Systemwide Defaults on Unix and Linux
If you have installed
Mathematica in a location where multiple users run it (for example, on a file server or multi-user machine), then you can set up systemwide defaults for the
Mathematica front end and kernel. This is ideal for setting up
Mathematica for use in computer labs and classrooms. If you share the directory
$BaseDirectory across the network, these defaults will also take effect on local installations that use the shared
$BaseDirectory.
The following instructions assume that
$BaseDirectory and
$UserBaseDirectory have their default values,
/usr/share/Mathematica and
~/.Mathematica respectively.
To Set Up a Configuration File for the Front End:
1. Launch
Mathematica, and set up any changes to the front end that you need. For example, you may want to modify default file locations, language options, or menu settings.
3. Copy the file ~/.Mathematica/FrontEnd/init.m to the directory /usr/share/Mathematica/FrontEnd.
These settings will now be used by the front end unless overridden by the local init.m file stored in the user's directory ~/.Mathematica/FrontEnd.
To Set Up a Configuration File for the Kernel:
1. Launch
Mathematica, and create a new file.
2. Add any
Mathematica commands that should be evaluated on startup. For example, you may want to add a function definition or display a message at startup. Enter all the commands in the same cell, separating commands with semicolons.
3. Make this cell an initialization cell by selecting the cell bracket and then choosing .
4. When you have finished making your changes, choose and select
Mathematica Package from the
Save as type popup menu. Then save the file as /usr/share/Mathematica/Kernel/init.m.
These commands will be evaluated when users launch
Mathematica. If you added a function definition, that function will be available to all users.
