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New features and changes introduced in this version are organized by these topics:
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are
Changes to Startup Directory (Folder) and Startup Options for MATLAB Application on Windows
Confirm Exit Preference to be Enabled by Default in Future Version
When you open a file from Microsoft Windows Explorer whose type is associated with the MATLAB application, the file opens in the appropriate tool in the existing session of MATLAB, if MATLAB is already running, or if not, starts MATLAB. This assumes you associated the file types with MATLAB by accepting the defaults while installing MATLAB, or by changing the associations. For example, in Explorer, double-click an M-file to open the file in the MATLAB Editor/Debugger, or double-click a MAT-file to open the Import Wizard and load the data into the workspace in MATLAB. For details, including how to change file associations, see Starting the MATLAB Program using File Associations on Windows Platforms.
Compatibility Considerations. In previous versions, when you double-clicked a file in Explorer whose type was associated with MATLAB, the file opened in a new session of MATLAB. The change made in MATLAB Version 7.4 (R2007a) to open the file in an existing session was based on many user requests.
In previous versions, double-clicking a MAT-file associated with MATLAB in Explorer opened a new session ofMATLAB and loaded the data into the workspace. When clicked in the Apple Macintosh Finder, the data loaded into the existing session of MATLAB. Now on Microsoft Windows and Macintosh platforms, the Import Wizard opens in the existing session of MATLAB, and you use it to load the data into the workspace.
By default, in previous versions, double-clicking an M-file in Explorer opened it in the MATLAB stand-alone Editor. For more information about that change, see Stand-Alone Editor No Longer Opens By Default; To Be Removed in a Future Version.
The default startup directory for MATLAB on Microsoft Windows platforms is now My Documents\MATLAB, or Documents\MATLAB on the Microsoft Windows Vista platform. Upon startup, MATLAB automatically locates this MATLAB folder (creating it if it does not exist), and adds it to the top of the search path. This utilizes standard folders on Windows and Windows Vista platforms to provide a unique startup directory for each user. As such, the folder is part of theWindows (or Windows Vista) user's profile, and will be accessible when the user runs MATLAB from other machines, when the profile is set up to roam.
In the Properties dialog box of the shortcut icon for MATLAB, the Target field includes a new startup option -sd (for startup directory), followed by $documents\MATLAB, where MATLAB interprets $documents as the My Documents folder for the current user (or Documents for the Windows Vista platform). If the path for $documents is specified in the configuration of the Windows environment via UNC pathname, MATLAB automatically assigns it a mapped drive, creating one if necessary. The -sd startup option overrides anything in the Start in field, which is now empty by default.
For more information, see Changing the Startup Folder.
Compatibility Considerations. In previous releases, the default startup directory was \Work, located in the directory in which MATLAB was installed. For example, in R2006b, if you installed MATLAB in C:\Program Files, the default startup directory was C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2006b\Work.
Windows Vista User Account Control (UAC) security features restrict access to Program Files. To accommodate this enhanced security model, the default startup directory in MATLAB has been moved outside of Program Files.
These are the differences between the startup directory for R2007a and previous releases:
In previous releases, upon installation, the default startup directory was specified in the Start in field of the Properties dialog box for the shortcut icon for MATLAB. You could change the startup directory by replacing the pathname in that field. In R2007a, if you want to specify the startup directory using the Start in field, you must also remove from the Target field the -sd startup option and the pathname that follows it.
The default startup directory is no longer specific to a release. When you upgrade from R2007a to a future release, files you created and saved in My Documents\MATLAB (or Documents\MATLAB on Vista) will automatically be in the startup directory for the new release. Previously, you had to move files you created and saved in the Work folder for a release, for example, R2006a\Work, to the default startup directory for the new release, for example, R2006b\Work.
In previous releases, the default startup directory, Work, was shared by all users running that installation of MATLAB. The default startup directory in R2007a, My Documents\MATLAB (or Documents\MATLAB on Vista), provides each user with a unique startup directory.
