Site Licenses @ Institute of Physics
Silesian University in Opava
Wolfram Mathematica is a system for modern STEM computing.
Used at the Institute of Physics since 1990’s (version 2).
Site License Administrator: Stanislav Hledík
News & Events ● Licensing ● Installing ● Courses ● References ● Misc ● FAQ
Sorted in reverse chronological order.
[2025-08] Mathematica 14.3 release
Version 14.3 was released on August 5, 2025. It’s a “big” release, with lots of important new and updated functionality, particularly in core areas of the system, so upgrading is highly recommended:
Summary of New and Improved Features
In addition to the general update instructions, please pay attention to the following paragraph:
The site administrator recommends that all Mathematica Off-Network users – formerly known as Mathematica Home users – obey the following: Before upgrading to version 14.3, delete the mathpass file (alternatively, you can rename it or move it to a backup location). This file is located in the following directory: C:\ProgramData\Wolfram\Licensing on WIN, /Library/Wolfram/Licensing or /Users/<username>/Library/Wolfram/Licensing on MAC, and /usr/share/Wolfram/Licensing or ~/.Wolfram/Licensing on LINUX. Then, reactivate your license by following the activation instructions in the Installing and Activating subsection. This will assign you a new Activation Key (in the form 5040-3869-XXXXXX, the first two numeric fields of which are common to all Mathematica Off-Network users and coincide with the mother license number L5040-3869) and make me more operative in providing help and support. You can also postpone the described reactivation and do it later.
A few more minor notes:
The MathLM Network License Manager was upgraded to version 14.3 during the first weekend of August 2025. This step was necessary prior to upgrading the client network machines to version 14.3. Because MathLM 14.3 can only be used to serve licenses to clients running Mathematica versions 13.0 to Wolfram 14.3, it will no longer work for any Mathematica Network users still running a version lower than 13.0. All such users are encouraged to upgrade to version 14.3.
Upgrading is straightforward for 14.1+ users, but if you are using 14.0 or earlier, read more detailed instructions how to upgrade. If in doubt, do not hesitate to contact me.
Before upgrading, it is a good idea to have a look at the system requirements (for example, older versions of Windows 10 are not supported anymore).
For more information on the location of files like mathpass , see the How do I uninstall Wolfram? tutorial (or the How do I uninstall Mathematica? tutorial for 14.0- users).
[2025-06] Moving Site License to Wolfram Account
Wolfram has consolidated the management of your products (such as Mathematica) from the Wolfram User Portal with your existing Wolfram Account (the former link will now redirect you to the latter). From now on, you can manage all your Wolfram products – both desktop and cloud-based – in one convenient place.
No action is required, and your access to Wolfram products like Mathematica remains unchanged.
For detailed information and video walkthroughs, visit the Wolfram Support FAQs or contact your site administrator.
[2025-05] Wolfram Notebook Assistant + LLM Kit
The Wolfram Notebook Assistant + LLM Kit, a new AI-powered assistant for your Wolfram license, is now available. To start using it, I recommend the following:
Go to the Wolfram Notebook Assistant + LLM Kit page and click the [Or start a free trial] link.
Log in with your Wolfram ID credentials, and start your free 15-day trial.
Follow the instructions in this document to configure your Wolfram Notebook Assistant + LLM Kit.
The possible purchase of licenses might be subject to negotiation.
[2024-09] Upgrading from 14.0- to 14.1+
Starting with version 14.1, the Wolfram application was introduced as the new way for users to access Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha Notebook Edition, Wolfram|One, and Finance Platform. With this update came a number of changes that are not backward compatible. Visit the following links to learn more:
Upgrading from Mathematica to Wolfram
Mathematica, Wolfram|One, and other products are now accessed via the new unified WOLFRAM app
Administrator’s recommendation: use the “Freshly Install …” alternatives described in the first link above. “Freshly Install …” means that you first uninstall all versions of Mathematica installed on your computer using the system uninstaller (usually three items have to be uninstalled: the program, the documentation, and the Wolfram script), and then delete all directories listed in the “How do I uninstall Mathematica?” link below. Only then can you proceed with the installation of version 14.1+.
Currently, the following two types of licensing are available. From a functional point of view, both are equivalent, but differ in licensing terms. If you are a new user interested in installing the program, please let me know. The current license will expire at the end of the 2026, but we hope on having funds for extending it for years to come.
