# Getting “string expected” error when using the TIDES package

TIDES is a package that approximates ODEs using a Taylor series method (You can download it from https://sourceforge.net/projects/tidesodes/ ).

First I call the package:

<< MathTIDES


Then I introduce the ODE:

sincosODE = FirstOrderODE[{y, -x}, t, {x, y}];


Then the command TSMCodeFiles supposedly should return archives .c to compile:

TSMCodeFiles[
sincosODE,
"sincosMFL",
InitialConditions -> {0, 1},
IntegrationPoints -> {0, Pi/2, Points[1]},
Output -> Screen,
MinTIDES -> "C"]


But the output of this line returns the error:

StringJoin::string: String expected at position 2 in This file has been created by MathTIDES (<>mathTIDESVersion\$<>) . >> String expected at position 2 in This file has been created by MathTIDES (<>mathTIDESVersion$<>) June 4, . >>

Files "dr_sincosMCL.c", "sincosMCL.c", written in the directory

It seems that these string errors are in the .c files. So How can I fix them when it's the package that created them?

• From the error it would seem that a Symbol mathTIDESVersion$ does not have an assigned String value. Yet in the /MathTIDES/init.m file the line mathTIDESVersion$ = "2.00" should define this. Therefore I think somehow the package is not being loaded properly. Nevertheless what happens if you manually set mathTIDESVersion\$ = "2.00" before evaluating your TSMCodeFiles expression? – Mr.Wizard Jun 5 '16 at 0:02
• With that line it seems everything works. – Carlos Vázquez Monzón Jun 7 '16 at 18:47
• That's great! I think something is still wrong, either with the package itself or the way it is loaded, as that should have been set on initialization. Nevertheless I am glad I could help. – Mr.Wizard Jun 7 '16 at 19:11
• @CarlosVázquezMonzón Would you mind summarizing your experience and Mr. Wizard's suggestion in a self-answer? This may be helpful for other people suffering from the same issue. – MarcoB Jun 9 '16 at 18:15