     RLAB(1)                   USER COMMANDS                   RLAB(1)

     NAME
            rlab  -  matrix oriented, interactive programming environ-
            ment

     SYNOPSIS
            rlab [-Vdhlmnpqr] [file(s)] [-]

     DESCRIPTION
            rlab is an  interpreter  for  the  RLaB  Programming  Lan-
            guage/Environment.  The RLaB language is useful for matrix
            or array oriented numerical analyses. RLaB  is  especially
            useful  for prototyping and experimenting with algorithms.

            rlab also provides a convenient interface to many  of  the
            LAPACK, FFTPACK, and RANLIB subroutines.

     OPTIONS
            -V     Prints the version number to stderr and exits.

            -d     causes  a  readable  form  of  the  internal  stack
                   machine's compiled program to be output to  stderr.
                   This  option  should  be  used  in conjunction with
                   `-qln' options. This option  is  not  intended  for
                   general use.

            -h     prints the usage message to the screen and exits.

            -l     prevents loading of the rlab library of rfiles.

            -m     prevents printing of the greeting message.

            -n     prevents line number and file name information from
                   being used in the  internal  stack  machine  codes.
                   This  option  should only be used with the `-dlnq'.
                   This option is not intended for general use.

            -p     prevents rlab from using the  specified  pager  for
                   all output.

            -q     prevents loading of the startup file

            -r     prevents usage of the GNU readline library for com-
                   mand line editing.

            file(s)
                   are loaded and executed by rlab after  the  `.rlab'
                   file, and after the library files.

            -      forces  rlab  to go interactive after all the files
                   on the command line have been executed.

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     ENVIRONMENT
            rlab checks the values of  several  environment  variables
            upon  startup,  and  uses  them to overide the compiled in
            defaults. If a particular  environment  variable  has  not
            been set, the default value is used.

            RLAB_RC0 Startup rfile.

            RLAB_HELP_DIR The principle directory of help files.

            RLAB_LIB_DIR The directory of rfiles to load on startup.

            RLAB_PAGER  The  pager to use for paging help files to the
            screen. If RLAB_PAGER is not set, then the environment  is
            checked  for  PAGER  .   If neither exists, then the pager
            specified at compile time is used.

            RLAB_SEARCH_PATH A colon separated list of directories  to
            search when attempting to load rfiles. This directory list
            should contain  the  RLAB_LIB_DIR  and  the  RLaB  toolbox
            directory.  If RLAB_LIB_DIR is not in the RLAB_SEARCH_PATH
            , then there may be unresolved function variables.

     EXECUTION
            rlab is normally executed from a shell command line.  Upon
            startup rlab

            Processes the command line options.

            Executes the `.rlab' file.

            Executes any `.r' files in the library directory.

            Executes any files specified on the command line.

            Goes into interactive mode if no files are specified on the
            command line, or if the `-' option is used.

            rlab  can  also  be  invoked  by using the `#!' convention
            employed by exec(2).  A rlab script  that  begins  with  a
            line of the form:

                 #! pathname [arg]

            where  pathname  is  the  full  pathname  to the rlab exe-
            cutable, and arg is optional argument(s). Note that if the
            `-'  option  is not specified rlab will not go interactive
            after the script has been executed.

     DOCUMENTATION
            rlab has an on-line help system, which can be accessed  by
            typing  `help'.  A  tutorial  and  a  reference manual are

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            currently being worked on.

            This man-page was not intended to provide a description of
            the language, or rlab's features. Please refer to the man-
            uals, or the on-line help.

     BUGS
            Paged output gets hosed after an `out of memory'  message.

            rlab  implements  fprintf(),  printf() and sprintf() using
            the C library functions, fprintf, printf and  sprintf,  so
            rlab inherits any bugs or limitations of the library func-
            tions.

            Send bug reports to: ians@eskimo.com.

            Bug reports should include  the  rlab  version  number,  a
            short  rfile  that exercises the bug, and a description of
            the host operating system and hardware.

     AUTHORS
            Ian Searle (ians@eskimo.com)

            Phillip Musumeci and Ian Searle are  the  authors  of  the
            RLaB Primer

            Brad Hards is the author of the RLaB Reference Manual

            Mike Brennan has contributed some code from mawk.

     SEE ALSO
            sh (1) more (1) exec (2)

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