In previous releases, MATLAB added the default startup directory, Work, to the bottom of the search path. In R2007a, MATLAB adds the default startup directory, My Documents\MATLAB (or Documents\MATLAB on the Windows Vista platform), to the top of the search path. In R2007a, for consistency with previous releases, MATLAB adds ...\MATLAB\R2007a\Work to the bottom of the search path. However, we encourage you to stop using the Work folder because support for it might be removed in a future release.
MATLAB is now using Sun Microsystems Java (JVM) version 1.5.0_07 on Windows platforms. Java is supplied with MATLAB for Windows platforms, so this change requires no action on your part.
Compatibility Considerations. If you use a specific version of Java with MATLAB on Windows platforms, this change might impact you.
MATLAB now installs Java Access Bridge 2.0, which is used by Freedom Scientific BLV Group JAWS® software for accessibility support.
When you exit from MATLAB, MATLAB terminates without displaying a confirmation dialog box that asks if you are sure you want to quit. This is the default behavior but you can set a preference to display a confirmation dialog box. In a future version, the confirmation dialog box will appear by default when you quit MATLAB.
Compatibility Considerations. When the confirmation dialog appears by default, you will be able to disable it using preferences. If you have files that include exit statements, you might need to ensure the preference for the confirmation dialog box is disabled.
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are
Minimize, Temporarily Display, and Restore Tools in the Desktop
Multithreaded Computation Support Added; Enable Via New Preference
On Windows and The Open Group UNIX platforms, you can minimize any tool in the desktop. Minimizing a tool creates a button for it along the specified edge. When you want to view the tool, hover over or click the button to temporarily show it in the desktop. Right-click the button and select Restore toolname to return the tool to the desktop. Perform these tasks for the selected tool using items in the Desktop menu, equivalent mnemonics (for example Alt+D, N to minimize), or buttons on the tool's titlebar.
The following illustrations show how to use these features, using the example of the Command History window in the default desktop layout.
For more information, see Opening and Arranging Desktop Tools and Minimized Tools in Desktop Example.
On Windows and UNIX platforms, you can maximize a tool so it occupies the entire desktop tool area in MATLAB, then restore it to return it to its previous location. Perform these tasks for the selected tool using items in the Desktop menu, equivalent mnemonics (for example Alt+D, X to maximize), or buttons on the tool's titlebar.
For more information, see Opening and Arranging Desktop Tools and Maximized Tool in Desktop Example.
In the desktop, when you tab tools together, that is, arrange them so they occupy the same position, the tools' title bars share the title bar area. To make a tool active, select its name in the title bar.
For more information, see and Tool Outside of Desktop and Other Tools Grouped Inside Desktop Example and Grouping Desktop Tools Together.
Compatibility Considerations. In previous versions, tools tabbed together each had a tab at the bottom of the area they occupied. The tabs have been removed in favor of tools sharing the titlebar area.
If you run MATLAB on a multiple-CPU system (multiprocessor or multicore), use a new preference to enable multithreaded computation. This can increase performance in MATLAB for element-wise and BLAS library computations.
By default the preference is not set, so you must set it to enable multithreaded computation. With the preference enabled, MATLAB automatically specifies the recommended number of computational threads, although you can change that value. On AMD platforms running the Linux operating system, MATLAB supports multithreaded computation, but requires an extra step to change the default BLAS.
If you are using a multiple-CPU system, you can run a demo to see the performance impact—see Multithreaded Computation in the Help browser. For more information, see Enabling Multithreaded Computation.
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are
Startup Message Bar Replaces Startup Message in Command Window
Macintosh Platforms—Some Key Bindings in Command Window Changed
When you start MATLAB, a getting started message bar appears at the top of the Command Window, that provides links to information that is helpful for new users. You can dismiss the message bar by using the close box in it. Use Command Window preferences to specify whether or not the message bar should appear.
You can now find entries in the Command History window by typing the first few letters of an entry; the previous entry that begins with those letters is selected. Then use up and down arrow keys to extend the find to the next and previous instances. Use the Ctrl key with an arrow key to select the current as well as next or previous instances. Use Ctrl+A to find and highlight all instances at once. The search does not look at entries in sessions that are collapsed. For more information about this search feature, see Finding Next Entry By Letter.
