Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Introduction To Scilab Programming

What are the main differences between Scilab and MATLAB?
Program Structure, Functions, and Syntax

Very closely paralleled

Most structure and functions identical
o xlabel and ylabel functions in this example are identical
some functions with same name but different results
o the axis function shown in the MATLAB code will produce in Scilab, if
proper arguments are provided, draw an axis in the output window
independent of the rest of the figure
some functions with identical results but different name or syntax
o note the difference in comment lines
o hist and histplot are notable in the examples shown

Matlab Code:

Scilab Code:

Layout and Workspaces

Very functionally similar

MATLAB has a layout more like the most recent versions of MS Office (icons
with explanatory text beneath) while Scilab has the icons alone with explanatory
text available by hovering the mouse.
Same sub-windows
o file browser
o variable workspace
o command window
o command history
a
Both can dock and undock all sub-windows in the main window
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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Editor Window Toolbars

Differences and similarities parallel from the main workspaces

o icons with text as opposed to icons with hover text
Toolbar design different in style, but provides similar functionality
o MATLAB has functionality available through different tabs in the toolbar
o Scilab has more of the functionality available through drop-down menus

Graphing: function plots

While syntax is slightly different between MATLAB and Scilab, function plots
that are essentially the same can be produced
Significant difference:
o MATLAB will clear the plot if another plot command is given
o multiple functions on the same axis must be done in the same statement or
the hold plot function must be used
o allows easy, smooth animation of plots: simply use another plot statement
to create the next frame
o Scilab plots do not clear unless a clear command is given
o multiple functions on the same axis are easy
o smooth animation is harder and has so far remained elusive
Matlab Plot

Scilab Plot

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Graphing: Histograms

Note: differences in the profile of the two histograms results from the fact that they
are both generated from a random process and any two histograms from
the same program would look a bit different
o code producing these plots is the code shown in an earlier slide
Differences in appearance that dont affect functionality
o color and tick marks
Functions in each program are significantly different
o MATLAB hist function puts the data first in the statement, followed by the
number of bins
o Scilab histplot function puts the number of bins first, followed by the data
o Scilab also defaults to a normalized histogram
o If a non-normalized histogram is desired, an argument must be provided in
the histplot function to specify this.

Matlab Histogram

Scilab Histogram

Major Differences

Cost and accessibility:

o MATLAB is paid software with proprietary code
o Scilab is free and open source
more accessible
may be less support, especially for add-on modules
Plot clearing:
o MATLAB clears one plot automatically when another one is plotted
o Scilab leaves all plots on the same axis unless cleared
GUIs
o MATLAB comes standard with a GUI builder, GUIDE, built in
o Scilab comes with a GUI, Guide

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Functions
Functions in Scilab are NOT Matlab m-files but variables. One or several functions can
be defined in a single file (say myfile.sci). The name of of the file is not necessarily related
to the the name of the functions. The name of the function(s) is given by
function [y]=fct1(x)
...
function [y]=fct2(x)
...

The function(s) are not automatically loaded into Scilab. Usually you have to execute
the command getf("myfile.sci") before using it.
Functions can also be defined on-line (or inside functions) by the command deff.
To execute a script file you must use exec("filename") in Scilab and in Matlab you just
need to type the name of the file.
Comment lines
Scilab comments begins with: //
Matlab comments begins with: %
Variables
Predefined variables usually have the % prefix in Scilab (%i, %inf, ...). They are write
protected.
Strings
Strings are considered as 1 by 1 matrices of strings in Scilab. Each entry of a string matrix
has its own length.
Boolean variables
Boolean variables are %T, %F in Scilab and 0, 1 in Matlab. Indexing with boolean variables
may not produce same result.
Example:
x=[1,2];x([1,1])

[which is NOT x([%T,%T])] returns

[1,1]

in Scilab and

Matlab.
Also if x is a matrix x(1:n,1)=[] or x(:)=[] is not valid in Matlab.
Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

[1,2]

in

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Polynomials
Polynomials and polynomial matrices are defined by the function poly in Scilab (builtin variables). They are considered as vectors of coefficients in Matlab.
Empty matrices
[ ]+1 returns 1 in Scilab and [ ] in Matlab.
Plotting
Except for the simple plot and mesh (plot3d) function plots, Scilab and Matlab are not
compatible.

