Getting Started

Scripts

When you invoke a script, MATLAB simply executes the commands found in the file. Scripts can operate on existing data in the workspace, or they can create new data on which to operate. Although scripts do not return output arguments, any variables that they create remain in the workspace, to be used in subsequent computations. In addition, scripts can produce graphical output using functions like plot.

For example, create a file called magicrank.m that contains these MATLAB commands.

• % Investigate the rank of magic squares
  r = zeros(1,32);
  for n = 3:32
     r(n) = rank(magic(n));
  end
  r
  bar(r)
  

Typing the statement

• magicrank
  

causes MATLAB to execute the commands, compute the rank of the first 30 magic squares, and plot a bar graph of the result. After execution of the file is complete, the variables n and r remain in the workspace.

Scripts and Functions

Functions