On Macintosh platforms, some key bindings were changed to make them more consistent with Mac OS XMac OS X standard behaviors.
Compatibility Considerations. Key bindings you have been used to in the Command Window might have changed.
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are
When you perform a search in the Help browser, the results now include code and text found in Demos. Also, the Demos listing in the Help Navigator pane now synchronizes with the demo currently open when you have the synchronization preference for the Help browser selected. For more information, see Getting Better Search Results.
When you select File > Preferences > Help and enable the Product Filter, only demos for selected products are shown in the Demos pane, and searched via the Search for field.
When viewing a page in the Help browser, select View > Page Locations. A window appears providing the location of the current Help page you are viewing. The window provides the page location on both your local system and the MathWorks Web site. Use this feature to
Send the URL to someone else who wants to view that information and might not have MATLAB or the same version of MATLAB, for example, a colleague or technical support.
More easily see if this same documentation page has been updated for the latest product version.
If you create your own HTML help files for use with the MATLAB Help browser, the Help browser can now search the content of your files. First create a search database for your help files using the new builddocsearchdb function. The function creates a helpsearch directory that contains the search database files. For information on this process, see Making Your Help Files Searchable.
Compatibility Considerations. In previous versions of MATLAB, some users created help search databases for their own help files via assistance from MathWorks Technical Support. If you created a help search database for use with R2006b, it might work in R2007a, but it is recommended that you recreate it for R2007a, even if no content has changed. If you created a help search database prior to R2006b, you must recreate it for R2007a.
Help search databases in prior releases were built from a help jar file rather than html files. The builddocsearchdb function only supports html files. However, it is expected to support jar files in a future release. If you used a jar file for a prior version and want to use a jar file in R2007a, build your R2007a help search database using the same technique you used in R2006b.
Previously video tutorials were installed when you installed MATLAB. Now the tutorials are on the MathWorks Web site.
Compatibility Considerations. You can still link to and play video tutorials from within the Help browser Demos listings or other links to them in the product and documentation, however this now requires an active Internet connection.
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are described here.
When you double-click a Windows shortcut in the Current Directory browser, it runs the shortcut.
When you double-click a prj file in the Current Directory browser, it opens in the Deployment Tool.
You can now find entries in the Current Directory browser by typing the first few letters of an entry; the entry that begins with those letters is selected.
When you double-click an object, it opens in the Property Inspector.
You can now undo and redo the last operation you performed in the Array Editor. This applies to cut, paste, insert, delete, and clear contents features.
On Windows platforms, MATLAB now adds the default startup directory, My Documents\MATLAB (or Documents\MATLAB on Windows Vista), to the top of the search path upon startup.
Compatibility Considerations. In previous releases, MATLAB added the default startup directory, Work, to the bottom of the search path on Windows platforms. For example, in R2006b, it added ...\MATLAB\R2006b\Work to the bottom of the search path. In R2007a, for consistency with previous releases, MATLAB adds ...\MATLAB\R2007a\Work to the bottom of the search path. However, we encourage you to stop using the Work folder because support for it might be removed in a future release. For more information, see Changes to Startup Directory (Folder) and Startup Options for MATLAB Application on Windows.
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are
Stand-Alone Editor No Longer Opens By Default; To Be Removed in a Future Version
Delimiter Matching Extended to Include Language Keyword Pairs
Macintosh Platforms—Some Key Bindings in Editor/Debugger Changed
Starting in this release, by default, double-clicking an M-file in Windows Explorer opens the file in the MATLAB Editor/Debugger rather than in the MATLAB stand-alone Editor. In a future version, the stand-alone Editor will not be provided with MATLAB.
Compatibility Considerations. The change to open M-files in the MATLAB Editor/Debugger rather than the stand-alone Editor was made based on many user requests. You can still use the MATLAB stand-alone Editor in this release by starting the application located at: matlabroot\bin\win##\meditor.exe.
