[comp.sys.apollo] Graphics on Apollos

leland@wri.UUCP (06/01/90)

In discussing graphics packages on the Apollos, Peter Tonellato 
(tone@math.mu.edu) writes:

>We use two fairly general packages:
>
>    1.) Mathematica. Great for quick plotting as well as an
>        excellent tool for general mathematical analysis
>        using symbolic manipulation. We purchased it for

Thank you for the plug. We like this package very much :-)
    
>        Only problem: Does not plot interactively on DN3500
>        nodes. One must first create the postscripted graph
>        in a file, pop a window and then display the ps file
>        using the Mathematica provided postscript display
>        program.
>
>Net question: Anyone heard from mathematica about a fix 
>              for this bug? Last time I ...

There is a problem, that affects some installations, where Mma
calls the wrong shell. The easy way to tell if you have the problem
is to do a !ls from the input prompt, and see if the operation
succeeds.

A universal fix for this problem has not yet been determined, although
we have managed to find the cause (and solve the problem) at some
sites.

There have so far been two cases in which we've been able to duplicate
the problem.

  Case 1: The users environment variable SHELL is not set to a Unix
          shell.

  Solution: When practical, modify the math shell script to set this
          variable to /bin/sh.

  Case 2: The Apollo does not have the bsd4.3 environment loaded.

  Solution: Yucky workarounds like loading the bsd4.3 environment, or
          linking /bsd4.3 to /sys5.3 do work. You can also run the
          dmps program directly, as Mr. Tonellato does.

We should be correcting this problem in the next release of
Mathematica for the Apollos. I'm sorry, but I can't give a firm date
for the release.

Please, please make certain that you have sent in your warranty cards,
else we might not be able to send you updates.

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Disclaimer: I am not a spokesman for WRI. Although I attempt to be as
            accurate as humanly possible, nothing in my notes should be
            taken as an official statement by WRI. I am not a substitute
            for customer service.

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In[1] := Plot3D[Sin[x,y],{x,0,2Pi},{y,0,2Pi}]    Leland Ray
                                                 Systems Administrator -- Un*x
Email: leland@wri.com                            Wolfram Research, Inc.
                                                 (217) 398-0700