Getting Started with MATLAB

Introduction

MATLAB® is a high-performance language for technical computing. It integrates computation, visualization, and programming in an easy-to-use environment where problems and solutions are expressed in familiar mathematical notation. Typical uses include:

Math and computation
Algorithm development
Modeling, simulation, and prototyping
Data analysis, exploration, and visualization
Scientific and engineering graphics
Application development, including Graphical User Interface building

MATLAB is an interactive system whose basic data element is an array that does not require dimensioning. This allows you to solve many technical computing problems, especially those with matrix and vector formulations, in a fraction of the time it would take to write a program in a scalar noninteractive language such as C or Fortran.

The name MATLAB stands for matrix laboratory. MATLAB was originally written to provide easy access to matrix software developed by the LINPACK and EISPACK projects, which together represent the state-of-the-art in software for matrix computation.

MATLAB has evolved over a period of years with input from many users. In university environments, it is the standard instructional tool for introductory and advanced courses in mathematics, engineering, and science. In industry, MATLAB is the tool of choice for high-productivity research, development, and analysis.

MATLAB features a family of application-specific solutions called toolboxes. Very important to most users of MATLAB, toolboxes allow you to learn and apply specialized technology. Toolboxes are comprehensive collections of MATLAB functions (M-files) that extend the MATLAB environment to solve particular classes of problems. Areas in which toolboxes are available include signal processing, control systems, neural networks, fuzzy logic, wavelets, simulation, and many others.

The MATLAB System

The MATLAB system consists of five main parts:

The MATLAB language.

This is a high-level matrix/array language with control flow statements, functions, data structures, input/output, and object-oriented programming features. It allows both "programming in the small" to rapidly create quick and dirty throw-away programs, and "programming in the large" to create complete large and complex application programs. The language features are organized into six directories in the MATLAB Toolbox:


`ops`	Operators and special characters.
`lang`	Programming language constructs.
`strfun`	Character strings.
`iofun`	File input/output.
`timefun`	Time and dates.
`datatypes`	Data types and structures.

The MATLAB working environment.

This is the set of tools and facilities that you work with as the MATLAB user or programmer. It includes facilities for managing the variables in your workspace and importing and exporting data. It also includes tools for developing, managing, debugging, and profiling M-files, MATLAB's applications. The working environment features are located in a single directory.


`general`	General purpose commands.

Handle Graphics®.

This is the MATLAB graphics system. It includes high-level commands for 2-D and 3-D data visualization, image processing, animation, and presentation graphics. It also includes low-level commands that allow you to fully customize the appearance of graphics as well as to build complete Graphical User Interfaces on your MATLAB applications. The graphics functions are organized into five directories in the MATLAB Toolbox.


`graph2d`	Two dimensional graphs.
`graph3d`	Three dimensional graphs.
`specgraph`	Specialized graphs.
`graphics`	Handle Graphics.
`uitools`	Graphical user interface tools.

The MATLAB mathematical function library.

This is a vast collection of computational algorithms ranging from elementary functions like sum, sine, cosine, and complex arithmetic, to more sophisticated functions like matrix inverse, matrix eigenvalues, Bessel functions, and fast Fourier transforms. The math and analytic functions are organized into eight directories in the MATLAB Toolbox.


`elmat`	Elementary matrices and matrix manipulation.
`elfun`	Elementary math functions.
`specfun`	Specialized math functions.
`matfun`	Matrix functions - numerical linear algebra.
`datafun`	Data analysis and Fourier transforms.
`polyfun`	Interpolation and polynomials.
`funfun`	Function functions and ODE solvers.
`sparfun`	Sparse matrices.

The MATLAB Application Programmer's Interface (API).

This is library that allows you to write C and Fortran programs that interact with MATLAB. It include facilities for calling routines from MATLAB (dynamic linking), calling MATLAB as a computational engine, and for reading and writing MAT-files.

