open (MATLAB Function Reference)

Open files based on extension

Syntax

open('name')

Description

open('name') opens the file name, where the specific action upon opening depends on the type of file that name is.

name
Action

variable
Open array name in the Array Editor (the array must be numeric); open calls openvar

figure file (*.fig)
Open figure in a figure window

HTML file (*.html)
Open HTML document in Help browser

M-file (name.m)
Open M-file name in M-file Editor

model (name.mdl)
Open model name in Simulink

p-file (name.p)
Open the corresponding M-file, name.m, if it exists, in the Editor

other extensions (name.custom)
Open name.custom by calling the helper function opencustom, where opencustom is a user-defined function.

name	Action
variable	Open array `name` in the Array Editor (the array must be numeric); `open` calls `openvar`
figure file (`*.fig`)	Open figure in a figure window
HTML file (`*.html`)	Open HTML document in Help browser
M-file (`name.m)`	Open M-file `name` in M-file Editor
model (`name.mdl`)	Open model `name` in Simulink
p-file (`name.p`)	Open the corresponding M-file, `name.m`, if it exists, in the Editor
other extensions (`name.custom`)	Open `name.custom` by calling the helper function `opencustom`, where `opencustom` is a user-defined function.

Remarks

Behavior When name Does Not Have an Extension

If name does not contain a file extension, open opens the object returned by which(name), where name is a variable, function, or model. If there is no matching helper function found, open uses the default editor.

If name does not contain a file extension and there is a matching filename without an extension, open opens the file in the editor. If it does not find a matching file without an extension, open looks for an M-file with the same name on the path, and if found, opens it in the editor.

To handle a variable, open calls the function openvar.

Create Custom open

Create your own opencustom functions to change the way standard file types are handled or to set up handlers for new file types. open calls the opencustom function it finds on the path.

Examples

Example 1 - No File Extension Specified

If testdata exists on the path,

open('testdata')

opens testdata in the editor.

If testdata does not exist, but testdata.m is on the path,

open('testdata')

opens testdata.m in the editor.

Example 2 - No File Extension Specified, M-file and Model Files Present

If testdata.m and testdata.mdl are both present on the search path, and you type

open('testdata')

testdata.mdl opens in Simulink. This is because model files take precedence over M-files, which you can see by typing

which('testdata')

It returns the file that takes precedence, in this case

testdata.mdl

Example 3 - Customized open

open('mychart.cht') calls opencht('myfigure.cht'), where opencht is a user-created function that uses .cht files.

See Also

hgload, hgsave, load, openvar, save, saveas

ones openfig