STEP_AND_MAP
This is an option that is available with the ADVANCED_OPTIONS command with the POLY and ED-EXP modules.
STEP_AND_MAP is the default ADVANCED_OPTIONS choice and is used to determine how to perform Global Minimization test and how to handle initial equilibrium points.
Settings for MAP and STEP:
Global test interval /0/: <Integer number>
Settings for MAP:
Automatically add initial equilibria /Y/:
Number of mesh along an axis /3/: <Integer number>
Use inside meshing points /N/:
Global test interval /0/: <Integer number>
The integer number determines how often the Global Minimization should be used during STEP_WITH_OPTIONS and MAP calculations. If it is set to 0 (zero), the recommended global test interval is used: i.e. every tenth step and at each phase change during STEP calculations, and only at node points during MAP calculations. Any other positive integer number, n, suggests it performs a Global Minimization test at every 
-th step during STEP and MAP calculations. Of course, the Global Minimization test is always carried out at a phase change or a node point. The Thermo‑Calc software is installed with 0 (zero) as the default value, but such a configuration for the default value can be changed by using SET_TC_OPTIONS in the SYS module.
Automatically add initial equilibria /Y/:
When ADD_INITIAL_EQUILIBRIUM is not used before MAP, a mesh of initial equilibrium points are added before the mapping itself takes place. This mesh is only available when two (2) axes are already defined. The default on start-up may be changed by SET_TC_OPTIONS in the SYS monitor.
Number of mesh along an axis /3/: <Integer number>
An integer for how many intervals of initial equilibrium points to be added along an edge in the diagram. For example, if set to 2 (two), initial equilibrium points are added at the beginning, center, and end of each axis-variable forming 2 intervals.
Use inside meshing points /N/:
If N the INITIAL_EQUILIBRIUM mesh consists of initial equilibrium points added only along the edge/border of the diagram defined by the axis-variables. If Y, the initial equilibrium points added are also added to the inside edge.