Featured Contents:

• 1992 Mathematica Conferences
• Mathematica Training
• International Services
• Site License Program
• Developers' Camp
• MathLink
• MathSource

About MathUser

MathUser is published by Wolfram Research to provide timely news and information about Mathematica to registered Mathematica users. MathUser is available for free to anyone interested in Mathematica. To be added to the list of subscribers or to submit a change of address, send your address information by email to mathuser@wri.com, or call 1-217-398-6500.

Your comments and suggestions are important to us. Send letters to the editor to the address below. We are always interested in ideas for topics to be covered in MathUser.

How to Contact Us

Wolfram Research
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Champaign, IL 61820-7237
USA phone: 217-398-0700
fax: 217-398-0747

Wolfram Research Ltd. (European inquiries)
Evenlode Court Main Road
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phone +44-(0)993-883400
fax: +44-(0)993-883800.

(Internet email addresses)

General and sales information:	info@wri.com
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Customer service:	service@wri.com
User registration:	register@wri.com
Technical questions and support:	support@wri.com
European technical questions and support:	support-euro@wri.com
Mathematica bug reports:	support@wri.com
Mathematica suggestions:	suggestions@wri.com
This newsletter:	mathuser@wri.com

Copyright Wolfram Research, Inc., 1992. MathUser (ISSN 1062-7030) is published quarterly by Wolfram Research, Inc.; 100 Trade Center Drive, Champaign, IL 61820-7237, USA; email: mathuser@wri.com.

Mathematica and MathLink are registered trademarks, and MathSource and MathUser are trademarks of Wolfram Research, Inc. Mathematica is not associated with Mathematica Inc., Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., or MathTech, Inc. All other product names mentioned are trademarks of their producers.

Users Interact and Learn at Mathematica Conferences

Wolfram Research has been working on a number of fronts to expand and improve its service to Mathematica users. Included in these efforts were the 1992 conferences in Boston, Rotterdam, and Tokyo, which were attended by over 2,000 Mathematica users. Participants delivered 110 papers and presentations, took part in 53 panel discussions, and attended numerous lectures, open labs, and problem-solving clinics. The Rotterdam conference introduced European Mathematica users to the UK-based Wolfram Research Ltd. and its services to European countries (for details, see 'European Services Expanded').

Among the highlights of each conference were training courses and tutorial sessions, which taught users to make the most of Mathematica. Participants rated these courses and tutorials very highly. In response, Wolfram Research is making available printed notes from these sessions.

The tutorials covered a wide range of topics at a variety of levels. Elementary level tutorials introduced Mathematica applications, programming, and graphics. At the intermediate level were statistics, string and text manipulation, and program debugging. Advanced topics included nonlinear differential equations, abstract data types, and networking. Among the Mathematica course subjects were Notebook front ends, advanced programming, graphics, and advanced numerical computation. (For complete lists of topics, see 'Conference Materials'.)

Also well-received were presentations of new products, such as Mathematica 2.1 and MathSource---an online collection of hundreds of Mathematica Notebooks, packages, and related materials (for further information, see 'Mathematica Resources'). Stephen Wolfram's keynote addresses presented current and future directions for the development of Mathematica. He previewed an equation typesetting system under development, showed the upcoming X Windows Notebook front end, and demonstrated programs using MathLink on a variety of computers. More information on conference happenings can be found in the Boston and Rotterdam conference guides (see Conference Materials').

Participants found the 1992 conferences exciting, informative, and productive-a significant addition to the array of user services offered by Wolfram Research. Now, even those who didn't attend the conferences can benefit from them, through course books, tutorial notes, and conference guides.

MathSource: Online, On Call, 24 Hours a Day

First demonstrated in May at the 1992 Mathematica Conference in Boston, MathSource has already proved to be a valuable resource to Mathematica users all over the world. More than 10,000 user sessions have been logged in the short time that MathSource has been running. MathSource is an online database accessible through electronic mail, anonymous ftp, and direct dialup with a modem.

