Local sources useful for dealing with errors

If you are learning a new piece of software, errors can cause you the geatest amount of frustration of. Relax. It does not get any better as you go on. You stop making "simple" errors and make more "subtle" ones as you gain experience.

All is not lost, though. Locating and using reference sources on the new software is an effective way of dealing with the frustration and channelling you anger to get positive results. For ENGR211, you have the following text resources:

• MATLAB on-line help

  The commands help, helpdesk and helpwin get you to various sources on MATLAB use that are attached to the computer (or network) you are connected to. Use them.
  
  

  • help: Displays function-specific documentation right to the command window. Very good for reminding you of the details of correct syntax use. Remember that function names are usually capitalized for emphasis. Generally, function names are in lowercase letters.
    
    
  • helpwin: Essentially the same as help except that the information is displayed in a figure window. This is helpful for back-and-forth reading and executing.
    
    
  • helpdesk: Invokes the browser on the current computer to look at the HTML/PDF documentation produced by Mathworks. Just as good as printed manuals.
  
  
  
• The course required and reserve references

  Lots of good information there. Look through the tables of contents and the indices. Sometimes the appendices contain useful function references. Check them out.
  
  

• These pages

  'Nuff sed.