Scicos
Scicos (Scilab) and Simulink (Matlab) are not compatible.
Built-in-functions
Most built in functions are identical in Matlab and Scilab. Some of them have a slightly
different syntax. Here is a brief, partial list of commands with significant different syntax.
Matlab
all
any
balance
cputime
echo
eig
eval
exist
fopen
fwrite
fclose
feof
ferror
feval
filter
finite
fread

Scilab
and
or
balanc
timer
mode
Spec or bdiag
evstr
exists + type
mopen
mwrite
mclose

evstr and strcat

rtitr
x < %inf
read

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

fseek
ftell
global
home
isglobal
isinf(a)
isnan(a)
isstr(a)
lookfor
pause
randn
setstr
srcmp(a,b)
which
nargin
nargout
uimenu

file

a == %inf
a ~= a
type(a) == 10
apropos
halt
rand
code2str
a == b
whereis
[nargout, nargin]=argn(0)
getvalue

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Scilab Exercises
Basic Commands

help
Purpose = to get the list of help topics

clock
Purpose = to show date in vector form
ans =
2014. 2. 23. 10. 22. 20.000001

date
Purpose = to show date in string form
Ans=
29-Oct-2014

ver
Purpose = to show current version of Scilab
Ans =
Scilab Version:
5.5.1.1412169962

pwd
Purpose = to show the present working directory
Ans =
C:\Users\dell\Documents

cd
Purpose = to change the directory

dir
Purpose = to display the name of all files and folder in the present directory
Ans =
AppData\
Application Data\
Contacts\
Cookies\
Desktop\
Documents\
Downloads\

ls
Purpose = to display the name of all files and folder in the current directory
Ans =
!My Videos
!
!
!
!My Pictures
!
!
!
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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

!My Music
!

!
!

mkdir
Purpose = to create a new directory

who
Purpose = to list all the variables in workspace
Ans =
Your variables are:
Ans

whos
Purpose = to display the information of all the variables
Ans =
Name
Size
Bytes
Class
Ans
1X58
116
char

what
Purpose = Lists low level primitives and commands.
Ans =
Internal Functions:
!!_invoke_
%H5Object_e %H5Object_fieldnames
Commands:
abort
apropos
break
case

Attributes

%H5Object_p

clear
Purpose = to clear all variables

clc
Purpose = to clear all the commands in the workspace

clf
Purpose = to clear the figure window

quit
Purpose = to exit the scilab

exit
Purpose = to exit the scilab

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Evaluating the Expressions

1. x3+5x2-2.67x-52 , when x=13.5
2. ((14x3)1/2)/e3x , when x=13.5
3. log|x2-x3| , when x=13.5
4. [37 log(76)/(73+546)] + (910)1/3
5. Prove LHS=RHS when x=/5
a. Cos2(x/2) = tanx+sinx/2tanx

Solution:

x3+5x2-2.67x-52
-->x=13.5
-->x^3+5*(x^2)-2.67*x-52

Output = 3283.58

((14x3)1/2)/e3x
-->x=13.5
-->(sqrt(14*(x^3)))/exp(3*x)
Output = 4.782D-16
Note: The above output contains D. To Remove that we change the output format.
--> format(25)
-->(sqrt(14*(x^3)))/exp(3*x)
Output = 0.0000000000000004782315

log|x2-y3|
-->x=13.5
-->log(abs((x^2)-(x^3)))

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Output = 7.7311080151970230645020

-->[(37 log(76))/(73+546)] + (910)1/3

(((3^7)*log(76))/((7^3)+546))+(nthroot(910,3))

