Lab 1
Installing and Configuring MATLAB

CS211 Lab Policy:

• This lab exercise will not be graded.
• Submit as much as you have completed before the end of the lab period in which it is assigned.
• If you do not finish this lab work, it is to your advantage to finish it outside of class. Please re-submit your finished work to the course web site.
• You may received help from anyone in completing this lab.
• You may not submit another student's code as part of your lab.

Instructions:

1. Review the CS211 course Goal and Objectives and course Policies.

   • Please ask questions about any of the goals, objectives, or course policies you do not understand!
      

2. Follow these MATLAB Installation Instructions to install MATLAB Version 7.4, Release 2007a on your laptop.

   • If you already have MATLAB installed, and it is the correct version, Version 7.4, Release 2007a, skip this step.
      

3. Follow these MATLAB Configuration Instructions to configure MATLAB on your laptop for CS211.
    

4. Review one or more of the 3 video tutorials included in the MATLAB help system:

   • Select Help->Demos, expand the MATLAB folder and then the Desktop Tools and Development Environment folder, and view the tutorials:

     • Desktop and Command Window (6 min, 46 sec)

     • Command History (3 min, 9 sec)

     • Workspace Browser (5 min, 58 sec)
        

5. The command interpreter works like a calculator and is ideal for command experimentation. Experiment by entering some simple equations into the command window. For example, try:

   3 + 5

   3 + 5 * 10

   (3 + 5) * 10

   x = 4

   x + 10

6. Experiment with the command history feature of MATLAB by hitting the up and down arrow keys. Notice that you can easily "bring up" previously entered commands, edit them, and re-execute them with minimal typing. It is important that you become proficient in the MATLAB environment so that you can perform operations quickly.
    

7. Experiment with MATLAB's Help system ( Help --> MATLAB Help).

   • For example, select the search tab in the Help Navigator window and type in simple keywords such as "variables" or "arrays".

   • Notice that MATLAB often gives you too much information because it lists every page that contains your search keyword(s). You will sometimes have to review several help pages before you find the information you desire.
      

8. You will need access to the CS211 course web site during every class period this semester. You have two options:

   • Connect to the network using your wireless connection. If your wireless networking is not working correctly, take it to the 3rd floor help desk, 3F19.

   • Make the CS211 web site available "Off-line." Download a copy of the lessons directory to your CS211 folder.
      

9. Complete the CS211 Student Survey.

   • Right-click on the link, select "Save target as..", save the document to your hard drive, edit and save the document on your hard drive, and then submit the document to the course web site.

Turn-in:

Submit your completed CS211 Student Survey (an edited MS Word document) as Lab 1.