Frequently
asked questions
- How do I download Matrex, install and
start Matrex?
Everything is described in the Quick
Start page.
- How
can I
use my existing spreadsheets in Matrex?
You can import an xls file and extract
matrices from it. You can also export to xls files.
You can also import from csv files and export csv files.
You can copy the
content of a matrix from a matrix viewer, the content of a presentation
from a presentation viewer.
You can also paste a piece of a
spreadsheet as a matrix in the matrix editor.
In
the next versions Matrex will be able to collaborate with Excel and
OpenOffice.org Calc.
- Where I can find the sources of Matrex?
The
most recent sources are contained in the Matrex Subversion repository in
Sourceforge.net.
Look at the About Subversion page to know how to get them.
You can also find a zip file of the sources of the last released
version in the download
page.
- Which license covers Matrex?
Matrex is covered by the GNU GPL 3
license.
You can find a copy of the license in the setup files.
- What is the release plan for Matrex?
Matrex is in now in version 2.0.
This is the current plan for the release of Matrex:
- 2.x More functions, improved calculation engine, new 3D charts
- 3.0 Distributed
calculation
If the version number is x.y.z (e.g. 1.1.0), x changes for
new
major features, y changes for new medium/small features, z
changes for bug fixing.
Adapters,
libraries and other modules are released independently from
Matrex.
- Why do I need
Java3D for the 3D
charts and where I find it?
First of all, Matrex does
not need Java3D. Java3D is only needed when using 3D
charts in Matrex.
The FreeHep
library used for the 3D charts uses Java3D. I have chosen
this library because, thanks to Java3D, it paints 3D charts very fast,
and is comparable to other non-java implementations.
I think the
sacrifice to install Java3D is nothing compared to the better
performances in the 3D charts.
You can find Java3D in the Sun site
or in the Blackburn
site, for Linux.
- How to I share a Matrex
project with other people ?
If all of you work on the same LAN, you can use a Matrex Server to share the same project. In this way changes on the project are immediately available to everyone.
If you are not on the same LAN or don't need to use a server, you can just send the content of the project as file, for example by mail.
This is possible because a Matrex project is stored as a set of files in a directory tree, that can be zipped or unzipped directly by Matrex. Once the project is a zip file, it can be sent and transformed back to a project unzipping it.
.
- What I do if I find a problem
in Matrex?
For any problem or request you have please follow the instructions in the support
section. I'm very happy to get any kind of feedback.
- Where do I
enter values/numbers?
In
Matrex values are not written in cells, but in forms of
vectors/matrices. All the data that would be written in the same column
or line or rectangle of cells in a spreadsheet because they
represent the same concept (e.g. all the incomes, all the outcomes, all
the ages) are equivalent to a Matrex vector/matrix.
To enter vectors/matrices in Matrex use the matrix editor.
- Where do I
enter formulas?
Formulas
are called functions in Matrex. To enter a function right-click with
the mouse in the function tree and choose New Function.
To enter the
equivalent of complex formulas, called expressions, right-click with
the mouse in the function tree and choose Expression Parser.
- Which
functions/formulas are available in Matrex?
A guide
to the functions templates in Matrex and a list with their description
are available in the documentation
section.
- The function
template I
need is not available. What I can do?
First of all reconsider the list
of functions available in Matrex. It can be that you can do the same
thing you do in a standard spreadsheet, but in a different way. An
example of this is the ISQL template, that allows to filter, sort and group using SQL.
If you still don't find a way to do what you want, you can request the template to me following the
instructions in the support
section.
If you instead would like to build the
template yourself, read the Matrex
Function Coding
document. In Matrex it is possible to write templates using scripting
languages (for example Jython) as you use Basic languages in other
spreadsheets.
If you want to publish
it on this site, please send me an
containing
the code.
If I have your permission, the code works and is useful to other people
I will be happy to publish it in this site or add it to the system.
- Which version do I need for my system. 32 or 64 bits?
Since
Matrex uses SWT, which is platform dependent, you need to download the
correct version for your operating system and java runtime interpreter.
If your operating system is 32 bits, choose the 32 bits version.
If instead your operating system is 64 bits there are two possibilities: your Java installation is 32 bits or 64 bits.
You can verify this running the command:
java -version
which should display something like "Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit" if it is 64 bits.
Choose the version of Matrex with the same architecture as your Java runtime interpreter.
If you use MacOSX, Java 5 is 32 bits, Java 6 is 64 (if you don't use SoyLatte).
- I don't find
a version of Matrex for my PC/Operating System. What I can do?
The
only reason why Matrex has different setup files for Windows, Linux and
MacOSX (which are the most commonly used operating systems) is that its
graphical interface is based on SWT, which is platform-dependent.
If
your PC is based on another operating system (also 32/64 bits problems) you can
install the generic
version of Matrex (see here under).
- What is the generic version of Matrex?
The
generic version of Matrex can be used for all the platforms for which
there is not a specific setup file (Windows 64, Linux 64, Solaris, QNX,
AIX...).
Once you have installed the generic version, you need to:
- Start
Matrex the first time from the command line (cmd.exe in Windows, bash
in Linux...), issuing the command java -jar matrex_start.jar from the top Matrex directory.
- Matrex
will try to install SWT from the internet. Please answer to the
question it asks (if you have a proxy, which proxy, from which site you
want to install SWT).
- If everything goes well, start Matrex once again. From this time the application should start as usual, displaying the GUI.
The generic version uses the SWT Web Installer library to download and install the right version of SWT.
- What is a Matrex Server and why should I use it?
The Matrex Server is an application that can be installed to let people work together on the same project in the same time.
- Do I need to use a Matrex Server?
No, a Matrex Server is only needed if you need to share a
project between different users or you want that another PC does the
project's calculations.
If you don't need this, you can just use Matrex with local projects on your own PC.
- Which
products are used by Matrex?
Matrex uses the following products:
