The Notebook

The Notebook is where you write and run code.

Screenshot of an example Notebook:

Notebook Topbar - Buttons and Options

Save:

Save the state of the Notebook.

Save and Close:

Save and close the notebook window, and return to the Bookshelf.

Interrupt:

Interrupt/abort the current computation. Useful for canceling long running computations, infinite loops, etc. Aborts all pending evaluation requests as well. Does not effect the running session (namespace, variables, computation results).

Kill:

Completely stop and clear the Notebook’s current running state. Destroys namespace, variables. Does not effect any saved text.

Save As:

[WORK IN PROGRESS] Save the Notebook data to another format such as Source, Text, PDF, ReST, HTML.

Share:

[WORK IN PROGRESS] Share the current Notebook with other Users, so they can obtain their own copy of it, or have permissions to edit it.

Notebook Cells - Functionality and Structure

A Notebook is comprised of many Cells, which are the text-areas where you write code or text, or where resulting output appears.

Cell Functionality - How to use Cells effectively

Evaluating code:

Pressing the shift-enter key combination causes the code in an “Input cell” to be sent to the Kernel to be run. The bracket will highlight to indicate evaluation is in progress. The results, if any, are displayed in an “Output Cell” created directly below. The input and an input number will appear to the left of the cell.

Creating a new cell:

Start a new cell by hovering on the empty white area of the Notebook until a solid black line appears. Click and type code or text.

Change Cell’s Type

Right click on the cell or the cell bracket and select the type from the context menu.

Delete cells:

Selecting a bracket and hit the delete key. Opening and closing groups: Double click on a group bracket.

Cell Components and Types

Cell components:

• Left side: Numbers and Labels
• Center: Code and text input and content area.
• Right: Brackets indicating context with respect to other cells (grouping/sectioning).

Output types:

• Textual, i.e. the result of a computation.
• Plot (image)
• Errors

Cell types:

• Title: Highest level heading cell
• Subtitle
• Section
• SubSection: Lowest level heading cell
• Input: (Default, MOST IMPORTANT) Write code here.
• Output: Evaluation results
• Text: None evaluable text

Cell Sections and Grouping

Cells can be organized into sections contained by a group cell.

Setting a cell as a heading type causes all the cells of lower section level below it to be grouped into that section.

Brackets

The solid lines on the far right of all Notebook’s Cells. Select a bracket by clicking on it.