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Frequently Asked Questions About File Exchange

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What Is File Exchange? How Do I Use File Exchange? How Does the File Exchange Desktop Tool Relate to File Exchange on the Web Site? Why Do I See Only 50 Files and How Can I See More? What Are Tags and How Do I Use Them? What Are the Tags Above the List of Files? How Can I See Other Tags? Why Are the Tags Changing? Is Search Looking Inside Files? How Can I Start Over When Looking for Files? How Can I Choose Where to Download a File To? How Do I Contribute My Files to the Repository?

What Is File Exchange?

• The File Exchange tool allows you to find and get files created by users of MathWorks products.

• The files are at the MATLAB Central community area of the MathWorks Web site.

For more information, see Before Using File Exchange.

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How Do I Use File Exchange?

1. Find files you want by

   • Entering search words.

   • Selecting tags (keywords).

   • Sorting the list of files.

2. View details for a file by clicking the file name.

3. Get a file you want to use by clicking the download button.

4. After using a file, rate it and provide comments.

For an overview, watch this video: Accessing the File Exchange from the MATLAB Desktop.

For more information, see How To Use the File Exchange Desktop Tool.

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How Does the File Exchange Desktop Tool Relate to File Exchange on the Web Site?

• The desktop tool accesses the File Exchange repository at MATLAB Central on the MathWorks Web site.

• You can also access the repository using the interface at the Web site.

• Both methods of access offer the same basic features, but there are some differences in features and results.

For more information, see Ways to Access the File Exchange Repository.

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Why Do I See Only 50 Files and How Can I See More?

File Exchange lists up to 50 files at once for performance reasons:

• By default, you see the 50 most recent submissions.

• When you search, select tags, or change the sort order, you see up to 50 files that best match your criteria.

• If the list of files does not include files you want, change your criteria.

For more information, see Viewing and Sorting the List of Files in File Exchange.

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What Are Tags and How Do I Use Them?

• Tags are keywords that users associate with files.

• Select tags to help you find files you are interested in.

For more information, see Using Tags to Find Files in File Exchange.

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What Are the Tags Above the List of Files?

The tags shown above the list of files are the popular tags, in alphabetical order:

• When the search field is empty, you see the most popular tags for all files you can access in the File Exchange repository.

• After you perform a search or select tags, you see the most popular tags associated with the resulting list of files.

You can view popular tags as a cloud or list:

• In cloud view, the font size of the tag name indicates how popular the tag is.

• In list view, the number of times the tag has been applied appears in parentheses, numerically indicating its popularity.

For more information, see Viewing Popular Tags for a List of Files.

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How Can I See Other Tags?

• Make the File Exchange tool wider, which could show additional popular tags.

• Change the search words, selected tags, or sort order to show different popular tags.

• Click More Tags to view more tags in a separate window.

For more information, see Ways to View Tags.

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Why Are the Tags Changing?

When you select a tag, perform a search, or change the sort order, File Exchange looks through the repository for all files that match your criteria. The list of files changes to show up to 50 files that match your criteria. Because popular tags reflect the resulting list of files:

• The popular tags shown above the list of files change.

• The popularity of each tag changes:

  • In cloud view, the font size changes.

  • In list view, the number in parentheses changes.

For more information, see Using Tags to Find Files in File Exchange.

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Is Search Looking Inside Files?

File Exchange search does not look inside files at the code or comments.

File Exchange looks for matching words in information associated with files. Search looks in:

• Titles

• Descriptions

• Tags

For more information about searching, click the arrow in the search field, and select Using the Search Field to Find Files.

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How Can I Start Over When Looking for Files?

Clear the search field to return to the default list of files. For more information, see Viewing the Default List of Files.

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How Can I Choose Where to Download a File To?

• To specify the folder for your downloaded files, use the file details page to perform the download.

• When you download from the list of files, the file downloads to the last location you downloaded to.

For more information, see Downloading Files from the File Exchange Repository.

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How Do I Contribute My Files to the Repository?

To submit files you created to the File Exchange repository, use the Web interface, MATLAB Central File Exchange — Submit New File.

For more information, see Contributing to the File Exchange Repository.

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Contributing to the File Exchange Repository

Editing and Debugging M-Files

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