Staff license L5040-3869 Mathematica (Comprehensive Site) – Mathematica Network (26 Seats) and Mathematica Off-Network Use (total of 26):
Mathematica Network is typically intended for deployment across multiple machines on a local-area network that are permanently located within reach of the Network License Manager, which runs on the Wolfram Network License Server at the Silesian University in Opava (including via VPN). Activation is through a Wolfram Network License Server, the domain name of which will be provided to eligible users upon request:
Mathematica Off-Network Use is intended for scientific and educational staff to use their laptops offsite or while disconnected from their organization’s VPN. This allows them to use the software outside of the reach of the Network License Manager. Activation is through an assigned Activation Key:
Student license L5040-3865 Mathematica (Student Comprehensive Site) – total of 25, intended for students’ laptops, regardless of the Wolfram Network License Server’s accessibility. Activation is through an assigned Activation Key. Each eligible student will be provided with a legal school license of the Wolfram Mathematica program for the duration of the course, at least until the relevant exam has been successfully passed (allocation and installation will be handled after registration before the first lecture).
If you want to install the Staff license L5040-3869 – Mathematica Network and are neither a Staff license L5040-3869 – Mathematica Off-Network user nor a Student license L5040-3865 user, please ask me for the installer.
Users with a Staff license L5040-3869 – Mathematica Off-Network or a Student license L5040-3865 can download the installer themselves from their Wolfram Account using their Wolfram ID, even for the Staff license L5040-3869 – Mathematica Network installation.
For Version 14.1 and higher of Wolfram-based products, such as Mathematica, visit the Installing Wolfram tutorial. Please keep in mind that the term “Wolfram User Portal” is still used in the tutorial, even though the portal no longer exists. These links will direct you to your Wolfram Account. See Moving Site License to Wolfram Account for details.
For lower versions, see Installing Mathematica tutorial for details.
Once the installation of your Wolfram product (such as Mathematica) is complete, upon first launching it you will be presented with the Wolfram Product Activation dialog. The Activating Mathematica tutorial shows you how to do this. Specifically, you will need the following:
Use the Online Activation through Sign In section if you are a Staff license L5040-3869 Mathematica – Off-Network user or a Student license L5040-3865 user.
Use the Connect to a Network License Server section if you are a Staff license L5040-3869 – Mathematica Network user (ask me for the Wolfram Network License Server domain name).
To upgrade your Wolfram product (such as Mathematica), you can basically follow the download and installation instructions above. All upgrades of Wolfram products are complete installations and do not require a previous version to be installed. Upgrading your software only requires installing the latest version on your computer.
You can choose to uninstall the previous version of your software before you begin; however, many installers give you the option to do so during the installation process.
If you upgrade from version 14.2.1 or lower to version 14.3 or higher: Please follow the site administrator’s recommendation in the Mathematica 14.3 release announcement.
… for Staff license L5040-3869 users (Mathematica Network)
If you are also a Mathematica Off-Network Use user, simply download the installer from the Wolfram User Portal using your Wolfram ID, run the installer, and activate using the Wolfram Network License Server.
Ask me for the installer if you are not a Mathematica Off-Network Use user.
… for Staff license L5040-3869 users (Mathematica Off-Network Use)
Basically, there are two ways to request an upgrade:
1. Ask me and I will gladly submit an upgrade request for you. You will then receive a message from Wolfram with further instructions at the email address used as your Wolfram ID login. Please allow 1—2 business days for Wolfram to process your request.
2. You can submit an upgrade request by yourself. Here is how:
On the My Products and Services tab in your Wolfram User Portal, click Request Upgrade in the Reminder column.
On a new page titled Site Home-Use Mathematica License Form, enter L5040-3869 (NOT your activation key) in the input field, and select An upgrade for an existing home-use license in the What are you requesting? radio buttons. Confirm by clicking the Continue button.
In the following License Details section, enter your activation key in the form XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXX (here is how to find it, but it is also available from the Help ▶ About Wolfram menu) in the input field. It is recommended to select Download: Send it to me at the email address I specify (you will be asked for your email address later) in the How would you like to receive the upgrade? radio buttons. Finally, select your operating system in the For what platform will you need your home-use upgrade? radio buttons, and confirm by clicking the Continue button under the User Agreement.
In the input fields of the following Contact Information section, enter your names without diacritics, your email address (must be the same as your Wolfram ID login). Fill in the remaining Organization name and Department fields exactly as follows:
Slezska Univerzita v Opave
Institute of Physics
Place a check mark in the last check box and click the Submit button.
