Learn the Art of Communicating Between MATLAB Files via Function Calls

This article aims to provide a detailed and thorough understanding of how to call a function in MATLAB from an external file, emphasizing its significance. We will cover the fundamentals of calling fu …

This article aims to provide a detailed and thorough understanding of how to call a function in MATLAB from an external file, emphasizing its significance. We will cover the fundamentals of calling functions between files and explore various ways to approach this task, including using M-files, scripts, and functions. Code samples will be included to demonstrate concepts and further solidify your knowledge on this topic.

Introduction

MATLAB is a powerful programming environment for performing complex numerical computations and data analysis tasks. One of the essential aspects of programming is being able to reuse code and call functions from other files efficiently, which helps streamline the development process. Calling functions in MATLAB between different files can be achieved through a variety of techniques, each with its own benefits and drawbacks. In this article, we will discuss these methods and provide code samples to better understand how to effectively communicate between MATLAB files using function calls.

1. Using M-files to Call Functions in MATLAB

An M-file is a text file that stores MATLAB functions or scripts and can be called from other files within the MATLAB environment. There are two main methods for calling functions from M-files:

a) Including an M-file through the “include” command In this method, you use the “include” command to include the desired M-file containing your function in the current working directory or any specified folder within MATLAB. The function will be available for calling in the workspace after executing the “include” statement.

b) Calling an M-file function directly In this method, you simply write the name of the M-file containing your desired function followed by its arguments inside parentheses. When running this command in the MATLAB environment, the M-file will be executed, and the returned output will be used as the argument to the calling file.

Let’s look at some code samples for both methods:

Method a) Including an M-file using “include” command:

1. Create an M-file called ‘myFunction.m’: function y = myFunction(x) y = x^2; % Perform the required computation end

2. Include ‘myFunction.m’ in another file, such as ‘mainFile.m’: include(‘myFunction.m’) % Perform other tasks or calculations in this file if necessary.

Method b) Calling an M-file function directly:

1. Create an M-file called ‘anotherFunction.m’ with the contents: function y = anotherFunction(x) y = x^3; % Perform the required computation end

2. In the main file, call the function by using its name and arguments inside parentheses: y = anotherFunction(5); % Call ‘anotherFunction’ from the M-file ‘anotherFunction.m’, passing the number 5 as input z = myFunction(y); % Call ‘myFunction’ from the M-file ‘myFunction.m’, using the output of ‘anotherFunction’ (y^3) as its input

Note that you may have to adjust your directory structure according to your system or project setup, ensuring that MATLAB can locate and access the required files when executing commands.

2. Using Script Files to Call Functions in MATLAB

Script files are another option for calling functions between MATLAB files. They contain a sequence of commands, functions, and other code that can be executed directly within the MATLAB environment. There are two primary ways to call functions from script files:

a) Including a script file using the “addpath” command The “addpath” command can be used to add folders containing your scripts or M-files to the search path. Once added, you can directly call any function contained within those files.

b) Calling a script file function by referencing its name and arguments Similar to calling an M-file’s function directly, you can simply write the name of the desired script containing your function followed by its arguments inside parentheses. When executing this command, the script will run and call the specified function with the given input arguments.

Here are some code samples for both methods:

Method a) Including a script file using “addpath” command:

1. Create a script file called ‘myScriptFile.m’, including one or more functions from other files: % Include function definitions from M-files or other scripts. myFunction(x); % Call the ‘myFunction’ from another file, passing x as input

2. Add your script directory to the search path by using the “addpath” command in another file, for example, ‘mainFile.m’: addpath(‘C:\Users\Username\Documents\MATLAB\Scripts’); % Perform other tasks or calculations in this file if necessary.

Method b) Calling a script file function directly:

1. Create a script file called ‘anotherScriptFile.m’ with the contents: % Include one or more function definitions and call functions from M-files or other scripts as needed.

2. In your main file, such as ‘mainFile.m’, call the desired function by using its name and arguments inside parentheses: y = anotherScriptFile.myFunction(x); % Call ‘myFunction’ from within ‘anotherScriptFile.m’, passing x as input

Note that you need to ensure the script or M-files being referenced are present in a folder on your search path for this method to work.

Conclusion

In summary, calling functions between different files is an essential part of efficient programming, allowing you to reuse code and organize your project better. There are multiple ways to achieve this in MATLAB, such as using M-files, scripts, and even class methods for more complex tasks. Understanding these techniques and utilizing them effectively can help streamline your development process and ultimately enhance the productivity of your work.