In the MathSource collection users can find hundreds of items, including Notebooks, programming examples, the latest versions of standard Mathematica packages with documentation, utilities such as PostScript interpreters and Notebook-to-TeX filters, the newest MathReader, current versions of all Wolfram Research technical reports and technical support notes, packages for signal processing, control systems and differential geometry, and electronic versions of the Mathematica in Education newsletter.

MathSource lets users search for material by topic, author, title, and other key words. Indexes and other material can be returned in ASCII, TeX, PostScript, or Notebook formats, with appropriate file compression and encoding for Unix, PC, Macintosh, and NeXT systems.

Also, MathSource can automatically notify users about updates to any material they previously requested, or about new material that would affect the results of a prior search. Thus, contributing authors can easily give the newest versions of their material to everyone who ever retrieved a copy from MathSource, and users can stay up to date on the latest improvements and bug-fixes in their favorite packages.

email:	mathsource@wri.com
ftp:	mathsource.wri.com
dialup:	217-398-1898 (8N1)

To get started, send the email message "Help Intro"; for a submission form send the message "Send 0201-711".

Give Mathematica Student Version for the Holidays

Would you like to give the gift of Mathematica to a student this holiday season? Wolfram Research can have gift-wrapped copies of the Student Version of Mathematica delivered to students on your gift-giving list.

Mathematica for Students, available for Macintosh, MS-DOS, and Microsoft Windows, is a full-function version of Mathematica, though with less documentation and technical support than the professional version, and without support for numeric coprocessors.

To order the Student Version through this special holiday offer, you must be a current registered user, and provide the name, school, and address of the student who will receive the copy of Mathematica. Mathematica will be shipped directly to the student's address in a festive package. Each copy of the Mathematica Student Version costs $175.

Contact Wolfram Research and ask for the "Student Version Holiday Offer". For deliveries by December 25, please place your order no later than December 18. This offer ends January 15, 1993.

Mathematica Resources

Many new and ongoing services are now available to Mathematica users. This page lists some of the materials and services that can help you and your colleagues make better use of Mathematica. Please send us information about other services at mathuser@wri.com.

Workshops and Training

• CAN. Expertisecentrum Computer Algebra Nederland offers introductory and advanced Mathematica training. -- Postbus 4079, 1009 AB Amsterdam, The Netherlands; phone: +31-(0)20-592-6050 fax: +31-(0)20-592-4199 email: can@can.nl.

• Mosgrove Training. On-site introductory seminars. -- P.O. Box 302, Ithaca, NY 14851, USA; phone: (607) 273-2667 email: don@math.com.

• Oxford System Solutions. Mathematica training programs in collaboration with Oxford Polytechnic. -- Robert Robinson Avenue, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 6GA, UK; phone: +44-(0)865-784270 fax: +44-(0)865-784004.

• Variable Symbols, Inc. On-site training. -- 2162 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 202, Berkeley, CA 94704, USA; 94704-1313, phone: 510-843-8701 fax: 510-843-8702

• Interactive Mathematics Text Project. The Mathematical Association of America has sponsored Mathematica-based workshops and mini-courses during summers of 1992-93 as part of the Interactive Mathematics Text Project. Participating universities last summer included Morehouse College, The University of Michigan-Dearborn, and Los Angeles Pierce College. Workshops will be held this summer at Seattle Central Community College. -- Gerald J. Porter, University of Pennsylvania; phone: (215) 898-8467 email: GJPorter@pennsas.upenn.edu.

• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Summer workshops and courses.
  Mark Yoder, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, 5500 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47803, USA phone: 812-877-8291 email: yoder@nextwork.rose-hulman.edu.

• Stanford University. Ten-week on-campus training, also available by satellite broadcast and videotape. -- SITN, 401 Durand, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; phone: 415-725-3000.

• University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. Summer workshops and courses through the Illinois Summer Software School. -- Lynnea Johnson, phone: 217-333-6634.

