Section 1.4 Maple Help Windows

1.4 Maple Help Windows

Maple's on-line help can be accessed either by selecting an option from the "Help" menu option or by simply typing a question mark (?) followed by a topic. Typing just a question mark (followed by Return) opens the help window describing the Help command. If you begin getting syntax error messages when trying to get help, refer to this Help help window. If typing ? gives you a syntax error message, open a fresh Maple session window.

You should become acquainted with the different categories of functions, statements, and programs that you can see with the help command. You can get this list by: ? index; This produces a Maple help window on "Index" listing the six categories of topics in Maple Help :

Each time you ask for help in Maple V run under X-windows, you will open a new window that has the text in it. When you are finished reading the material in the window, close it with the button at the top of the window. You can open as many help windows as you wish from the main Maple window; their hierarchical arrangement often makes opening several desirable.

Some help files contain examples. You can try out any one of these examples by copying it from the help window and pasting it into the Maple session window. Then, after pasting it, you may edit the example if you wish before typing a Return.

Many help windows have a list at the bottom of the window. This list contains other topics from Maple Help which give further information about a certain topic.