Learn more about MATLAB

Startup Options

On this page…
About Startup Options Specifying Startup Options for Windows Platforms Specifying Startup Options for UNIX Platforms Specifying Startup Options for Macintosh Platforms Specifying Startup Options Using the Startup File for the MATLAB Program, startup.m Commonly Used Startup Options

About Startup Options

You can define startup options that instruct the MATLAB program to perform certain operations when you start it. On MicrosoftWindows platforms, you can use a GUI to specify the options. On all platforms, you can specify these options using a startup file (startup.m), or in conjunction with the matlab startup function.

Back to Top

Specifying Startup Options for Windows Platforms

You can add selected startup options (also called command flags or switches for the command line) to the target path for your shortcut in the Windows environment for MATLAB. Or you can add them to the command line when you start MATLAB in a DOS window. For more information about the options, see Commonly Used Startup Options.

On Windows platforms, a startup option is preceded by either a hyphen (-) or a slash (/). For example, -nosplash and /nosplash are equivalent ways of specifying the nosplash option for users on Windows platforms.

Startup Options for a Shortcut in Windows Environment

To use startup options for the MATLAB shortcut icon in a Windows environment, follow these steps:

1. Right-click the shortcut icon for MATLAB and select Properties from the context menu. The Properties dialog box for MATLAB opens to the Shortcut pane.

2. In the Target field, after the target path for matlab.exe, add the startup option, and click OK. For example, adding -r "filename" runs the M-file filename after startup.

This example instructs MATLAB to automatically run the file results after startup, where results.m is in the startup folder or on the search path for MATLAB. The statement in the Target field might appear as

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2009b\bin\matlab.exe -r "results"

Include the statement in double quotation marks ("statement"). Use only the filename, not the file extension or pathname. For example, MATLAB produces an error when you run

... matlab.exe -r "D:\results.m"

Use semicolons or commas to separate multiple statements. This example changes the format to short, and then runs the M-file results:

... matlab.exe -r "format('short');results"

Separate multiple options with spaces. This example starts MATLAB without displaying the splash screen, and then runs the M-file results:

... matlab.exe -nosplash -r "results"

Startup Options in a DOS Window

When you start MATLAB in a DOS window, include startup options after the matlab command.

This example uses the nosplash startup option to start MATLAB without the splash screen, and adds the -r option to run the results function located in the startup folder, after starting MATLAB in a DOS window:

matlab -nosplash -r "results"

Back to Top

Specifying Startup Options for UNIX Platforms

Include startup options (also called command flags or command line switches) after the matlab command when you start MATLAB on UNIX^[1] platforms. For more information about the options, see Commonly Used Startup Options. On UNIX platforms, a startup option is preceded by a hyphen (-). For example, to start MATLAB without the splash screen, type

matlab -nosplash

See also the userpath function.

Back to Top

Specifying Startup Options for Macintosh Platforms

On Apple Macintosh platforms, specify startup options for Macintosh platforms with the matlab command, as described at Specifying Startup Options for UNIX Platforms.

Back to Top

Specifying Startup Options Using the Startup File for the MATLAB Program, startup.m

At startup, MATLAB automatically executes the file matlabrc.m and, if it exists, startup.m. The file matlabrc.m, which is in the matlabroot/toolbox/local folder, is reserved for use by The MathWorks and by the system manager on multiuser systems.

The file startup.m is for you to specify startup options. For example, you can modify the default search path, predefine variables in your workspace, or define defaults for Handle Graphics^® objects. Use the following statements in a startup.m file to add the specified folder, /home/username/mytools, to the search path, and to change the current folder to mytools upon startup.

addpath /home/username/mytools
cd /home/username/mytools

Location of startup.m

Place the startup.m file in the default or current startup folder, which is where MATLAB first looks for it. For more information, see Startup Folder for the MATLAB Program.

Back to Top

Commonly Used Startup Options

The following table provides a list of some commonly used startup options for both Windows and UNIX platforms. For more information, including a complete list of startup options, see the matlab (Windows) reference page or the matlab (UNIX) reference page.

Platform	Option	Description
All	-c licensefile	Set LM_LICENSE_FILE to licensefile. It can have the form port@host.
All	-h or -help	Display startup options (without starting MATLAB).
All	-logfile "logfilename"	Automatically write output from MATLAB to the specified log file.
Windows platforms	-minimize	Start MATLAB with the desktop minimized. Any desktop tools or documents that were undocked when MATLAB was last closed will not be minimized upon startup.
UNIX platforms	-nojvm	Start MATLAB without loading the Sun Microsystems JVM™ software. This minimizes memory usage and improves initial startup speed, but restricts functionality. With nojvm, you cannot use the desktop, figures, or any tools that require Java software. For example, you cannot set preferences if you start MATLAB with the -nojvm option. However, you can start MATLAB once without the -nojvm option, set the preference, and quit MATLAB. MATLAB remembers that preference when you start it again, even if you use the -nojvm option.
All	-nosplash	Start MATLAB without displaying its splash screen.
All	-r "statement"	Automatically run the specified statement immediately after MATLAB starts. This is sometimes referred to as calling MATLAB in batch mode. Files you run must be in the startup folder for MATLAB or on the search path. Do not include pathnames or file extensions. Enclose the statement in double quotation marks ("statement"). Use semicolons or commas to separate multiple statements
All	-singleCompThread	Limit MATLAB to a single computational thread. By default, MATLAB makes use of the multithreading capabilities of the computer. For more information about multithreading, see MATLAB Multiprocessing.

---

^[1] UNIX is a registered trademark of The Open Group in the United States and other countries.

Back to Top

Startup Folder for the MATLAB Program

Toolbox Path Caching in the MATLAB Program

© 1984-2009- The MathWorks, Inc.    -   Site Help   -   Patents   -   Trademarks   -   Privacy Policy   -   Preventing Piracy   -   RSS