You will then receive a message from Wolfram with further instructions at the email address used as your Wolfram ID login. Please allow 1—2 business days for Wolfram to process your request.
… for Student license L5040-3865 users
All student license keys are flagged as “Auto Upgrade = Yes” (see the table at right in the List of student users). Anyone using a key that is flagged as “Auto Upgrade = Yes” will be upgraded automatically to a new version and sent an email notification with a link to download the upgrade immediately. They can continue using their current version, upgrade to the new version or use both versions on their machine.
Some useful material may be found on web pages of the following Wolfram Language & Mathematica related courses:
Symbolické výpočty / Symbolic Computations
Standardní matematické softwary / Standard mathematical software
Numerické metody ve fyzice / Numerical Methods in Physics (see also Sample projects written in Wolfram Language / Mathematica)
Teoretická mechanika / Theoretical Mechanics
Deterministický chaos / Deterministic Chaos – FU:TFNPV0003, FU:ETFNPV0003, FU:OAVENPVB01
[WLHome] Wolfram Language home page.
[WLSDC] Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center. (The same offline documentation, in addition involving interactive features, is an optional part of the Mathematica installation.)
[WLRepo] Wolfram Language curated/community repositories.
[WolfID] How do I create a Wolfram ID to access Wolfram products and systems?
[MathWorld] Wolfram MathWorld. The web’s most extensive mathematics resource.
[FunSite] The Mathematical Functions Site. A resource for the educational, mathematical and scientific communities.
[WolfComm] Wolfram Community. Connection with users of Wolfram technologies to learn, solve problems and share ideas.
[NtbkSec] Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center: Notebook Security
[MathUnins] How do I uninstall Mathematica 14.0 and earlier versions?
[WolfUnins] How do I uninstall Wolfram?
[WolfAUP] Wolfram Account (the Wolfram User Portal has been terminated)
[MathSupp] Mathematica Support. A very useful source of information.
[WolfSupp] Wolfram Support. You can contact the support by posting a question, product feedback, bug report, …
[SysReq] Mathematica System Requirements.
[Implement] Are you curious about how some algorithm is implemented internally?
[IncompChng] Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center: Incompatible Changes since Mathematica Version 1
[RevHistory] Mathematica Quick Revision History
[TransferForm] How do I move Wolfram software to a new computer? System Transfer Form
[MathLM] MathLM Status (within Site IPs only)
[WolfSiteGui] Wolfram Sites Support Guide
[WolfBookTools] Wolfram Media – The Publishing Unit of the Wolfram Group: Wolfram Book Tools
[FastIntroProg] The Wolfram Language: Fast Introduction for Programmers
[FastIntroMath] Mathematica & Wolfram Language: Fast Introduction for Math Students
[IntroBook] Stephen Wolfram: An Elementary Introduction to the Wolfram Language, Third Edition
[WolframU] Learning Resources for the Computational Universe
[MSE] Stack Exchange. Mathematica & Wolfram Language. Visit author’s MSE account via the following flair:
[MSEFrequent] Mathematica Stack Exchange. Frequent Questions
[MSEGood] Mathematica Stack Exchange. Where can I find examples of good Mathematica programming practice?
[MSEPitfalls] Mathematica Stack Exchange. What are the most common pitfalls awaiting new users?
[MSELoops] Mathematica Stack Exchange. Alternatives to procedural loops and iterating over lists in Mathematica
[MSEScoping] Mathematica Stack Exchange. What are the use cases for different scoping constructs?
[MSEXValues] Mathematica Stack Exchange. What is the distinction between DownValues, UpValues, SubValues, and OwnValues?
[MSEUndocumented] Mathematica Stack Exchange. What are some useful, undocumented Mathematica functions? See also Questions tagged [undocumented]
[MSO] StackOverflow – Questions tagged [wolfram-mathematica]
[WLSDCPacOver] Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center: Paclets Overview Tech Note
[GayleyPaclets] T. Gayley: Paclets and Paclet Development. A preliminary version of a tutorial on paclets and paclet development
[WLSDCPacRepo] Wolfram Research: Wolfram Language Paclet Repository. Community-contributed installable additions to the Wolfram Language
[b3m2a1Paclets] b3m2a1@gmail.com: Package Usage and Development — Paclets
[WLSDCPacCreate] Wolfram Language & System Documentation Center: Creating Paclets Tech Note
[AbbVer] Nasser M. Abbasi: A little bit of Mathematica history – Versions and release dates
[b3m2a1] A little Mathematica tutorial written for a group of chemists the author knew: A (Somewhat) Quick Intro to Mathematica
[Rus09] Ruskeepää, H.: Mathematica® Navigator. Mathematics, Statistics, and Graphics. 3rd Edition, Elsevier, 2009. ISBN 978-0-12-374164-6.