Output = 20.3444

Prove LHS=RHS

when x=/5

Cos2(x/2) = tanx+sinx/2tanx

LHS
-->cos2(x/2)
(cos(x/2))^2
Output = 0.9045

RHS
-->tanx+sinx/2tanx
(tan(x)+sin(x))/(2*tan(x))
Output = 0.9045

Thus, LHS=RHS

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Polynomial evaluation
Q1) f(x) = x5-12.1 x4+40.59 x3-17.015 x2-71.95 x+35.88, Calculate f(9) and roots of this equation.
Q2) Perform the polynomial multiplication and addition for the given two polynomial
f1(x) = 3 x6+15 x4-10 x3-3 x2+15 x-40
f2(x) = 3 x3-2 x-6
Q3) Divide the polynomial 4 x4+6 x3-2 x2-5 x-3 by x2+4x+2
Basic Operations:
--> p = poly([2, 3], x)

Or

--> p = poly([2, 3], x, r)

Note: r indicates that the first argument array are the roots of the second argument. If the third argument
is not present, it defaults to 'r', as in the first statement.
=> p = 6 - 5x + x2
--> p1 = poly([6, -5, 1], x, c)
Note: c indicates that the first argument array are the coefficients of the second argument.
=> p1 = 6 -5x + x2
1.
2.
3.
4.

coeff(p) returns a row vector containing the coefficients of the polynomial.

roots(p) returns a column vector containing the roots of the polynomial.
varn(p) returns the variable of a polynomial.
companion(p) returns the companion matrix (a matrix whose characteristic equation is the given
polynomial) of the polynomial
5. derivat(p) returns a polynomial which is the derivative of p
6. typeof(p) returns the type of the variable. In this case, it will return the type as polynomial
Function horner() evaluates the polynomial for the given value/values of the independent variable. If the
input is a single number, polynomial is evaluated for that value of the independent variable. If the input is
a vector, polynomial is evaluated at each value in the vector, and returns a vector as the result.
-->horner(p, 2)
ans =
0.
-->horner(p, [2, 3])
ans = `
0. 0.
-->horner(p, 4)
ans =
2.

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Solutions:
Ans Q1)
Code:
-->P = poly([35.88 -71.95 -17.015 40.59 -12.1 1], 'x', 'c')
P = 35.88 - 71.95x - 17.015x2 + 40.59x3 - 12.1x4 + x5
-->horner(P,9)
ans = 7261.125
-->roots(P)
ans =
6.5
4.
2.3
- 1.2
0.5
Ans Q2)
Code:
-->P = [-40 15 -3 -10 15 3]
-->Q = [-6 -2 0 3]
-->P+Q
-->P*Q
Output:
-->P = poly([-40 15 -3 -10 15 3],'x','c')
P = - 40 + 15x - 3x2 - 10x3 + 15x4 + 3x5
-->Q = poly([-6 -2 0 3],'x','c')
Q = - 6 - 2x + 3x3
-->P + Q
ans = - 46 + 13x - 3x2 - 7x3 + 15x4 + 3x5
-->P * Q
ans = 240 - 10x - 12x2 - 54x3 - 25x4 - 57x5- 36x6 + 45x7 + 9x8
Ans Q3)
Code:
P = poly([-3 -5 -2 6 4],x,c)
Q = poly([2 4 1], x, c]
Output:
P = 4 6 -2 -5 3
Q= 1 4
2
D = 4 -10 30
R= 0 0
0 -105 -57

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Programming using control structures

Q1) Display the grade of a student using if-else statement
a >80 - Distinction
a < 80 and a > 60 - First Class
a < 60 and a > 45 - Second Class
a < 45 - Fail
Q2) Find if the given number is odd or even using if-else structure.
Q3) To find the body mass index (BMI) by using height and weight.
BMI = weight/(height)2
Weight (KG)
Height (Meters)
BMI <18.5 = under weight
BMI > 18.5 and <24.9 = normal
BMI > 25 and <29.9 = overweight
BMI >30 = obese
Solution:
Ans 1)
Code:

disp("Display the grade of the student ");

a = input("Enter Marks: ");
if a >=80
disp("Distinction");
elseif(a>=60 & a<80)
disp("First Class");
elseif(a>=45 & a<60)
disp("Second Class");
else
disp("Fail");
end;
Output:
Display the grade of the student
Enter Marks: 70
First Class
Display the grade of the student
Enter Marks: 39
Fail
Ans 2)
Code:

