`vec_calc 7`

A Vector Calculus Package for Maple 9 and 9.5

By Arthur Belmonte and Philip B. Yasskin

This version of the package is no longer being maintained.
This version of the package works in the classic version of Maple 10.
It only works in the standard version of Maple 10 when entered in Maple Input mode, not in 2-D Math mode, due to the presence of uncderscores in the variable names.

Downloading and Installing the Files

Before using the vec_calc package, you must first download and install four files. These files are exactly the same for all operating systems. Right click on each of the following files and save the target in the directories listed below.

package index	maple.ind	40 KB
package library	maple.lib	27 KB
package help	maple.hdb	313 KB
package report	maple.rep	1 KB

You may keep the files on a floppy disk or USB drive or put them on your hard disk. Here are the recommended locations on the hard disk: (Replace 9 by 9.5 as necessary.)

Windows:	C:\Program Files\Maple 9\vec_calc
Unix/Linux:	/usr/local/Maple9/vec_calc
Macintosh OSX:	/Applications/Maple 9.app/Contents/MacOS/vec_calc

Note: You must create the vec_calc directory. If you put the files in a different directory or put them on a floppy disk, then the instructions below must be appropriately modified.

Using the Package

To use the commands in the vec_calc package, you must first execute three commands.

The first command tells Maple where the package files are located. After starting Maple, execute the command
> libname := libname, "yourdirectorypath";
where yourdirectorypath is the full path to the directory where you saved the vec_calc files using / between directories. For example, on Windows, if you saved them in the recommended directory, then the command will be (Replace 9 by 9.5 as necessary.)
> libname := libname, "C:/Program Files/Maple 9/vec_calc";
If you saved them on a floppy or USB drive (with drive letter F), then the command will be
> libname := libname, "F:/";
and if you saved them in the directory D:\mypath\mydir then the command will be
> libname := libname, "D:/mypath/mydir";
Note The path is enclosed in double quotes (").

The second command reads in the vec_calc package along with three other required packages:
> with(plots): with(student): with(linalg): with(vec_calc);

Finally, the third (optional) command defines many abbreviations for the vec_calc commands:
> vc_aliases;

To get help on any command, execute
> ?vec_calc
and follow the hyperlinks.

Automating the Package

To automate the vec_calc package, you can put one or more of the three commands listed under Using the Package into a Maple initialization file which is a text file named and located as follows: (Replace 9 by 9.5 as necessary.)

	File Name	Location
Windows:	maple.ini	C:\Program Files\Maple 9\lib
Unix/Linux:	.mapleinit	your home directory
Macintosh OSX:	.mapleinit	your home directory

If you put all three commands in the initialization file, the vec_calc package will load automatically whenever you start or restart Maple.

Please send comments, questions, or suggestions regarding the VecCalc package to Philip B. Yasskin at yasskin@math.tamu.edu.
Last updated Aug 20, 2006