BMDP Overview

BMDP is a collection of over 40 programs that perform various types of general as well as specific statistical analyses. Each BMDP program is identified by a name of the form "BMDPxx", where "xx" is a unique two-character code (e.g. BMDP1D, BMDP8V). Each program must be executed separately, but the various programs share a common control language and can communicate with each other via BMDP "save files". Data transformation capability of BMDP may not be as extensive as SAS or SPSS, but BMDP allows inclusion of Fortran routines for data transformation. It also has a multipass transformation facility, in which values computed during one reading of the data are used to make transformations during a second pass.

BMDP is supported as one of the "Standard Tools" by University Information Technology Services (UITS). The documents are available at various Software Manual Locations as well as at the UITS Stat/Math Center (812/855-4724 or email: statmath@iu.edu).

Note: If you are a student using BMDP for a class exercise, questions about your class work should be directed first to your instructor.

BMDP Program Functionality

Breadth of functionality: Good

BMDP has scores of statistical and mathematical functions, scores of statistical procedures. It is still regarded as one of the best general purpose software for statistical procedures (e,.g., repeated measures design, cluster analysis). Data handling capability of BMDP is fairly good.

The following is a brief overview of some of the functionalities of BMDP:

  • Data manipulation through the Data Manager
  • Descriptive statistics, frequency tables
  • Group comparisons inlcuding t-tests, Levene's test, ANOVA, user-specified contrasts
  • Plots and histograms: histograms, univariate and bivariate plots, multiway description of the groups
  • Correspondence analysis
  • Regression, maximum likelihood estimation, nonlinear regression
  • Analysis of Variance: one-way ANOVA, general mixed model, ANCOVA, unbalanced repeated measures model, multivariate ANOVA
  • Multivariate analysis: factor analysis, discriminant analysis, canonical correlation, cluster analysis
  • Survival analysis, time series
  • Nonparametric Analysis

Reliability and Robustness: Excellent

BMDP has very few known bugs at this point. Bugs are corrected in a speedy manner as soon as they are reported.

State of the Art: Excellent

BMDP Release 7.0 and higher are considered as state of the art product. Graphical interface, additional procedures, and features incorporated are a few examples of the latest technology in the software. Users who have access to X terminals/emulations could access BMDP using X windows.

User Friendliness: Poor

BMDP is still widely used for its statistical procedures. Users with fairly good statistics background find it an extremely good statistical software. With a little bit of effort the software could be mastered.

BMDP Help Resources

Network-based help: Good

The UITS Knowledge Base (KB) maintained by the UITS Support Center has answers to a few basic BMDP questions. This KB may be searched using keywords (e.g., bmdp). BMDP also has an active international newsgroup group (bmdp-l) which has subscription from around the world. There is no local BMDP user's group at IU.

Program's Help System: Fair

BMDP offers extensive online help through the Mentor program. Those who are using X terminals/emulation to access BMDP (from UITS RS/6000 computers) can get help at the click of the mouse from the Help menus.

BMDP Program Availability:

BMDP is available on UITS systems. For details, see the Statistics Software Availability page.

BMDP Training and Support

Document Availability: Good

UITS makes BMDP manuals available at a variety of Software Manual Locations .

Training Availability: Good

Instructors may request for specially arranged classes for introducing their students to BMDP by contacting the UITS Education Program.

User Goup: None

There is no local BMDP user's group at IU. To join the national electronic mailing list, send email to listserv@vm1.mcgill.ca with the body of the message:

  subscribe bmdp-l [yourfirstname] [yourlastname]

UITS Consulting Support: Full Support

Consulting support is available via Stat/Math Consulting from 9 am to 5 pm (M-F) via phone, email, and for walkins. An appointment is recommended for walkin consulting. UITS Support Center and Student Technology Center consultants might provide very basic support.

Other Consulting Support: Fair

Users may subscribe to the BMDP-L discussion (refer to User Group section above) group and post questions to the net.