How to Use the Documentation Set

MATLAB comes with an extensive set of documentation consisting of an online Help facility and online function reference as well as printed manuals. The full set of printed documentation includes the following titles:

The MATLAB Installation Guide describes how to install MATLAB on your platform.
Getting Started With MATLAB explains how to get started with the fundamentals of MATLAB.
Using MATLAB provides in depth material on the MATLAB language, working environment, and mathematical topics.
Using MATLAB Graphics describes how to use MATLAB's graphics and visualization tools.
The MATLAB Application Programmer's Interface Guide explains how to write C or Fortran programs that interact with MATLAB.

The MATLAB 5.0 New Features Guide provides information useful in making the transition from MATLAB 4.x to 5.0.


How to Use the MATLAB Documentation Set
`What I Want`	`What I Should Do`
I need to install MATLAB.	`See the Installation Guide for your platform.`
I'm new to MATLAB and want to learn it fast.	Start by reading Getting Started with MATLAB. The most important things to learn are how to enter matrices, how to use the : (colon) operator, and how to invoke functions. After you master the basics, you can access the rest of the documentation as needed, or you can use online help and the demonstrations to learn other commands.
I'm upgrading from MATLAB 4.	Read the MATLAB 5 New Features Guide to find out about the new features in MATLAB 5. Pay special attention to the Upgrading to MATLAB 5 section for how to convert your M-files. You should then refer to Using MATLAB and Using MATLAB Graphics for specific details about the new features.
I want to know how to use a specific function.	Use the online help facility. You can use the M-file help window to get brief online help or access the full function reference via the web-based Help Desk. These are available using the commands `helpwin` and `helpdesk` or from the Help menu on the PC and Macintosh. The function reference is also available on the Help Desk in PDF format if you wish to print out any of the function descriptions in high-quality form.
I want to find a function for a specific purpose but I don't know its name.	There are three choices Use `lookfor` (e.g. lookfor inverse) from the command line. Use the online keyword search from the Help Desk. Visit The MathWorks Web site and see if there is a user-contributed file to solve your problem.
I want to learn about a specific topic like sparse matrices, ordinary differential equations, or cell arrays.	See the appropriate chapter in Using MATLAB.
I want to know what functions are available in a general area.	Use the help window (type `helpwin` or select from Help menu) to see a table of contents with functions grouped by subject area, or use the Help Desk (type `helpdesk` or select from Help menu) to see the Function reference grouped by subject.
I have a problem I want help with.	For tips and troubleshooting problems, use the Help Desk (type `helpdesk` or select from Help menu) to visit the Technical Support section of The MathWorks Web site (`www.mathworks.com`) and use the Solution Search Engine to search the Technical Support database of problem solutions.
I want to report a bug or make a suggestion.	Use the Help Desk (type `helpdesk` or select from Help menu) or send e-mail to `bugs@mathworks.com` or `suggest@mathworks.com`.
I want to contact The MathWorks Technical Support.	Use the Help Desk (type `helpdesk` or select from Help menu) to submit an e-mail help request form describing your question or problem.

About SIMULINK

SIMULINK®, a companion program to MATLAB, is an interactive system for simulating nonlinear dynamic systems. It is a graphical mouse-driven program that allows you to model a system by drawing a block diagram on the screen and manipulating it dynamically. It can work with linear, nonlinear, continuous-time, discrete-time, multivariable, and multirate system.

Blocksets are add-ins to SIMULINK that provide additional libraries of block for specialized applications like communications, signal processing, and power systems.

Real-time Workshop is a program that allows you to generate C code from your block diagrams and to run it on a variety of real-time systems.

About Toolboxes

MATLAB features a family of application-specific solutions called toolboxes. Very important to most users of MATLAB, toolboxes allow you to learn and apply specialized technology. Toolboxes are comprehensive collections of MATLAB functions (M-files) that extend the MATLAB environment in order to solve particular classes of problems. Many toolboxes are available from The MathWorks. Some of these are listed on the following page; contact The MathWorks or visit www.mathworks.com for a complete up-to-date list.

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