wxMaxima howto
This page gives some tips on how to efficiently use wxMaxima. It describes wxMaxima version 0.7.0 or greater.
How is the content of the output window organized?
The output is organized in groups containing a label, input and output. The label for command groups is %in for some number n and the label for text groups is /*
How can I use command line history?
- To move through command line history, use up and down arrows.
- To browse commands which start with xyz... enter xyz into the input line and use the TAB key.
How can I enter expressions on multiple lines?
Using a dialog:
- Open the dialog with CTR-I (or with the buttong on the right of the input line).
- Enter the commands and click OK.
Directly in the output window:
- Add a new command group. Press F7.
- Enter the expression directly into the output window.
- When you are done, press CTRL-ENTER to evaluate the input.
How can I add text comments?
- Select the label/input of a group with the mouse and press F6.
- Enter the text.
- When you are done, press CTRL-ENTER.
How can I edit text comments/previous input?
- Select the expression you want to edit with the mouse. Right click and select 'Edit input' from the menu.
- You can now edit the expression directly in the output window.
- When you are done, press CTRL-ENTER.
How can I delete groups?
- Select the label of a group or select the whole group,
- Select 'Delete selection' from 'Edit' menu or context menu or press DELETE.
Can I edit text comments/previous input with only the keyboard?
Typical scenario: you entered expression %i1, %i2, %i3, %i4 and now you want to change expression %i2 and reevaluate %i3 with the new definition of %i2.
- Press F2: the input %i4 is selected in the output window.
- Press UP-ARROW twice: the input %i2 is selected in the output window.
- Press ENTER: wxMaxima is now in editing mode and you can change the expression %i2.
- When you are done, press CTR-ENTER to evaluate %i2. The label will change from %i2 to %i4 and the input line %i3 is selected.
- Press CTRL-ENTER: the input line %i3 is re-evaluated.
- Press F4: the focus is shifted to the input line
How can I display all digits of large numbers?
The default display algorithm does not display all digits of large numbers (big integers or bigfloat numbers). You can change to the ascii art display which displays all digits by entering
set_display(ascii);
To return to the default display algorithm enter
set_display(xml);
How can I make inline plots?
- There are wrappers for most plotting functions in maxima to produce inline plots in wxMaxima. A wrapper for a function fun is called wxfun.
- Current wrappers:
- wxplot2d, wxplot3d, wxcontour_plot,
- wxdraw2d, wxdraw3d (you need to load the draw package),
- wximplicit_plot (you need to load the implicit_plot package).
How can I change the size of inline plots?
The size of the inline pictures in controlled by the wxplot_size variable. It contains the size of pictures in pixels.
Example:
wxplot2d(sin(x), [x,-5,5]), wxplot_size=[500,500];
Inline plots do not work.
- make sure gnuplot is installed
- try adding define_variable(wxplot_old_gnuplot, true, boolean); to your maxima-init.mac file
How can I make animations?
Functions for creating are described on separate page.
I have a *.wxm file. Can I use it in xmaxima?
Yes. You can load it using maxima batchload command.
Usefull keyboard shortcuts
| Shortcut | Command | Note |
|---|---|---|
| F1 | Open help browser | |
| F2 | Select last input | |
| F3 | Shift focus to output window | |
| F4 | Shift focus to input line | |
| F5 | Copy selection to input line | When expression is selected in the output window |
| F6 | Add new text group | Select label of a group to prepend |
| F7 | Add new command group | Select label of a group to prepend |
| ENTER | Edit text | When editable text is selected in output window |
| CTRL-ENTER | End editing | When output window is in edit mode |
| CTRL-ENTER | Re-evaluate expression | When command is selected in output window |
| ESC | End editing but don't send changes to maxima | When output window is in edit mode |
| UP/DOWN-ARROW | Move between editable text | When editable text is selected in output window |