disp("Check whether the input number is odd or even");

a = input("Enter a number: ");
if (modulo(a,2)==0)
disp ("Even");
else
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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

disp ("Odd");
end;
Output:
Check whether the input number is odd or even
Enter a number: 56
Even
Enter a number: 3
Odd
Ans 3)
Code:

disp("Calculating BMI")
w = input ("Enter Weight: ")
h = input ("Enter Height: ")
r=w/(h^2);
mprintf("The BMI is: %d", r)
if(r<18.5)
disp ("Underweight")
elseif(r > 18.5 & r < 24.9)
disp ("Normal")
elseif(r > 25 & r < 29.5)
disp("Overweight")
else
disp("Obese")
end
Output:
Calculating BMI
Enter weight: 50
Enter height: 1.5
The BMI is:
22.222
Normal
Calculating BMI
Enter weight: 75
Enter height: 1.1
The BMI is:
61.9835
Obese

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

For, While and Switch statements

Q1) Find the sum of N natural numbers using FOR loop.
Q2) Find the sum of odd numbers using WHILE loop.
Q3) implement string functions such as length and compare to upper and lower case using switch case.
Solution:
Ans 1)
Code:

sum =0
n=input("Enter the number of numbers: ")
for i = 1:1:n
sum = sum+i
end
mprintf("The sum of first %d natural numbers is %d",n,sum)
Output:
Enter the number of numbers: 10
The sum of first 10 natural numbers is 55
Ans 2)
Code:

sum =0
n=input("Enter the number of numbers: ")
i=1
while i<n
sum=sum+i
i=i+2
end
mprintf('The sum of odd natural numbers upto %d is: %d',n,sum)
Output:
Enter the number of numbers: 10
The sum of odd natural numbers upto 10 is: 25
Ans 3)
Code:

a = 'HELLO';
b = 'hai';
mprintf('1 for length \n 2 to compare \n 3 to apply lower case \n 4 to apply upper case');
ch = input ('Enter any number : ');
select ch
case 1
disp (length(a));
disp (length(b));
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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

case 2
disp (strcmp(a,b));
case 3
disp (convstr(a,'l'));
disp (convstr(b,'l'));
case 4
disp (convstr(a,'u'));
disp (convstr(b,'u'));
else
disp ('Wrong Choice');
end;
Output:
1 for length
2 to compare
3 to apply lower case
4 to apply upper case
Enter any number: 1
5.
3.

1 for length
2 to compare
3 to apply lower case
4 to apply upper case
Enter any number: 3
hello
hai

1 for length
2 to compare
3 to apply lower case
4 to apply upper case
Enter any number: 4
HELLO
HAI

1 for length
2 to compare
3 to apply lower case
4 to apply upper case
Enter any number: 2
- 1.

1 for length
2 to compare
3 to apply lower case
4 to apply upper case
Enter any number: 3
hello
hai

1 for length
2 to compare
3 to apply lower case
4 to apply upper case
Enter any number: 7
Wrong Choice

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

File Operations
Q1) Open a text file in Scilab.
Q2) Writing information WELCOME into a file and read that file.
Q3) Copy and close the file.
Solutions:
Ans 1)
Code:
--> fid = mopen('test.txt', 'w')
fid =
1.
Ans 2)
Code:
fid = mopen(test.txt, w);
mfprintf(fid,hello %s %d.\n,world,1);
mclose(fid);
f1 = mopen(test.txt,r);
mfscanf (f1, %s %s)
Output:
ans = !hello world !

Ans 3)
Code:
copyfile test.txt test2.txt
fid = fopen (test2.txt, r);
mfscanf (fid, %s %s)
Output:
ans = !hello world !

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Matrix Arithmetic Operations

1) Perform the arithmetic operations for the given 3X3 matrix
A+B, A-B, A*B, det(A), det(B)
A=
3

11

10

13 9

B=
4

12

2) A =

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 32 33 34 35

i.
Form a matrix B from the first, third and fourth rows and the first, third, fourth and seventh column
of the matrix A.
ii.
Create a matrix C with 17 elements long row vector from matrix A from the elements of the third
row, the fifth & seventh column.

