Command Window Code and Output Display

Note   See also: Fonts Color Settings

Keep or Suppress Blank Lines in Output

By default, MATLAB displays blanks lines in command output.

To control the display of blank lines in output:

1. Select File > Preferences > Command Window.

2. Select a Numeric format:

   • loose—Keeps the display of blank lines

     >> x = [4/3 1.2345e-6]
     
     x =
     
         1.3333    0.0000

   • compact—Suppresses the display of blank lines

     >> x = [4/3 1.2345e-6]
     x =
         1.3333    0.0000

3. Click OK.

Alternatively, use the format function with the loose or compact option.

Back to Top

Format Numerals

You can change the way numbers display. By default, MATLAB uses the short format (5-digit scaled, fixed-point values).

For example suppose you enter x = [4/3 1.2345e-6] in the Command Window:

• If you use the default format, MATLAB returns x = 1.3333 0.0000.

• If you set the format to short e, then MATLAB returns 1.3333e+00 1.2345e-06.

• If you set the format to +, then MATLAB returns ++.

Note   The text display format affects only how numbers are shown, not how MATLAB computes or saves them.

To change the numeric display option, do one of the following:

• Select File > Preferences > Command Window, and then choose a Numeric format option.

• Use the format function.

A complete list and description of available formats is in the reference page for format. For more control over the output format, use the sprintf function.

Back to Top

Wrap Lines of Code to Fit Window Width

A line of code or its output can exceed the width of the Command Window, requiring you to use the horizontal scroll bar to view the entire line. In console mode, it can be useful to make a single line of input or output in the Command Window break into multiple lines to fit within the current width of the Command Window.

To wrap lines of code:

1. Select File > Preferences > Command Window.

2. Select Wrap Lines.

3. Click OK.

Back to Top

Matrix Display Width

By default, a row of matrix output fills the width of the Command Window, and then continues displaying output in a new row.

To determine the number of characters and lines that will display in the Command Window, given its current size, use:

get(0,'CommandWindowSize')

For example, a result of 50, 25 means 50 characters will display across the Command Window, and 25 lines will display.

To set the matrix output to 80 characters per row (and then continue displaying output in a new row, regardless of the width of the Command Window) :

1. Select File > Preferences > Command Window.

2. Select Set matrix display width to eighty columns.

   Note   If you also select Wrap lines, and the width of the Command Window is less than 80 characters, each row of 80 characters of matrix output wraps to fit within the width of the Command Window.

3. Click OK.

Run get(0,'CommandWindowSize') again. The result for the same size Command Window is 80, 25.

Back to Top

Number of Spaces Assigned to Tab Key

By default, a tab is set to four spaces, except on UNIX^[1] platforms where the default is eight spaces.

To change the setting:

1. Select File > Preferences > Command Window.

2. Type a new value in the Tab size field.

3. Click OK.

Note   This setting does not apply if you select File > Preferences > Keyboard and enable tab completion in the Command Window.

Back to Top

Suppress Code Output

To suppress code output, add a semicolon (;) to the end of a command. This is particularly useful when code generates large matrices. For example, running the following code creates A, but does not show the resulting matrix in the Command Window:

A = magic(100);

Back to Top

Page Code Output

When output in the Command Window exceeds the visible portion of the window, follow these steps to view the output, one screen full at a time:

1. In the Command Window, type more on.

2. View the remaining output:

   • Advance to the next line by pressing Enter.

   • Advance to the next page by pressing Space Bar.

   • Stop displaying the output by pressing q.

Back to Top

Clear the Command Window

If the Command Window seems cluttered, you can clear all the text (without clearing the workspace) by doing one of the following:

• Select Edit > Clear Command Window

• Use the clc function.

• Use the home function.

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

Back to Top

Adjust Command History Window Appearance

Avoid Mistakes When Entering Code

Recommended Products

• MATLAB
• Signal Processing Toolbox
• Optimization Toolbox
• Statistics Toolbox
• Control System Toolbox

Get MATLAB trial software

Includes the most popular MATLAB recorded presentations with Q&A sessions led by MATLAB experts.

Get the Interactive Kit