4.1
- User data is written to application data folder (allows run-from-CD capability,
and support for user-specific data in a multiple-user installation)
- Added event tracking (user events logged to text file)
- Fix online help TOC and content synchronization
- Enforce a single instance of the application
- If search is new (no selections made), don't save as a previous search
(disable New Search button)
- Allow substance list selections with the return key
- Enable/disable toolbar buttons based on active form
- Minor data and application fixes and improvements
- Downloads signed with NLM certificate
2.1.11 - 9/29/2005
- Regenerate identification elements - some out of date
2.1.8 - 9/27/2005
- Added printing capability
- Database updated to match the latest HSDB content
- All substances now have symptom search data
- Data bug fix: guide number prefixing for substances referencing multiple ERG pages
- Bug fix: UN/NA and STCC numbers not always displayed properly on substance data form
- Bug fix: empty results list could cause crash
- Substance data menu options with no data are now disabled instead of excluded
- Link to the installed documentation from the help menu
- Improved human body graphic for symptoms selection
- Add PubMed to the on-line lookup options on the substance data form
2.0.145 - 5/16/2005
- performance improvements for results list sorted by UN/NA and STCC
- add core substance count to database version info
- improved error handling
- proper handling of edits in the search-by text field
- installer fixes for .NET Framework detection