External Interfaces/API

Using MATLAB As an Automation Client

This example uses MATLAB as an automation client and Microsoft Excel as the server. It provides a good overview of typical functions. In addition, it is a good example of using the automation interface of another application.

% MATLAB ActiveX automation client example 
%
% Open Excel, add workbook, change active worksheet, 
% get/put array, save.

% First, open an Excel Server.
Excel = actxserver('Excel.Application');
set(Excel, 'Visible', 1);

% Insert a new workbook.
Workbooks = Excel.Workbooks;
Workbook = invoke(Workbooks, 'Add');

% Make the second sheet active.
Sheets = Excel.ActiveWorkBook.Sheets;
sheet2 = get(Sheets, 'Item', 2);
invoke(sheet2, 'Activate');

% Get a handle to the active sheet.
Activesheet = Excel.Activesheet;

% Put a MATLAB array into Excel.
A = [1 2; 3 4];  
ActivesheetRange = get(Activesheet,'Range','A1','B2');
set(ActivesheetRange, 'Value', A);

% Get back a range.  It will be a cell array, since the cell range 
% can contain different types of data.
Range = get(Activesheet, 'Range', 'A1', 'B2');
B = Range.value;

% Convert to a double matrix.  The cell array must contain only
% scalars.
B = reshape([B{:}], size(B));

% Now, save the workbook.
invoke(Workbook, 'SaveAs', 'myfile.xls');

% To avoid saving the workbook and being prompt to do so,
% uncomment the following code.
% Workbook.Saved = 1;
% invoke(Workbook, 'Close');

% Quit Excel.
invoke(Excel, 'Quit');

MATLAB Sample Control

MATLAB ActiveX Automation Server Support