MATLAB 5.3 Now Available on PCs and RCS Platforms

Version 5.3, or Release 11, of the MATLAB numerical analysis package is now available on all RCS UNIX platforms (IBM, SGI and SUN), and in all Windows 98 and Windows NT PC labs.

This version includes a major new release of SimuiLink, and substantial enhancements to other products. Some highlights in Matlab Release 11 include:

• New advanced volume visualization tools for displaying 3-D data

• Enhanced support for integer data types, reducing storage requirements

• New plot editor for interactive plot editing and annotation

• Support for new NASA standard HDF-EOS

• Print preview capabilities and other printing enhancements

As for Simulink highlights in this version, they are:

• Faster and more accurate simulations

• Library browser for rapid component selection

• Model browser to navigate large, complex systems

• Configurable subsystems for convenient subsystem choice and replacement

• Dynamic data type conversion

To use MATLAB 5.3 on a public PC, you can either open the Start menu, select Programs, and then select the MATLAB option, or simply double-click the MATLAB icon located either on the desktop or in the instructional software folder.

To use MATLAB 5.3 on all the UNIX platforms, enter the following command in a UNIX window:

	matlab 

Alternatively, select the Matlab: Numerical Analysis option from the RCS Applications menu.

To get more information from either a PC or a UNIX workstation, start MATLAB, then enter the following command at the MATLAB >> prompt:

     helpdesk

This will launch your browser and then display a wealth of searchable information.

MATLAB 5.3 became the default on the RCS IBM AIX, SGI, and Sun Solaris platforms on Thursday, October 14, but you will be still able to access the old version of MATLAB, MATLAB 5.1, on the UNIX platforms only, until Friday November 12, by entering the command setup matlab-old from a UNIX prompt before running the program.

If you have any further questions about using MATLAB, please contact the consultants at the ACS Help Desk, or direct electronic mail to consult@rpi.edu.