The MATLAB mathematical package was upgraded from version 5.0 to 5.2 (Release 10) on HKUSUB/HKUSUA (SUN Solaris) systems in early May 1999.  It was further upgraded to version 5.3 (Release 11) on 31 May 1999.  Both versions, i.e. 5.2 and 5.3 , are Y2K compliant with new enhanced features.  Below are the highlights of MATLAB version 5.2 and 5.3 :

MATLAB 5.2 and 5.3 Highlights:

• Support for ActiveX technology (Windows):
• ActiveX control containment allows users to embed ActiveX controls in MATLAB applications
• ActiveX Automation client capabilities allow developers to programmatically control ActiveX automation servers (e.g., Excel)
• Significant graphics performance speedups using the new OpenGL renderer
• Full support for reading and writing of HDF (Hierarchical Data Format) files via an interface to the HDF library developed by the NCSA (National Center for Supercomputing Applications)
• Performance improvements to 1-D, 2-D, and multidimensional FFTs
• Array editor for viewing and interactive editing of 2-D numeric arrays (PC, Unix)
• M-file programming enhancements:
• Persistent data in a function and the ability to avoid accidental clearing
• New functions for error and warning handling (try/catch, lastwarn)
• Support for selectively allowing public access to individual object fields
• User-settable recursion limit
• Editor/debugger and browsers on Sun, HP, and SGI IRIX platforms
• New GUI development features include:
• Sizing of GUIs based on font size, allowing true cross-platform development
• Tooltips (bubble help) feature for uicontrol-specific help
• New uicontrol types: Toggle buttons and Context menus
• Truecolor image display on toggle buttons and push buttons (user-definable icons)
• New math functions: two ODE methods and Generalized Singular Value Decomposition
• Enhanced support for integer data types reduces storage requirements
• New Plot Editor provides interactive modification of figure properties and plot annotation
• Support for new NASA standard HDF-EOS (Hierarchical Data Format-Earth Observing System) including gateways to grid, point, and swath objects
• Support for reading and writing PNG (Portable Network Graphics) images
• Suite of visualization functions for volumetric data, including isosurfaces and streamlines
• Differential equation solvers for mass matrices and differential-algebraic equations
• Revamped, browser-based M-file Profiler, including generation of summary reports in HTML format

MATLAB on HKUSUA/HKUSUB can be started from UNIX workstations by the following procedures:

Note: Assume that C shell is the user's default login shell and MATLAB on hkusua will be run.

(1) Login a UNIX workstation (e.g. hkusu15, hkuppc20, ......)

(2) Enable the access control on remote machine (hkusua) by typing the command e.g.:

host +hkusua

Note:

• The command xhost + can be found under the path /usr/bin/X11/ (for IBM machines) and /usr/openwin/bin/ (for SUN machines).
• If you are using a SUN workstation, please issue the above commands in the Console window.

hostname

telnet hkusua.hku.hk

(5) Direct graphic display to your workstation, say hkusu15, by typing the command:

setenv DISPLAY hkusu15.hku.hk:0.0

matlab

Then, the MATLAB session will start and the following prompt will be shown:

>>

(7) Invoke the on-line help for MATLAB by typing:

helpwin

at the >> prompt.

Then the "MATLAB Help Window" will be displayed on the screen of your workstation.

This "MATLAB Help Window" can be closed by clicking the "Close" button inside it.

helpesk

at the >> prompt.

Then the "Netscape: MATLAB Help Desk" window will be displayed on the screen of your workstation.

To quit this Web browser (Netscape), select "File" from the menu bar and click the "Exit" option inside the command list.

quit

at the  >> prompt.
 

For further enquiries regarding the MATLAB software, please contact the undersigned.

Nick Chi
Tel: 2859 8936
Email: nhychi@hkusua.hku.hk