Development Environment

Running Functions and Entering Variables

Entering Statements at the Command Line Prompt

The prompt (>>) in the Command Window indicates that MATLAB is ready to accept input from you. When you see the >> prompt, you can enter a variable or run a function. This prompt and your input are known as the command line.

For example, to create A, a 3-by-3 matrix, type

• A = [1 2 3; 4 5 6; 7 8 10]
  

When you press the Enter or Return key after typing the line, MATLAB responds with

• A =
      
       1     2     3
       4     5     6
       7     8    10
  

To run a function, type the function including all arguments and press Return or Enter. MATLAB displays the result. For example, type

• magic(2)
  

and MATLAB returns

• ans =
      1     3
      4     2
  

If you want to enter multiple lines before running, use Shift+Enter or Shift+Return after each line until the last. Then press Enter or Return to run all of the lines.

The K>> prompt in the Command Window indicates that MATLAB is in debug mode. For more information, see Editing and Debugging M-Files.

Evaluating a Selection

To run a selection in the Command Window, make the selection, and then right-click and select Evaluate Selection from the context menu. Alternatively, after making a selection, press Enter or Return. You cannot evaluate a selection while MATLAB is busy, for example, running an M-file.

Opening a Selection

You can open a function, file, variable, or Simulink model from the Command Window. Select the name in the Command Window, and then right-click and select Open Selection from the context window. This runs the open function for the item you selected so that it opens in the appropriate tool:

• M-files and other text files open in the Editor
• Figure files (.fig) open in a figure window
• Variables open in the Array Editor
• Models open in Simulink

See open for details. If no file exists to work with the selected item, Open selection calls edit.

Hyperlinks to Run Functions

Use matlab: to create a hyperlink for specified text, which runs the specified function when clicked. For example, typing

• disp('<a href="matlab:magic(4)">Generate magic square</a>')
  

displays

When the user clicks the link "Generate magic square", MATLAB runs magic(4). You can use the disp or the fprintf functions with this feature.

Running One Process

In MATLAB, you can only run one process at a time. If MATLAB is busy running one function, any commands you issue will be buffered in a queue. The next command will run when the previous one finishes.

Opening the Command Window

Controlling Input and Output