TDFPlan is an application for MacOSX and Windows computers which implements the linear-quadratic (LQ), linear-quadratic-linear (LQ-L) and NSD dose-response curve fitting models to schedule and intercompare different radiotherapy fractionation regimens and keep track of those regimens in a database. LQ-L is a hypothetical model intended for experimental investigations of hypofractionation in the laboratory and should not be used for clinical purposes at this time.

For TDFPlan to run correctly a number of support files and folders must be located in the same folder as the TDFPlan application itself. All of the support files are "cross-platform", ie the same files are used by both the Windows and MacOSX versions of the application. By default the application folder is named "TDF_Plan". Inside the "TDF_Plan" folder should be the following items:

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TDFPlan.exe (the Windows version of the application)

TDFPlan Libs (a folder containing .dll files (linked libraries) required by the Windows version of the application)

TDF PlanX.app (the MacOSX version of the application)

TDFDatabase.rsd (the local SQL database file)

ReadMe.txt (this file)

TDFData (a folder containing biological data and settings presets)

TDFPatients (a folder in which to save local copies of patient files)

TDFStaff (a folder containing the names and email addresses of the doctors and other treatment planning staff. These files can be edited from the TDF preferences window or can be edited manually with a text editor)

TDFUserGuide (the HTML user guide is in this folder)

TDFHolidays (the files in this folder are used to localize the TDF calendar for different countries. These files can only be created using a text editor (e.g. I happen to like using BBEdit on MacOS). Support for additional countries is available upon request.)

The TDFPlan application will also create various preference settings files in the "Preferences" folder used by your computer's OS. Please do not modify these files.

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TDFPlan implements an SQL database to track current and pending patients' treatment schedules. The database can be hosted on the same computer as the TDFPlan application for a single stand-alone user (free), or hosted on a remote networked computer (a remote database license must be purchased separately from REAL Software, the database vendor). Using a remote database enables doctors and staff to share a common scheduling database. TDF will query the database daily and automatically generate a list of all patients with course changes (e.g. boosts, cone downs, etc..) tabulated by calendar day for the upcoming two weeks, and will also automatically send email to the doctors and dosimetrists associated with each patient alerting them to upcoming course changes. The database can also be queried manually. For example, a manual query might consist of something like: "show patients belonging to doctor name and resident name planned by dosimetrist name where a new course will begin between today and 7 days from today". Learning SQL is not necessary, all of the search terms are selected from menus.

The scheduling calendar can be customized to automatically account for local holidays and also for patient specific holidays or missed treatment days. Sample holiday files are included in the TDFHolidays folder for a few countries.

An HTML User guide is provided in the "TDFUserGuide" folder. You can launch the user guide from within the TDFPlan application by clicking the "Help" button, or by opening the "Index.htm" file (in the TDFUserGuide folder) in your web browser.



