8.1 Toolbar (Alg\en\Xmaxima) 

Figure 8.1 The toolbar Alg\en\Xmaxima (general purpose CAS with graphic interface).

8.1.1 Description of the buttons 

1.   XMAXIMA5.9  : launches version 5.9.0 of Maxima in the specialized graphic interface Xmaxima.
2.   XMAXIMA5.5  : launches version 5.5 of Maxima in the specialized graphic interface Xmaxima.
3.   << Doc>>  : marker of the group of buttons << Documentation>>. This button doesn't execute any action, it serves just as visual separator between the groups of buttons.
4.   Orig web site  : displays the original site of Maxima of W. Schelter in the default web browser.
5.   New web site  : displays the new site of Maxima in the default web browser.
6.   Loc web orig  : displays a local copy of the original site of Maxima in the default web browser.
7.   Loc web new  : displays a local copy of the new site of Maxima in the default web browser.
8.   Tutorial  : displays the tutorial of R. Strand for Maxima.
9.   Manual  : displays the multi-file html version of the Reference manual of Maxima.
10.   Manual (1.htm)  : displays the mono-file html version of the Reference manual of Maxima. With this version, it is possible to search for all occurrences of a word in the whole manual (cf. sec. 5.1).
11.   ManRef A4  : displays the English version of the Reference manual of Maxima in the navigator AsTeX. This version is adapted to printing (cf. sec. 3.3.3).
12.   ManRef scr.  : displays the English version of the Reference manual of Maxima in the navigator AsTeX. This version is adapted to browsing on screen (cf. sec. 3.3.2).
13.   << Tests com>>  : marker of the group of buttons << Tests communs>> (common tests). This button doesn't execute any action, it serves just as visual separator between the groups of buttons.
14.   1+2  : add 1 and 2 in Xmaxima.
15.   2*3  : multiply 2 by 3 in Xmaxima.
16.   2^10  : calculate 2 to the power 10 in Xmaxima.
17.   1/3+3/4  : add two fractions in Xmaxima.
18.   100 !  : calculate the factorial of 100 in Xmaxima.
19.   Quit 5.9  : quit the Xmaxima program.
20.   Quit  : stop Maxima in Xmaxima.
21.   << Tests spec>>  : marker of the group of buttons << Tests specific to the program>>. This button doesn't execute any action, it serves just as visual separator between the groups of buttons.
22.   diff  : calculate a derivative.
23.   integrate  : calculate an indefinite integral.
24.   describe  : displays help on all commands of Maxima that contain the chain of characters int (command describe(int);).
25.   BROKEN Max.  : permits to come back to the prompt of Maxima when an error occurred.
26.   << Tests btns>>  : marker of the group of buttons << Buttons under test>>. This button doesn't execute any action, it serves just as visual separator between the groups of buttons.

8.1.2 Test of the buttons 

Under Windows 98SE, all tests work (including describe ).

8.1.3 Starter guide 

One can test the possibilities of Maxima from Xmaxima, by selecting the option Maxima / Run Tests (v5.9) or help / Run Tests (v5.5).

One can test commands of Maxima individually from the lower window of Xmaxima, by double-clicking on the commands displayed in blue. The calculation is executed in the upper window, and the result is displayed in the lower window, by replacing the rectangle RESULT , that follows immediately the command, with the actual result.

It is possible to modify the command and to restart the calculation.

With version 5.5¹ , it is also possible to add any Maxima command in the lower window and insert the result there. For example, one can insert 1+2 in the first line, between numerical computations and and graphics. The calculation can be run by selecting 1+2 with the mouse, clicking on the button edit then on the button maxima, and finally on mark for eval. 1+2 is then replaced by 1+2 evaluates to RESULT . The result can be calculated as previously, by double clicking on the command to launch (here 1+2), providing 1+2 evaluates to 3 in the lower window.