MATLAB is a programming language and interactive environment used by faculty, staff, and students for numerous applications. Frequently, it has been used for data analysis, algorithm development, and visualization.
Colby’s usage of MATLAB was historically utilized in research, with a smaller license supporting up to 35 students concurrently in a classroom. As the popularity of MATLAB increased, so did requests to have MATLAB licensed around the campus.
If you are a faculty, staff, or student using MATLAB on a classroom computer, MATLAB will be installed on designated classroom computers ahead of time by ITS. If you are a faculty member and are uncertain if it is in an assigned room, or would like to implement MATLAB in your classroom, please contact ats-research@colby.edu and we will install it in your preferred classroom. Please note that 1-2 weeks will be needed for implementation if this request is made in the 1st two weeks of either the Fall or Spring semester.
If you would like to install it on your personal computer, that will be covered further down in the 'Personal Installation' section. However, users will still need to follow the sign-in instructions prior to installation.
Contents
Signing in via Mathworks Portal
Personal Installation
Adding Toolboxes/Add-Ons after Installation:
On first use, or when you need to install MATLAB again, users will go to our portal on the Mathworks website located here:
https://www.mathworks.com/academia/tah-portal/colby-college-31752138.html
All users need to first create an account with MathWorks using their Colby email. If they already have a Mathworks account using their Colby email address, they can simply sign in and will be associated with our site-wide license. Any previous licenses associated with the account will also still be available. This account is needed to access online Mathworks resources and authenticate MATLAB installations with our site license, so make sure to save the password or use one you'll remember.
Please note: If users have a previous version of MATLAB on their machine, they still need to do a new installation to access the site-license.
Users who wish to work on their own machines can now install MATLAB on their personal computers. The installation is larger and can take up to 60 minutes depending on the toolboxes selected and the computer being used. Please ensure before installation that your computer meets the minimum requirements here:
https://www.mathworks.com/support/requirements/matlab-system-requirements.html
1. After successfully signing into the Colby Mathworks Portal, you will see a Install MATLAB button in the upper right part of your screen. Click on that:
2. The next page will give you a few options. On the upper left is the version of MATLAB you wish to download. Unless you have been told to use a specific version, typically, the latest version (the one it defaults on) is the version you want to download.
Be mindful of the operating system you are currently using. The options are Windows, MacOS (Silicon), MacOS (Intel), or Linux. Choose the correct version and hit the blue Download for (your OS).
3. After the download button is clicked, an installer will download on your computer. Please click that download when it is completed to continue with the installation. A MathWorks Product Installer will pop up if successful.
Users will sign in using the MathWorks account they created previously using their Colby email.
A Software License Agreement will pop up. Read through the agreement and click Yes followed by the next button.
4. For the next screen please click on the MATLAB (Individual) license and click ‘Next’.
5. The next screen will be a destination folder to install the content. This can be changed on preference, but typically the default location is fine. If users are concerned about the software size, the base installation is ~ 4GB, but can increase with additional toolboxes up to 24GB. Click next once you have found a location you wish to deploy the installation files.
6. The next screen has all of the products, including the base license and toolboxes/add-ons. By default all of the toolboxes/add-ons and MATLAB are selected. However, you will probably not use them all. We recommend tailoring the toolbox installation to what you are planning to do, knowing you can add others later
Click Next once the toolboxes needed are selected.
Please note: If you choose toolboxes that are reliant on other toolboxes, you may need to add them to your installation. A message will appear informing you of the recommended toolboxes to go with your selection. It is highly recommended users install the dependencies in order to avoid issues with MATLAB. Below is an example of the message users can receive.
7. The next screen after you have added your toolboxes will give you the option to add a shortcut, and to opt in improving MATLAB by sending information out. This is entirely optional, and dependent on the user’s needs. Please select the desired options and click Next when ready.
8. The Confirmation screen will then come up allowing you to begin installation. Click Begin Install. Please note, this is a large installation and can take up to 60 minutes.
Once installation is complete users can then start using the application.
1. If users decide after installing MATLAB, to add toolboxes they should go to the Add-Ons section after opening the MATLAB application.
2. Under Add-Ons click on Manage Add-Ons. This wil open a new window in the left side of the application. The lower left shows the already installed toolboxes. The upper part of the left side are other toolboxes, simulations, and tools that users can install.
This concludes the basic introduction to creating a Mathworks account, signing in, and installing MATLAB on personal machines.