Changes in version 1.8 (Mar 4, 2004)

• Kernel (i.e. the 'mcstas' program)
• a PREVIOUS keyword has been implemented, for referencing e.g. position placement
      to upsteam components.
• improvements to runtime randvec_target_rect functions
  
• Updated Mersenne Twister random number generator
  
• Run-time library (e.g. the instrument program)
• instruments can now have default input values
  
• New Components (in the lib directory)
• Official components
        - Sans_spheres, a sample for small angle neutron scattering
        - Powder2, a two ring powder sample
        - Phonon_simple, a phonon scattering sample
        - Guide_gravity improved
  
• Contributed components
        - Guide_tapering, guide with elliptical/parabolic/general tapering
          (Uwe Filges)
        - ISIS_moderator, (Stuart Ansell and Dickon Champion)
        - Guide_curved (Ross Stewart)
  
• Tools
• mcgui now has a special Neutron Site menu (auto generated) to allow distribution
      of instruments
• Various bugfixes, especially on the Win32 platform and RedHat 9 specific stuff
  
• mcgui now includes an option to 'scan' instrument parameters (previously only
      possible using mcrun.pl.
  
• mcconvert.pl script has been added to the distribution, converts between
      Matlab and Scilab type output. Cyclic conversion, e.g. Matlab->Scilab->Matlab
      is not supported.
  
• mcplot opens scan steps with Matlab/Scilab backends
  
• mcrun now has support for Matlab/Scilab backends, built in test procedure
      (mcrun --test), poor man's grid computing - see the manual for information on
      how to use this.
  
• mcdoc support for instrument headers, support for the built in tutorial
  
• Improved tutorial built into the gui tools 
  
• editor, various improvements (line numbers etc.)