An Introduction to Maple

On This Page
Opening a File Already on Your Computer with Maple
Downloading a File
Introductory Tutorial
Basic Troubleshooting

Opening a File on Your Computer with Maple
When you first open the Maple program, a new worksheet will be open. To begin a new file from scratch, you can just start typing on this worksheet.
To open a file that has already been saved on your own computer:
Windows:
Go to the File menu and click Open... . Find the file on the hard drive, select it, and click the OK button.
Macintosh:
Close Maple (if it is already running). Find the icon of the file you want to open. Double click on it.
Remark: Always make sure that the window you are working in is called a Worksheet and not a Scratchpad. If you are working in a Scratchpad, Maple won't process the commands that you enter.
Linux
Your computer should be configured so that clicking on a Maple file (even in a web browser) automatically opens that file using Maple.
To Download a Maple Demo
Click on the URL (link) for the file on the page. Your browser should give you the option either to open or save the file. Choosing "open" should cause the Maple software on the computer to start and the file will be loaded into Maple. Choosing "save" will give you a chance to save the file somewhere so you can open it later.
If this approach doesn't work, try the following:
1. Hold the mouse over the link on the page. The URL should point to a file in the form *.mw (or *.mws, or *.ms).
2. Right-click on the link. A menu will appear.
3. Select the Save Link As option. A "Save As" dialogue box will appear. You can then save the file (make sure it's a Maple -- *.mws -- file) on the computer.
These demos are regular Maple worksheets without the output. To use a demo, open it up in Maple. Place the cursor on an input line and press Enter to see the output.
Introductory Tutorial
Here is a brief tutorial to introduce you to the basics of Maple. You can also download a useful Maple worksheet: Release 8 or more recent.
[Instead of downloading, if you would like this worksheet to automatically open in Maple, you'll need to configure your computer so that all files whose "mime-type" (extension) is either .mw, .mws, or .ms will open using the Maple program.]
Tips for Troubleshooting Maple
1. Make sure there is a semicolon or a colon at the end of the command. Otherwise, Maple won't process the information. Remember that a colon will suppress the output so Maple will process the command but it won't show anything on the screen. With a semicolon, all relevant output should be displayed. Write the product 2x as 2*x.
2. Remember that on a Mac you must use the Enter key on the numberpad. Using Return on the keyboard won't process the command.
3. Also on the Mac, make sure that you are working in a worksheet and not a scratchpad.
4. Maple follows the Orders of Operation (first do multiplication, then addition). If it seems to give wrong answers, then insert parentheses in the appropriate places.
5. Don't forget about the command evalf. Without it, Maple may not simplify your answer for you. The command simplify is also often useful.
6. Remember that both log and ln use e as their base. Log does not use base 10.
7. To assign variable, expressions and functions, use the := operator. A plain equals sign has a different meaning in Maple.
8. If you use a function instead of an expression, remember to use functional notation consistently.
9. Maple is case sensitive. Knowing that pi is not the same thing as Pi can save a lot of time and headache (Pi is the actual constant 3.14159...).
10. If you open a saved worksheet in Maple, run the Execute Worksheet command from the Format menu so that Maple "knows" everything that you have already worked on.
11. If Maple is doing strange things to your variables, check through the rest of the worksheet and make sure that the same letter has not been used to name two different things. Because of this possibility, it's a good idea to save different problems in different files even if they are for the same homework assignment. Another way to solve this problem is to enter the command restart at the prompt. This will clear any values that have been previously assigned.
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