Typing Matrices

Creating a New Matrix

Choose (MenuGrayLink[Insert, paclet:guide/InsertMenu]) ▶ (MenuGrayLink[Table/Matrix, paclet:ref/menuitem/TableMatrix]) ▶ New. Use the dialog box that pops up to create a matrix:

(({{1, 0, 0}, {0, 1, 0}, {0, 0, 1}}))\[VerticalSeparator]

Filling in Placeholders in a Matrix

Suppose the entry in the top-left position is selected.

(({{\[Placeholder], \[Placeholder]}, {\[Placeholder], \[Placeholder]}}))

Type an entry and select the next placeholder with the Tab key; repeat. (Use Shift+Tab to go backward.)

Type a, press Tab:

(({{a, \[Placeholder]}, {\[Placeholder], \[Placeholder]}}))

Type b, press Tab:

(({{a, b}, {\[Placeholder], \[Placeholder]}}))

Type c, press Tab:

(({{a, b}, {c, \[Placeholder]}}))

Press the Control key and the Space bar at the same time to get out of the grid.

Type d, press Ctrl+Space:

(({{a, b}, {c, d}})\[VerticalSeparator])

Move the insertion point to get out of the matrix.

Press RightArrow:

(({{a, b}, {c, d}}))\[VerticalSeparator]

Adding a New Column in a Matrix

Place the insertion point to the right of any entry; here the insertion point is to the right of the entry at the top left.

Place the insertion point:

(({{a\[VerticalSeparator], b}, {c, d}}))

Press the Control and Comma keys at the same time. A column of placeholders will appear, with the top one selected.

Press Ctrl+Comma:

(({{a, \[Placeholder], b}, {c, \[Placeholder], d}}))

Adding a New Row in a Matrix

Place the insertion point to the right of any entry; here the insertion point is to the right of the entry at the top left.

Place the insertion point:

(({{a\[VerticalSeparator], b}, {c, d}}))

Press the Control and MacOSXReturnEnter keys at the same time. A row of placeholders will appear, with the first one selected.

Press Ctrl+MacOSXReturnEnter:

(({{a, b}, {\[Placeholder], \[Placeholder]}, {c, d}}))