Solutions:
Ans 1)
Code:
-->A = [ 3 11 6 ; 4 7 10 ; 13 9 0 ]
-->B = [ 4 6 8 ; 3 5 7 ; 6 9 12 ]
-->C = A+B
-->D = A-B
-->E = A*B
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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

-->F = det (A)
-->G = det (B)
Output:
A=
3 11 6
4 7 10
13 9
0
B=
4 6 8
3 5 7
6 9 12
C=
7 17 14
7 12 17
19 18 12
D=
-1 5 -2
1 2 -3
7 0 -12
E=
81 127 173
97 149 201
79 123 167
F = 830
G = 0.0000000000000006661338
Ans 2)
Code:
A = [ 1:7 ; 2:2:14 ; 21:-3:3 ; 5:5:35 ]
a = A (1, :)
b = A (3:4, :)
c = [a;b]
d = c (:,1)
e = c (:,3:4)
f = c (:,7)
B=[def]
g = A (3,:)
h = A (:,5)
I = A (:,7)
h=h
i=I
U = [ g h i]
Output:
A=
a=

1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

b=

21
5

18 15 12 9 6 3
10 15 20 25 30 35

c=
21 18 15 12 9 6 3
5 10 15 20 25 30 35
d=
1
21
5
e=
3 4
15 12
15 20
f=7
3
35
B=
1 3 4 7
21 15 12 3
5 15 20 25
g = 21 18 15 12 9 6 3
h= 5
10
9
25
I=7
14
3
35
h = 5 10 9 25
I = 7 14 3 35
U = 21 18 15 12 9 6 3 5 10 9 25 7 143 35

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Rule of matrix
From the matrix A, B and C
A=

B=

5 2 4
1 7 -3
6 -10 0
11 5 -3
0 -12 4
2 6 1

C=

7 14 1
10 3 -2
8 -5 9
Q1) Calculate A+B and B+A, to show that addition of matrix is commutative.
Q2) Calculate A(A+B) and (A+B)+C, to show that addition of matrix is associative.
Q3) Calculate A*(B+C) and A*B+A*C, to show that multiplication of matrix is multiplication.
Solutions:
A = [ 5 2 4 ; 1 7 -3 ; 6 -10 0]
B = [ 11 5 -3 ; 0 -12 4 ; 2 6 1]
C = [ 7 14 1 ; 10 3 -2 ; 8 -5 9]
Ans 1)
Code:

Ans 2)
Code:

Ans 3)
Code:

X=A+B
Y=B+A

X=A+(B+C)
X=A+(B+C)

X=A*(B+C)
Y=A*B+A*C

Output:
X=
Y=
Hence, A+B = B+A

Output:
X=
Y=
Hence, A(A+B) = (A+B)+C

Output:
X=
Y=
Hence, A*(B+C) = A*B+A*C

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

2D plots
Year

2008

Placement 65

2009

2010

2011

2012

72

74

76

84

Q1) Plot the graph for the table with dashed dotted red lines, marker type diamond, marker edge color
green, marker size = 12 and label the graph along with grid and box. Also plot the bar chart and pie diagram
for the data.
Solutions:
Ans 1)
Code:
-->year = [ 2008,2009,2010,2011,2012 ]
-->placement = [ 65,72,74,76,84 ]
-->plot (year,placement,'rd-','markeredgecolor','g','markersize',12);
-->title('2D PLOTS and PRINTING LABELS');

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Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur

Bar chart and pie chart

Q1) Write a Scilab program to get 5 subjects for 5 members of student and calculate the average and draw
the bar chart and pie chart for individual students performance.
Solution:
Ans 1)
Code:
S1 = [30 35 48 36 40];
S2 = [32 33 25 12 27];
S3 = [4 0 16 5 1];
S4 = [47 49 48 45 50];
S5 = [27 18 39 34 30];
a = sum(S1)/5;
b = sum(S2)/5;
c = sum(S3)/5;
d = sum(S4)/5;
e = sum(S5)/5;
S = [a b c d e];
bar (S,'y');
pie (S);

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, SRM University, Kattankulathur