[Shi09] Shifrin, L.: Mathematica Programming – An Advanced Introduction. 2009.
[Wel13] Wellin, P.: Programming with Mathematica® : An Introduction. Cambridge University Press, 2013. ISBN 978-1-107-00946-2.
[Wel16] Wellin, P.: Essentials of Programming in Mathematica® , Cambridge University Press, 2016. ISBN 978-1-107-11666-5.
[Wol99] Wolfram, S.: The Mathematica® Book. Newest printed : 5th Edition, Wolfram Media, 2003. ISBN 1-57955-022-3 (hardcover/1488 pages).
Sorted in reverse chronological order.
On 2025-01-09, a strange (and suspiciously buggy) behavior of the AbsArg system function was observed in version 14.1 on Windows 10, 11. (Student Alejandro Estupiñán Suárez also deserves credit, as the weird behavior was found while reviewing his Exam Project.) The description of the issue has been posted to Mathematica & Wolfram Language StackExchange, where there has been confirmation of the suspicion of a bug. A bug report was then sent to Wolfram Support. On 2025-01-14 this suspicion was acknowledged as a bug by Wolfram Support and listed as [CASE:5217115].
Fixed in version 14.3.
[2024-03] Sample projects written in Wolfram Language / Mathematica
Can be found in the Numerical Methods in Physics course, section Software ▶ Projekty vyučujícího napsané ve Wolfram Language (currently only available in Czech).
Sorted in reverse chronological order.
Q: I changed my computer or upgraded to a newer version of the operating system on the same computer. After reinstalling Wolfram, it refuses to activate. What should I do?
A: You are required to unlink your license from the original system. Use the [TransferForm] link, log in with your Wolfram ID credentials, enter the Activation Code for the license you want to transfer (visit your Wolfram Account to copy it), select the appropriate radio button, check all three checkboxes, and click Submit.
Q: How do I delete or rename the mathpass file?
A: The mathpass file may be located in a hidden directory. Here are guaranteed ways to rename it:
WIN: Run Command Prompt (cmd) and enter the following commands:
cd c:\ProgramData\Wolfram\Licensing
rename mathpass .mathpass.backup
MAC: Run a shell terminal (check your superuser privileges, prepending sudo may help; prepend /Users/<username> when changing directory if applicable):
cd /Library/Wolfram/Licensing; mv -vf mathpass .mathpass.backup
LINUX: Run a shell terminal (check your superuser privileges, prepending sudo may help; replace /usr/share/Wolfram/Licensing with ~/.Wolfram/Licensing if applicable):
cd /usr/share/Wolfram/Licensing; mv -vf mathpass .mathpass.backup
To completely delete, use:
WIN: Run Command Prompt (cmd) and enter the following commands:
cd c:\ProgramData\Wolfram\Licensing
del mathpass
MAC: Run a shell terminal (check your superuser privileges, prepending sudo may help; prepend /Users/<username> when changing directory if applicable):
cd /Library/Wolfram/Licensing; rm -vf mathpass
LINUX: Run a shell terminal (check your superuser privileges, prepending sudo may help; replace /usr/share/Wolfram/Licensing with ~/.Wolfram/Licensing if applicable):
cd /usr/share/Wolfram/Licensing; rm -vf mathpass
Q: I am planning to write a book in Wolfram Mathematica. Which tool should I use?
A: It is strongly recommended that you use Wolfram Book Tools.
Q: How do I create an operator which acts like a derivative to everything to the right of it?
A: The MSE and the documentation are great sources of inspiration.
A: Paclets are units of Wolfram functionality, packaged up in a way that allows them to be discovered, installed, updated and integrated seamlessly into the Wolfram environment. They work “behind the scene”, an ordinary user is unaware of their presence and does not even have to care. The Wolfram developers usually deliver many types of content, including Wolfram Language files, LibraryLink libraries, front end resources like palettes and stylesheets, Java libraries for use with J/Link, documentation notebooks, etc. in the form of paclets. Simply copy-paste the following code to a notebook and evaluate it on your computer. Before upgrading to Wolfram version 14.1, my paclet repository was about 5 GB (understandably, it is now much smaller after a fresh install of version 14.1):
Module[{p, n, s,
d = $UserBasePacletsDirectory},
p = FileBaseName /@ FileNames[
All, FileNameJoin[{d, “Repository”}]
];
n = p // Length;
s = UnitConvert[
Total[
Flatten[
Values[
Apply[List,
FileSystemMap[FileSize,
FileNameJoin[{d, “Repository”}],
Infinity],
Infinity]
] /. {n_Real, v_String} :> Quantity[n, v]
]
],
“Gigabytes”];
Print[
“A total of “, s, “ in “, n, “ paclets:”
]; p
]
You can learn more about paclets by following these links.
