Why can't my students use certain features while others can?

Hello All,

I just held a small lecture on matlab, which involved use of symbolic integration/differentiation and the use of ode45 solver. Some of my students were able to use these features on their computers, while others were asked to install packages (i.e., symbolic package). Some purchased their license from our library, and entered a code on the Mathworks website. Some did this recently, while others 1-2 years ago. Is there a way for them to reinstall it without purchasing a new license? Why could some use the features, while others couldn't?

Answer 1

[John D'Errico]

This is because not all students apparently have all the toolboxes. The symbolic toolbox or the curve fitting toolbox are added sets of tools. Not everybody needs them, so not everyone is willing to get them. And MathWorks would not force everyone to get a complete set of tools, most of which they won't use.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

Not all Student Suite toolboxes are selected by default, I gather. The cure (assuming that they are licensed) is to go back into the installer and request a custom installation and select the desired toolboxes.

However if they happened to purchase the stripped down license then they will need to purchase the additional toolboxes, which is currently about $us30 per toolbox for students when not purchased at the same time as the original license. That can make it less expensive sometimes to just repurchase but the entire suite.

Answer 3

[Andreas Goser]

Looking at the information you share about yourself here, it seems you work for a company, but then also do lectures at university. There are two pieces of information needed to help you (and your students) best:

1. Does the university have a campus license ("Total Academic/Student Headcount") or does the university expect from the students to purchase their own MATLAB Student Version? Or something else?

2. You can figure out the products needed by running your codes and lecture on your machine and after that issue the command:

license('inuse')

It returns all the products used during your session.

[Image Analyst]

license('inuse') <=== Useful, interesting tip. I didn't know that. Thanks.

I always just used ver, but that shows all toolboxes I own, not just those that were used during the current session like this does.