MATLAB C/C++ Graphics Library

Compiling Applications Written as Scripts

The Compiler cannot compile applications written as scripts because scripts interact with the MATLAB base workspace, and stand-alone applications do not have access to the MATLAB base workspace.

Symptom

If you attempt to compile a script, the Compiler outputs the error message

??? Error: File "filename" is a Script M-file and cannot be 
compiled with the current Compiler.

where filename is the name of your script M-file.

Workaround

To compile an application written as a script, turn it into a MATLAB function. To do this, include the MATLAB function prototype at the top of the file. You must also find where the script depends on variables in the base workspace and declare these variables as global variables.

For example, in the following script, the variable f, set by the call to the figure function, exists in the base workspace. This variable is then passed as a parameter to the function, my_func, specified in the callback property string. Passing a workspace variable in a callback string is not supported by the MATLAB Compiler.

f = figure;

p_btn = uicontrol(gcf,...
                 'style', 'pushbutton',...
                 'Position',[10 10 133 25 ],...
                 'String', 'Press Here',...
                 'CallBack','my_func(f);');

The following example shows this script transformed into a function.

function was_a_script()
% new function

global f;

f = figure; 

p_btn = uicontrol(gcf,...
                 'style', 'pushbutton',...
                 'Position',[10 10 133 25 ],...
                 'String', 'Press Here',...
                 'CallBack','my_callback');

In this code example, note the following:

• The example changes the script into a function by including a MATLAB function prototype line at the top of the file.
• The example declares the variable f, formerly referenced in the base workspace, as a global variable. This makes it accessible to the callback routine.
• The example replaces the reference to my_func in the callback string with the name of a new function, my_callback. This new function performs the processing formerly done in the callback string.

Here is the new callback function. Note how the function also declares f as a global variable.

    function my_callback()
    % revised callback

    global f;

    my_func(f);

Using Unsupported MATLAB 6.0 Features

Fixing Callback Problems: Missing Functions