Basic user operations with paclets: Paclets are usually sourced from a remotely located site called a Paclet Server (although a local site is also possible). By default, the Wolfram Research Paclet Server and the Wolfram Language Paclet Repository are known to your system (input and output are on light gray and pink background, respectively):
With[{
p = PacletSiteUpdate[PacletSites[]][[All, 1]]
},
TableForm[
Values@p,
TableHeadings -> {None, First[Keys@p]}
]
]
| URL | Name | Local | Type |
| https://pacletserver.wolfram.com | Wolfram Research Paclet Server | False | Server |
| https://resources.wolframcloud.com/PacletRepository/pacletsite | Wolfram Paclet Repository | False | Server |
None of the above sites should be removed (removal instructions are below). However, you can add other paclet sites (including mine or your own). Adding a remote paclet site from the list below is done by substituting the appropriate URL and a name of your choice into the PacletSiteRegister function. For example:
PacletSiteRegister[
"https://is.slu.cz/www/hle0002/paclets",
"Some name"
]
PacletSiteObject[<|
URL -> https://is.slu.cz/www/hle0002/paclets,
Name -> Some name,
Local -> False,
Type -> Server
|>]
The Paclet Server at https://is.slu.cz/www/hle0002/paclets/ is now known to your system:
With[{
p = PacletSites[][[All, 1]]
},
TableForm[
Values@p,
TableHeadings -> {None, First[Keys@p]}
]
]
| URL | Name | Local | Type |
| https://pacletserver.wolfram.com | Wolfram Research Paclet Server | False | Server |
| https://resources.wolframcloud.com/PacletRepository/pacletsite | Wolfram Paclet Repository | False | Server |
| https://is.slu.cz/www/hle0002/paclets | Some name | False | Server |
Now you can install, for example, the Snapdragon paclet:
PacletInstall["Snapdragon"]
If you no longer need the Snapdragon paclet, you can uninstall it:
PacletUninstall["Snapdragon"]
If you no longer intend to use the Paclet Server “Some name”, you can unregister it with PacletSiteUnregister; it will no longer be known to the system:
PacletSiteUnregister["Some name"];
With[{
p = PacletSites[][[All, 1]]
},
TableForm[
Values@p,
TableHeadings -> {None, First[Keys@p]}
]
]
| URL | Name | Local | Type |
| https://pacletserver.wolfram.com | Wolfram Research Paclet Server | False | Server |
| https://resources.wolframcloud.com/PacletRepository/pacletsite | Wolfram Paclet Repository | False | Server |
Read the Working with Paclets guide to learn more commands, options and capabilities of the paclet system from both a user and developer perspective.
Paclet Servers at the Institute of Physics: Within the framework of the Information System of the Institute of Physics, I operate, maintain and contribute these own paclet servers:
I am working on a new Paclet Server (Pacletarium) that will replace the paclet server listed below.
My current Paclet Server. Warning: This paclet server is outdated and will be replaced by a new one (see above). However, I still use my own paclets Snapdragon and Cuticurve, although their use is deprecated (unfinished documentation, needs code polishing). Until they are replaced by their successors, this page will be kept alive.
Paclety – jak na ně? (Paclets – How to handle them?) Presentation and a Paclet Server for online meetings of Mathematica users, 2021-02-09 (available in Czech only).
Q: How can I install a stylesheet?
A: Follow this guide-by-example:
After restarting Mathematica, the stylesheet appears in menu. Changing the stylesheet makes the notebook contents to appear differently:
Q: How can I suppress notebook history tracking?
A: Uncheck Edit ▶ Preferences... ▶ Advanced ▶ Enable notebook history tracking .
Q: I’m annoyed by the Suggestion Bar popping out after each output. How to get rid of it?
A: Uncheck Edit ▶ Preferences... ▶ Interface ▶ Show Suggestion Bar after last output .