Electronic Resources

Several electronic services are dedicated to Mathematica.

• Mathgroup. Moderated email list devoted to Mathematica. -- email: mathgroup-adm@yoda.physics.unc.edu.

• CompuServe. Wolfram Research forum on CompuServe. -- Type GO WOLFRAM.

• MathSource. Free electronic service from Wolfram Research. See 'MathSource: Online, On Call, 24 Hours a Day'.

Newsletters and Magazines

• Mathematica in Education. Department of Mathematics, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Avenue, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA fax: 707-664-2505 email: wellin@Sonoma.edu.

• The Mathematica Journal (ISSN 1047-5974). 600 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-9602, USA phone: 415-905-2334 fax: 415-905-2233.

Conference Materials

The following materials from the 1992 Mathematica Conferences are now available from Wolfram Research.

• Elementary Tutorial Notes ISBN 1-880083-03-5 $25.00
  Applications of Mathematica * Introduction to Mathematica * Introduction to Programming in Mathematica * Introduction to Mathematica for Users of Fortran and C * Introduction to Mathematica Graphics

• Intermediate Tutorial Notes ISBN 1-880083-04-3 $25.00
  Mathematica Numerics * The N Functions of Mathematica * Mathematica in Programming * Statistics * Mathematica Programming Style * Tracing and Debugging Mathematica Programs * Mathematica Graphics * Reading Data into Mathematica * String and Text Manipulation

• Advanced Tutorial Notes ISBN 1-880083-05-1 $25.00
  Solving Nonlinear Differential Equations with DSolve * Abstract Data Types * Symbolic Integration * Mathematica Internals * Finite and Infinite Series * Networking * Compiling Mathematica Procedures

• Pre-Conference Course Books $10.00 each
  Using the Notebook Front End * Advanced Mathematica Programming * Mathematica Graphics * Numerical Computation in Mathematica

• Boston Conference Guide $20.00
  Includes abstracts of all presentations

• Rotterdam Conference Guide $20.00
  Includes abstracts of all presentations

Send your order to Wolfram Research (in Europe, Wolfram Research Ltd.). United States sales tax must be added if you are a resident of CA (local rate), IL (7.25%), or MA (5%). MasterCard/VISA, Check, Money Order in US dollars accepted. Please provide your name, street address, and telephone number.

European Services Expanded

European customers can get sales information, technical support, and other services much faster and more efficiently from the expanded Wolfram Research office in the UK. Wolfram Research Ltd. has increased its staff and moved into new headquarters, and now provides in-depth technical support directly to registered users throughout Europe.

Mathematica is available from authorized resellers in almost every country in Europe. Wolfram Research Ltd. will be pleased to put you in touch with your local European reseller for sales inquiries and local support.

New address:
Wolfram Research Ltd.
Evenlode Court, Main Road Long
Hanborough Oxon OX8 2LA, UK

phone: +44-(0)993-883400
fax: +44-(0)993-883800

Internet email addresses for international services (for U.S. addresses, see 'How to Contact Us' at the beginning of this newsletter.):

European sales information:	info-euro@wri.com
European technical support:	support-euro@wri.com
Suggestions about Wolfram Research or Mathematica:	suggestions-euro@wri.com
Sales information for Japan and southeast Asia:	info-japan@wri.com and info-fareast@wri.com
Jim Fallon, Manager, International Business Development:	jim@wri.com
Conrad Wolfram, General Manager, Wolfram Research Ltd.:	conrad@wri.com

German Version of Mathematica Book Available in November

A German-language version of Stephen Wolfram's Mathematica: A System for Doing Mathematics by Computer will be published this month by Addison-Wesley Publishing Company in collaboration with Wolfram Research.

The German book is a translation of the English second edition, and corresponds to Mathematica Version 2. This book will be available in German bookstores and direct from Addison-Wesley, and will be included with copies of Mathematica in all German-speaking countries.

