Research Computing Environment Using Statistical Programs Working With Mathematica Listing and Installing Add-Ons in Mathematica
Working With Mathematica

Working With Mathematica

This section describes basic activities that you perform in the Mathematica statistical application as it is implemented in the RCE. It includes information about how to perform the following:

  • Launch and exit from the menus and from the command prompt
  • Access help
  • Install new components

See Implementation Details for general information about the implementation of Mathematica in the RCE, including where to find out more about the tool.

For information about how to access the RCE, refer to Connecting to the RCE Summer 2009.

Accessing Built-in Help in Mathematica

Accessing Built-in Help in Mathematica

You can access the Help system from the Mathematica Startup Palette window when you first open the application. Click the Help Browser option to open the Help Browser window.

This startup window contains useful links to a tutorial, what's new documents, the Help browser, and the Wolfram Research, Inc. web site.

You also can access the built-in Help system in Mathematica at any time by clicking the Help menu and choosing an option. The Help Browser window is displayed.

Use the categories listed under the menus to filter the content about which you choose to view help topics. The four navigation panes under the search entry field enable you to drill into subjects to reach specific Help content.

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Launching and Exiting Mathematica

Launching and Exiting Mathematica

You can launch Mathematica in the RCE by using the menus or by typing a command.

Launching Mathematica

To launch Mathematica by using the menus in the RCE, select the Applications menu Mathematics submenu, and then choose Mathematica to launch the tool.

To launch Mathematica from the CLI, open a terminal window and type the command mathematica at the prompt.

Exiting Mathematica

To exit Mathematica, select the File menu Quit option.

Listing and Installing Add-Ons in Mathematica

Listing and Installing Add-Ons in Mathematica

Mathematica enables you to add new functions and data for use in the application. You also can link to external applications, functions, and data from within Mathematica.

Listing Add-Ons and Links

Listing Add-Ons and Links

In the Help Browser window, click the Add-ons & Links category. A list of installed add-ons and preconfigured links is shown in the top-left navigation pane.

Click an option in that pane to drill in to more detail for that option. Each level of detail for an option is displayed in the next navigation pane to the right. When you select an option that contains data, that information is displayed in the content pane at the bottom of the window.

Installing Mathematica Add-Ons

Installing Mathematica Add-Ons

For detailed instructions on how to install a new add-on or link in Mathematica:

  1. Open the Help Browser window.

  2. In the Help Browser, click the Add-ons & Links category.

  3. In the navigation pane, scroll to the bottom of the list and select the option Working With Add-ons.

  4. In the next navigation pane to the right, select the option Installing New Add-ons.

  5. Follow the instructions in the content pane.

If you locate a new add-on for Mathematica that is not installed in the RCE, contact us and request the installation of the new add-on.

Locating Mathematica Directories

Locating Mathematica Directories

Add-ons that are not part of a Mathematica distribution are typically installed in the directory specified by the Mathematica global variable $BaseDirectory. These applications are available to all users. Add-ons intended for use by one specific user are typically located in the user-specific directory specified by $UserBaseDirectory. These applications are available only to that user.

Add-ons can be installed in either the Applications or Autoload subdirectories of either $BaseDirectory or $UserBaseDirectory. Add-ons installed in the Autoload subdirectory are loaded automatically when the front end and kernel are started. Add-ons installed in the Applications subdirectory can be loaded manually when needed.

To view the value of directory variables in Mathematica, move to the Basic Input window. Type the command ToFileName[($UserBaseDirectory)] or ToFileName[($BaseDirectory)] in this window, and then press Shift+Return to evaluate the variables.

For example, the directories are evaluated as follows:

ToFileName[($BaseDirectory)]
/usr/share/Mathematica

ToFileName[($UserBaseDirectory)]
/nfs/home/S/sspade/.Mathematica

To view the list of add-ons installed (in the default installation directory), type the following command in a terminal window:

> ls /usr/local/Wolfram/Mathematica/5.2/AddOns/Applications
AuthorTools GUIKit WebServices
DatabaseLink MathematicaApplications XMLCapabilities
> ls /usr/local/Wolfram/Mathematica/5.2/AddOns/Autoload
>

The default location in Mathematica from which you open or to which you save files is:

/nfs/home/<First Initial>/<login account username>/
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