Starting MATLAB by double-clicking an M-file requires a MATLAB license, while starting the stand-alone Editor does not require a MATLAB license.
If you want to associate M-files so that when you double-click them they open in the MATLAB stand-alone Editor rather than in the MATLAB Editor/Debugger, follow the instructions in Changing File Associations for the MATLAB Program from the Windows Environment; rather than specifying the executable for MATLAB, matlab.exe, specify meditor.exe, which is in the same folder.
Instead of the stand-alone Editor, you can use the MATLAB Editor/Debugger. It provides all the features of the stand-alone Editor plus some not found in the stand-alone Editor, such as debugging and tab completion; for a full list, see Stand-Alone Editor Will Not Be Included in Next Version.
Some users have preferred the stand-alone Editor to the MATLAB Editor/Debugger because of slightly better startup performance and because it does not require a license for MATLAB. For those situations, you can use any text editor you have, such as UltraEdit or Emacs. If you have concerns about the pending removal of the stand-alone Editor, please contact us at editor-feedback@mathworks.com, so we can plan to minimize transition issues.
You can now see the match to language keyword pairs using delimiter matching features that previously existed for parentheses and brackets. For example, when you type end, the Editor/Debugger highlights the matching if. To set delimiter matching preferences, select File > Preferences > Keyboard > Delimiter Matching; click Help for more information.
For some types of warnings or errors, M-Lint can apply an automatic fix to the code. Code that can be automatically corrected appears with a different background color. To perform the fix, right-click the code that is highlighted (for a single single-button mouse, use Ctrl+click); from the resulting context menu, select the auto-fix action.
For more information, see step 8 in the example at Using M-Lint Automatic Code Analyzer in the Editor.
In previous versions, there was a single output message generated by a line with a missing terminating semicolon:
Terminate statement with semicolon to suppress output.
However, M-Lint suppressed displaying the message for files with three or more cells (a cell being indicated by a line with an initial %%). This was done based on the assumption that such files were demo programs, and therefore display of the output was intentional.
In MATLAB Version 7.4 (R2007a), M-Lint no longer makes a distinction for files with three or more cells. Instead, M-Lint displays one message for scripts and a different message for functions:
Terminate statement with semicolon to suppress output (in functions). Terminate statement with semicolon to suppress output (in scripts).
The corresponding M-Lint tags to suppress display of such messages within a line are %#ok<NOPRT> for functions, and %#ok<NOPTS> for scripts.
By default, both of the messages are initially selected in Preferences.
Compatibility Considerations. In MATLAB Version 7.3 (R2006b), %#ok<NOPRT> was the only tag used to suppress the missing terminating semicolon. The tag will remain valid for function files, but will not be valid for script files. If you added any %#ok<NOPRT> tags in script files in R2006b, change those tags to the new tag %#ok<NOPTS>.
On Macintosh platforms, some key bindings were changed to make them more consistent with standard behaviors for Mac OS X.
Compatibility Considerations. Key bindings you have been used to in the Editor/Debugger might have changed.
There is a new confirmation preference for displaying a warning about exiting debug mode in order to save a file.
There was a minor change in M-Lint behavior—for details, see M-Lint Detection of Missing End-of-Line Semicolons Enhanced.
See the compatibility considerations associated with M-Lint Detection of Missing End-of-Line Semicolons Enhanced.
New features and changes introduced in Version 7.4 (R2007a) are
You can now publish an M-file function. When publishing an M-file function, you cannot evaluate the code. This feature effectively allows you to save M-file functions to output formats such as HTML or Microsoft Word documents, with formatting. To publish an M-file function, first clear the Evaluate code preference in Editor/Debugger Publishing Preferences, or run the publish function with the evalCode option set to false.
Using the publish function, you can specify the maximum number of lines in a published file. Set the new maxOutputLines field to a nonnegative value. The default value is Inf.
New publishing options provide increased flexibility and control over the appearance of the published document. The added options are for adding inline links, inline links with link text, graphics, and HTML markup. See Formatting M-File Comments for Publishing for more information.
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