These are the instructions for installing ArArCALC on your computer:

[1] Backup crucial ArArCALC files from previous installation.

* In particular backup your old ArArCALC.log file, which contains all your project names, irradiation constants and user preferences.
* If you are installing ArArCALC to another directory, make certain to copy your old ArArCALC.log (and all calculation files) to the new installation directory.

[2] Copy ArArCALC onto your computer.

* Download the ArArCALC252a.ZIP file from the ArArCALC Home Page.
* Unzip the downloaded ArArCALC252a.ZIP file.
* Extract the ArArCALC files and directories to the (sub)directory of your own choice (but be certain to select the "Replace Existing Files" and "Use Folder Names" checkboxes if using WinZip and installing into existing ArArCALC install).

[3] Set up Microsoft Excel for using ArArCALC.

* Start Microsoft Excel 2000-XP-2003 for Windows 95/98/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7/8. ArArCALC will run in Excel 2007 and higher, but using versions 2000 and 2003 is highly recommended.
* Install the ArArCALC Add-In via Tools # Add-Ins and browse to open ArArCALC.xla from the ArArCALC\Program directory.
* Set the Security Level to "Medium" via the Tools # Macros # Security menu.
* In the Trusted Publishers tab be certain to check the Trust Access to Visual Basic Project checkbox.
* Install the "Mtsorts.TTF" font that typically is not installed by default on Windows by double-clicking it in the ArArCALC\Program directory and then clicking the Install button.
* Start ArArCALC via the Tools # ArArCALC menu. The ArArCALC Software is now up and running!
* Alternatively, you can make a short-cut to ArArCALC.xlw and place it on the Desktop, Start-Menu or Taskbar from where you can also launch the program.

[4] Define your own irradiations and projects in ArArCALC.

* Go to the Irradiations and Projects Dialogbox via the Options # Irradiations and Projects menu.
* Add your Irradiation Settings by selecting the appropriate radio button, fill in the name of your irradiation and click the Add button.
* Follow the same procedure to add your Projects.

[5] Define your preferences in ArArCALC.

* Go to the Preferences Dialogbox via the Options # Preferences menu.
* Set your preferred calculation settings and constants in the "Calculations", "Constants" and "Recalbration" tabs.
* Set the file location for your data files in the "Laboratory" tab.
* Enter your lab info in the "Laboratory" tab.
* Configure your input filter(s) in the "Input Filter" tab.

[6] Now you are ready to reduce your mass spectrometry data!

* Start by opening a data file in ArArCALC via the Program # Open # Raw Intensities menu (Ctrl+D).
* You can also open an age calculation file via the Program # Open # Age and Flux Monitor Calculation menu (Ctlr+A) or an air calculation file via the Program # Open # Air Calculation menu (Ctlr+R).