18.C: Helpful Hints for Using Maple

18: Maple

18.A: Using maple

§ 18.B:  Using xmaple

While working in an X window, you can start Maple by entering xmaple & (the & allows you to use your X-window while Maple is running). Go to your home directory (cd ~) and enter:

> xmaple &

A Maple window should come up. Near the top of the screen you will see a bar with the commands "File", "Edit", "View", "Options" and, on the right side, "Help" If you hold down the left mouse button with the cursor positioned over them, you will see that each has a list of commands.

Hold your mouse over the word "File", and select open. A small window should appear. If you look in the box on the right side of the window, you will see the file name "solve-plot.ms". "Click" on this file and then on the "Open" button to open the file. (The small window should disappear.) Your file should be loaded.

If nothing changes, don't worry. Frequently Maple will load a file and fail to display it. If this happens, simply use your mouse to move the screen down and back up again ("click" on the lower portion of the bar on the right side of the window to move the screen down and then again on the upper portion to move the screen up) and your file will appear.

Since one of the best ways to learn Maple is by example, this file contains a tutorial on how to use Maple to solve and plot equations. To execute the commands simply press the "Return" key. The command the cursor is on will execute and the cursor will move to the next command. (Some Maple commands may take a while to execute.) Try executing (and even changing) these commands to get a feel for how Maple commands work.

The file "eqns2.ms" contains an example of how to use Maple to numerically solve differential equations. If you have an interest in this subject you may want to load and try it.

You will notice that these worksheets have divider lines and text to make reading them easier. You can find these features under "Input" and "Edit". Choosing under "Input" changes the format of the line you are working on. Choosing under "Edit" allows you to insert a line of the desired type.

You should also notice that each worksheet starts with the input command. This command is useful for clearing Maple's memory and if you start each worksheet with it you will keep old values from messing up your worksheet.

Feel free to experiment with the menus, especially the help menu, before continuing the tutorial.

To exit Maple, hold your down the left mouse button "File" and select "Exit".

18.C: Helpful Hints for Using Maple

18: Maple

18.A: Using maple