Mathematica: Ein System fur Mathematik auf dem Computer, 1024 pages, with 24-page full-color graphics gallery. ISBN 3-89319-371-5; VVA-Nr. 563-00371-9.

International Versions Bundled with Mathematica Plus

Customers who purchase international versions of Mathematica now receive an introductory subscription to Mathematica Plus, providing an automatic update to the next release of Mathematica. Registration within 30 days of purchase is required to qualify. The Mathematica Plus program gives users automatic updates to Mathematica, including new and faster Mathematica features, new Mathematica packages and documentation, as well as support for upgrades to computer operating systems and other system software. The normal two-update subscription to this service can be purchased as an extension of the introductory coverage.

The cost of Mathematica Plus for your version of Mathematica is found on your license certificate. For further information contact Wolfram Research. In Europe contact Wolfram Research Ltd.

Mathematica for NEC PC-98 Released

Wolfram Research has just rolled out Mathematica for the NEC PC 9801-a computer system that accounts for over 50 percent of the PCs used in academia and industry in Japan.

Japan already has the second largest Mathematica user base in the world, and the availability of Mathematica for the NEC PC 9801 is expected to expand the use of Mathematica dramatically in the coming months.

This version, the first localized Japanese version of Mathematica, comes with a user-friendly installation in Japanese, and complete Japanese-language documentation, including a Japanese translation of Stephen Wolfram's best-selling book, Mathematica: A System for Doing Mathematics by Computer, Second Edition.

Mathematica for the NEC PC 9801 costs $1345 and uses a numeric coprocessor when one is available. For more information about Mathematica for the NEC 9801, contact Wolfram Research.

Japanese Books

The number of Japanese-language books about Mathematica continues to grow. Here is an updated list.

• S. Wolfram, Mathematica: A System for Doing Mathematics by Computer (Second Edition) (ISBN: 4-7952-9614-6).

• R. Maeder, Programming in Mathematica (ISBN: 4-8101-8043-3).

• S. Wagon, Mathematica in Action (ISBN: 4-89242-143-X).

• N. Blachman, Mathematica: A Practical Approach (ISBN: 4-8101-8538-9).

• S. Skiena, Implementing Discrete Mathematics: Combinatorics and Graph Theory with Mathematica (ISBN: 4-8101-8050-6).

• I. Vardi, Computational Recreations in Mathematica (ISBN: 4-8101-8038-7).

• R. Crandall, Mathematica for the Sciences (ISBN: 4-8101-8036-0)

• S. Koike, Mathematica Suushiki Shori Nyuumon (ISBN: 4-487408-346-3)

• H. Ono, Mathematica DSP To Seigyo (ISBN: 4-7952-9611-1).

Use of MathLink Grows

The MathLink communication standard enables Mathematica to communicate at a high level with other programs. MathLink allows external programs both to call Mathematica and to be called by Mathematica.

The MathLink developer's kit, containing MathLink libraries, examples, and documentation, is included with all Unix versions of Mathematica, and is available for Macintosh versions upon request from Wolfram Research. With the MathLink libraries many kinds of programs can be adapted to be MathLink compatible, so that they can exchange data and commands with Mathematica. A number of existing products have been adapted or are in the process of being adapted to be MathLink compatible. Here are a few examples.

Available

• AVS. A MathLink connection to the AVS visualization software system enables users both to send data generated in Mathematica to AVS, and also to import AVS data sets into Mathematica for plotting and data analysis. (Available via MathSource.)

• HyperCard. An XCMD calls Mathematica from within HyperCard. (Available via MathSource.)

• InterCall. The InterCall package distributed by Analytica uses MathLink to provide easy access from within Mathematica to any compiled Fortran or C routine. It includes defaults databases for IMSL, NAG, and other subroutine libraries. (Further information available via MathSource.)

• MathHDF. A Mathematica to HDF interface using MathLink reads and writes binary files in the hierarchical data format popularized by NCSA. (Available via MathSource.)

