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matlab_-_introduction [2012/10/06 18:24]
jochen added language about functions and file exchange
matlab_-_introduction [2012/10/08 16:44]
jochen added more info on GUI elements
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 Additionally,​ Matlab comes with a built-in Editor, supporting syntax highlighting and augmenting several of the core features of Matlab, as well as a Profiler, a tool to identify bottlenecks in code, i.e. a help to improve the run-time properties (time and memory consumption) of user-written code. Additionally,​ Matlab comes with a built-in Editor, supporting syntax highlighting and augmenting several of the core features of Matlab, as well as a Profiler, a tool to identify bottlenecks in code, i.e. a help to improve the run-time properties (time and memory consumption) of user-written code.
 +
 +==== Command line ====
 +The command line allows the user to enter commands and inspect returned values (text output intermixed with input). Matlab shows a prompt (**''<​nowiki>>></​nowiki>''​**) during normal operation and an extended prompt for debugging (**''<​nowiki>​K>></​nowiki>''​**). The command line offers a few additional functions which are extremely helpful:
 +  * pressing the **''​cursor-up''​** key allows to cycle through previous commands, and if some text is entered before, only entries matching this text are presented
 +  * the **''​tab''​**-key does not produce a tab-character (indentation) but instead Matlab attempts to auto-complete a series of letters to a "known expression"​ (variable, field, or function name)
 +  * when entering expressions with parenthesis (precedence of operations, function arguments, etc.) or brackets/​curly braces, Matlab highlights matching pairs to confirm the completeness of the expression
 +  * if an expression is incomplete (e.g. a **''​for''​** loop is constructed,​ but the final **''​end''​** keyword is missing), Matlab expects additional input on the next line (after pressing return)
 +  * whenever an error is encountered while processing a line of input, Matlab indicates the exact position of the problem with a vertical line below the input (pipe character)
 +  * output in the command window supports hyperlinks (in help texts for instance), which gives the user to immediately select a topic of reference for additional information
 +  * the **''​display''​** function (which is automatically called when an expression is not terminated with a semicolon) provides auto-formatting for all built-in datatypes (incl. arrays)
 +  * to change the current folder or load a MAT-file, drag-and-drop operations can be performed with either Finder (Mac) or Explorer (Windows), by dragging a folder or MAT-file name into the command prompt window
 +
 +==== Command history ====
 +The history window is particularly useful when a series of commands is to be converted into an M-file (batch of function file grouping a set of commands/​function calls into a new functionality). This can be achieved by selecting several entries (line by line selection) and then using the context menu (right-click or **''​CTRL''​**-click). To quickly repeat one specific instruction,​ an entry can also be double-clicked.
 +
 +==== Workspace ====
 +Equally, the workspace window offers a context menu, which allows to rename variables, delete them from the workspace (same as **''​clear VARIABLE''​**),​ save the content of selected variables to disk, or alter their content.
 +
 +==== Current folder ====
 +The current folder window is a feature-rich file browser, also with additional functionality in the context menu.
matlab_-_introduction.txt ยท Last modified: 2012/11/12 17:52 by jochen