Brief

Tutorials on the Installation and Use of Software

Instructor: Siqian Shen


First, you DO NOT need to buy the software (which mean, LaTex, AMPL, and
Matlab).

The CAEN machines have all of them. (See:
http://caen.engin.umich.edu/software/software-listings/Windows-On-campus-
Remote-Access; you can find similar software list for the Linux system on CAEN
machine, by input in Google software, CAEN, umich)

For both Matlab and AMPL, we will teach them briefly when we need them for class
and for homework. You still need to self-study quite a bit after we show you some
basics. When you encounter problems, Keep Calm and Use Google.

1. AMPL
For AMPL modeling and coding, you can check their book free online:
http://ampl.com/resources/the-ampl-book/

I have put two handouts AMPL_Basics.pdf and AMPL_Demonstration.pdf to the
AMPL folder. They are relatively easy compared with the guidebook we put there
before. Start with those two. Also, an online Quick Start:
http://ampl.com/DOWNLOADS/index.html

Some information about downloading AMPL if you want to use your own machine
rather than CAEN: http://ampl.com/DOWNLOADS/details.html

After we lead you into the world of AMPL, then you will need to mostly study by
yourself about the software, depending on how much the homework demands you.
Check out the FAQs: http://ampl.com/resources/faqs/ also the other two
guidebooks we have in the AMPL folder on CTool.

2. Matlab:
Matlab - definitely do not buy; too expensive and we only use a small set of functions
in Matlab (i.e., functions for solving linear programming models). Use CAEN
machines.

The MATLAB_Primer.pdf has all too much for the class probably.

If you want to learn it now, use Google.

3. LaTex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaTeX
For LaTex, you will need to install MikTeX (http://miktex.org/download) first, and
then use some editor, e.g., WinEdt (http://www.winedt.com/) or TexShop

(http://pages.uoregon.edu/koch/texshop/) or TexWorks
(http://www.tug.org/texworks/).

MikTex is for installing all necessary packages, so you definitely need it.
You can choose the editor you like. WinEdt has fancier interface. Probably supports
Mac OS less. TexShop & TexWorks are both lean which means you probably need
to know some LaTex syntax before hand. It is up to you which one you would like to
use.

Again, all these have free download versions, but probably have some limitation.
Use CAEN machine if needed.