In Development

• Excel. A MathLink extension to Microsoft Excel on Macintosh and Windows will let MathematicaMathematica input.

• Explorer. SGI is developing a MathLink module that enables its Explorer visual programming system to communicate with Mathematica.

• LabVIEW. National Instruments is developing a MathLink module for its LabVIEW laboratory data acquisition system.

• Transform. An upcoming version of the Transform data visualization software from Spyglass, Inc., can be controlled and exchange data via MathLink.

If you have a MathLink application, send a description to mathlink@wri.com, and we will send you a free Mathematica T-shirt in return.

Wolfram Research Unveils Academic Site License Program

Working closely with educators, Wolfram Research has designed a Mathematica academic site license program that offers flexibility and ease of administration at affordable prices.

The site license program provides campus-wide access to Mathematica at colleges and universities. Site licenses serve all the faculty, staff, and students at a campus under a single agreement, and provide discounts as high as 75%. Wolfram Research also continues to sponsor its highly successful Educational Grant Program for departments developing and teaching courses based on Mathematica. Wolfram Research matches every license that the institution purchases with the grant of a free license. Additional volume discounts may apply.

More than 200 academic institutions worldwide use Mathematica across their campuses through these programs. To find out how to bring Mathematica to your college or university, contact Wolfram Research.

Or send email to education@wri.com, in Europe education-euro@wri.com.

Opportunities

Wolfram Research has positions available in language development, application package development, research and development, technical writing, and technical marketing. Send applications for all positions to Personnel Department, Wolfram Research (or resumes@wri.com).

Wolfram Research is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer.

Mathematica Developers' Camp Slated for Spring

Wolfram Research is planning a several-day meeting of Mathematica developers and authors, to be held in Champaign, Illinois, during Spring 1993. Participants in the Developers' Camp will share ideas and information-and have questions answered-about developing Mathematica packages, courses, books, and other materials.

The program will follow two tracks. One track, designed for developers writing Mathematica-based programs, will offer problem-solving clinics, as well as sessions on preparing documentation and software marketing. A second track will focus on development of Mathematica books in print and electronic form.

Enrollment will be limited. If you would like to attend, contact Wolfram Research or send email to: devcamp@wri.com.

Mathematica Greeting Cards

Mathematica greeting cards -- full-color graphics outside, blank inside -- are available in sets of ten with envelopes ($10.00).

Other miscellanea are still available, including T-Shirts ($10 ea.), Zeta function posters ($5), and Mathematica mugs ($5). To order items, send check or money order to Wolfram Research. Prices include shipping by UPS ground and overseas airmail.

Questions & Answers

* What is the difference between the Standard and Enhanced versions of Mathematica?

Mathematica for Macintosh, DOS, and Microsoft Windows comes in two versions -- Standard and Enhanced. The difference between them is numeric coprocessor support. An Enhanced version requires a numeric coprocessor, which is used for floating-point and other numeric computations. An Enhanced version consequently runs faster than a Standard version, which does not utilize a numeric coprocessor, even if one is available on the computer. All Mathematica versions have the same computational and graphical capabilities. Mathematica for Students is built with the Standard version, but has less documentation and technical support, and is available only to currently enrolled students.

* How can I get the latest versions of Mathematica?

If you subscribe to Mathematica Plus, you will always get the latest update automatically. (Mathematica 2.1 is the current release.) We release updates to Mathematica on a regular basis so you can take advantage of the ongoing development at Wolfram Research, which includes enhancements, new and faster features, and new Mathematica packages. For about 15% of the cost of your version of Mathematica, a subscription to Mathematica Plus will give you two updates, delivered automatically as soon as they are released. Single updates can also be ordered separately, at about 10% of list price.

* Can I upgrade to a version of Mathematica for a different type of computer?

Yes, you can. If you are a current registered user (i.e., you have registered the current version of Mathematica) you can arrange to transfer your license to any other computer system for which Mathematica is available.

