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Settings for your Computer

There are some settings you can set on your computer that will make muddling through MATLAB a little easier.

Turn on File Extensions

A file extension identifies the type of file and is typically part of a file name. The extension follows a period in the name. For example, a PDF file might be called something like

CoolStuff.pdf

In this file, CoolStuff is the file name and .pdf is the file extensions. Other common file extensions that you might encounter include:

  • .DOCX: a Microsoft Word Document
  • .CSV: a Spreadsheet file
  • .PNG: an Image File

CoolStuff.docx is a different document than CoolStuff.pdf and should be opened by Microsoft Word.

Often by default, an Operating System will hide these extensions so that the two files CoolStuff.pdf and CoolStuff.docx would be listed in the same folder as:

  • CoolStuff
  • CoolStuff

This can be confusing! Also, in programming, you need to know the file extension to properly open the file.

So, make sure that you can can see the file extensions of your files. This will make working with files much easier and your journey into programming simpler.

Instructions

On a Mac

  1. In the Finder on your Mac, choose Finder > Settings, then click Advanced.
  2. Select “Show all filename extensions.”

If you select “Show all filename extensions,” all extensions are shown, even for files that have “Hide extension” selected. If you deselect “Show all filename extensions,” then file extensions are shown or hidden based on their individual “Hide extension” settings.

On a PC

  1. Open File Explorer; if you do not have an icon for this in the task bar; click Start, click Windows System, and then File Explorer.
  2. Click the View tab in File Explorer
  3. Click the box next to File name extensions to see file extensions