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How to get started:

  • You will need to install MATLAB on your computer. If you're at the University of Virginia, then you can follow these links for installation help:

  • Once MATLAB is installed, you will need to install xolotl. Although xolotl is written in C++, the program is designed to run in the MATLAB environment. To install xolotl, follow these instructions:

    • Installing xolotl:

      • Open up Matlab.

      • ​Once open, go to the Apps tab on top.

      • Open up Get More Apps to get the Add-On Explorer. Search for Xolotl in the upper right search tool. Install the following two apps that are found:​​

        • ​xolotl neuron and network simulator 

        • cpplab

        • For Windows machines, also install:

          • MATLAB Support for MinGW-w64 C/C++/Fortran Compiler (search for MinGW).

      • Next, download:

        • for mac: xolotl.zip (link)

        • for PCs: xolotl.zip (link)

        • ​Uncompress the folder in C:\Users\you\Documents\MATLAB​

        • xolotl_class.zip (link)

          • Uncompress the folder onto your desktop​.

          • Within Matlab, open up the set_xolotl_beenhakker_class.m file in the uncompressed xolotl_class folder and run it.

    • If MATLAB, MATLAB Toolboxes, and Compilers have been installed, watch all the pop-ups and wait until the interface for xolotlAPP pops up. This may take several minutes.

    • To complete the exercises, type runXolotlRun in the command window. This will pop up a graphical user interface (aka GUI) that serves as an interface for each of the five exercises.

      • If the GUI is too big for your monitor, then copy/paste the following 3 commands into MATLAB's command window and hit enter:

        1. appFigure = findall(0, 'Type', 'Figure', 'Tag', '');

        2. appFigure.Position = [100 100 600 600] ;

          • The last two numbers in the brackets (i.e., 600 & 600) correspond to the dimensions of the GUI. You can edit those numbers to modify the size of the GUI.​

        3. appFigure.Scrollable = 'on';

      • Your MATLAB session may trigger many warnings. You can ignore these. If you wish to suppress these warnings, then copy/paste the following command into MATLAB's command window and hit enter:

        • warning('off', 'all');​

    • If all else fails, then go here to install.

​

 Follow this link to the exercises.​

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