For example, if you have Mathematica 2.1 for MS-DOS, you can upgrade to Mathematica 2.1 for Microsoft Windows, or for Macintosh. You can also upgrade from Standard to Enhanced, or from a Student Version to a professional version. The cost of such an upgrade is the difference between the current list price of the two versions, plus a license transfer fee. For Macintosh, MS-DOS, and Microsoft Windows the transfer fee is $35. Multi-user (workstation-class) license transfers are $125.

For more information concerning such upgrades please contact Wolfram Research, or in Europe, Wolfram Research Ltd.

* How can I transfer Notebooks from the Macintosh to Windows and vice versa?

An easy way to transfer a Notebook between the Macintosh and Windows is through Apple File Exchange, an application available on Macintosh computers equipped with SuperDrives. When converting a Macintosh Notebook to Windows, turn off the Text Translation option to convert carriage returns to carriage return-line feeds. When converting a Windows Notebook to Macintosh, turn on the option to convert carriage return-line feeds to carriage returns. In both cases tab and spacing options should be set to Neither.

Here are some other tips to keep in mind.

• When preparing a Macintosh Notebook for Windows, use the Uniform Style command to eliminate font variation within cells.

• Give your Notebook a name that conforms to the destination computer system. For example, on MS-DOS, the filename should have eight characters or less and end in the .ma file extension.

• Transfer .ma files only, not the binary .mb files that are created by some computers. The .mb files will be re-created the first time the Notebooks are saved on the destination machine.

• The cells in a Notebook may be assigned different fonts on different computer systems. If output cells end up in a proportionally spaced font, change the output cell style to a monospaced font. You are less likely to have font incompatibilities if you use Times, Helvetica, and Courier, which are usually recognized on the computer systems that have Notebook front ends.

• Bitmap graphics are not compatible among different computer systems, so keep graphics in PostScript form. Bitmaps can be converted to PostScript in Mathematica with the Convert to PostScript command.

• Special characters (e.g., Greek symbols) will usually have to be translated by hand.

(For more suggestions on this subject, see the technical note "Notebook Conversion Tips", available on MathSource.)

* How can I get labels on graphics printed with a different font style?

A typical default font for Mathematica graphics is Courier 10. To change the default font, assign the new font name and size to the global variable $DefaultFont. The assignment $DefaultFont={"Times-Italic",10} for example, causes text in all graphics to use Times italic 10.

You can also override the default font setting for individual plots with an option. For example,

Plot[BesselJ[0, x], {x, 0, 10}, DefaultFont-> {"Times-Italic", 10}]

will produce a plot that uses Times italic for its tick mark labels, no matter what $DefaultFont may be set to.

In addition, you can use FontForm to specify a font for a specific piece of text within a graphic. In Figure 1, FontForm is used to put a label above the plot in a special font.

Plot[BesselJ[0, x], {x, 0, 10}, PlotLabel -> FontForm[ "Plot Label", {"Univers-Condensed", 15}]]

In Figure 2, axes labels are added with their own font specification.

Plot[BesselJ[0, x], {x, 0, 10}, AxesLabel -> {FontForm["x", {"Times-Italic", 18}], FontForm["y", {"Times-Italic", 18}]}]

To put labels around the plot in a different font, use Frame axes and FrameLabel, as shown in Figure 3.

Plot[BesselJ[0, x], {x, 0, 10}, Frame -> True, FrameLabel -> {FontForm["x label", {"Times-Italic", 18}], FontForm["y label", {"Times-Italic", 18}]}]

This prints the y-frame label horizontally, as shown in Figure 4.

Show[ %, RotateLabel -> False]

Note that some windowing systems will not always display special fonts or rotated text, but the text will nevertheless print properly on PostScript devices. For more information, see Section 2.9.15 "Fonts for Text in Graphics" in the Mathematica Book.

Tech Support Needs Your License Number

Technical support is available only to registered users. When you telephone for technical support, having your license number ready will save time. When sending technical support questions via email, including your license number will speed up the handling of your message.