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Product Documentation

Desktop Tools and Development Environment

Startup and ShutdownStartup and shutdown options, preferences
Command Window and HistoryControl Command Window and History, enter statements and run functions
Help for Using MATLABCommand line help, online documentation in the Help browser, demos
WorkspaceManage variables
Managing FilesWork with files, MATLAB search path, manage variables
Programming ToolsEdit and debug MATLAB code , improve performance, source control, publish results
SystemIdentify current computer, license, product version, and more

Startup and Shutdown

exitTerminate MATLAB program (same as quit)
finishTermination file for MATLAB program
matlab (UNIX)Start MATLAB program (UNIX platforms)
matlab (Windows)Start MATLAB program (Windows platforms)
matlabrcStartup file for MATLAB program
prefdirFolder containing preferences, history, and layout files
preferencesOpen Preferences dialog box
quitTerminate MATLAB program
startupStartup file for user-defined options
userpathView or change user portion of search path

Command Window and History

clcClear Command Window
commandhistoryOpen Command History window, or select it if already open
commandwindowOpen Command Window, or select it if already open
diarySave Command Window text to file
dosExecute DOS command and return result
formatSet display format for output
homeSend cursor home
moreControl paged output for Command Window
perlCall Perl script using appropriate operating system executable
systemExecute operating system command and return result
unixExecute UNIX command and return result

Help for Using MATLAB

builddocsearchdbBuild searchable documentation database
demoAccess product demos via Help browser
docReference page in Help browser
docsearchHelp browser search
echodemoRun scripted demo step-by-step in Command Window
helpHelp for functions in Command Window
helpbrowserOpen Help browser to access online documentation and demos
helpwinProvide access to help comments for all functions
infoInformation about contacting MathWorks
lookforSearch for keyword in all help entries
playshowRun scripted demo (obsolete; use echodemo instead)
supportOpen MathWorks Technical Support Web page
webOpen Web site or file in Web or Help browser
whatsnewRelease Notes for MathWorks products

Workspace

clearRemove items from workspace, freeing up system memory
clearvarsClear variables from memory
deleteRemove files or graphics objects
openvarOpen workspace variable in Variable Editor or other graphical editing tool
packConsolidate workspace memory
whichLocate functions and files
whoList variables in workspace
whosList variables in workspace, with sizes and types
workspaceOpen Workspace browser to manage workspace

Managing Files

Search PathView and change MATLAB search path
File OperationsView and change files and folders

Search Path

addpathAdd folders to search path
genpathGenerate path string
pathView or change search path
path2rcSave current search path to pathdef.m file
pathsepSearch path separator for current platform
pathtoolOpen Set Path dialog box to view and change search path
restoredefaultpathRestore default search path
rmpathRemove folders from search path
savepathSave current search path
userpathView or change user portion of search path
whichLocate functions and files

File Operations

See also Data Import and Export functions.

cdChange current folder
copyfileCopy file or folder
deleteRemove files or graphics objects
dirList folder contents
fileattribSet or get attributes of file or folder
filebrowserOpen Current Folder browser, or select it if already open
isdirDetermine whether input is folder
lookforSearch for keyword in all help entries
lsList folder contents
matlabrootRoot folder
mkdirMake new folder
movefileMove file or folder
pwdIdentify current folder
recycleSet option to move deleted files to recycle folder
rmdirRemove folder
tempdirName of system's temporary folder
toolboxdirRoot folder for specified toolbox
typeDisplay contents of file
visdiffCompare two text files, MAT-Files, binary files, Zip files, or folders
whatList MATLAB files in folder

Programming Tools

Editing FilesEdit files
Debugging ProgramsDebug MATLAB program files
Code PerformanceImprove performance and find potential problems in MATLAB code
Source ControlInterface MATLAB with source control system
PublishingPublish MATLAB code and results

Editing Files

editEdit or create file
keyboardInput from keyboard

Debugging Programs

dbclearClear breakpoints
dbcontResume execution
dbdownReverse workspace shift performed by dbup, while in debug mode
dbquitQuit debug mode
dbstackFunction call stack
dbstatusList all breakpoints
dbstepExecute one or more lines from current breakpoint
dbstopSet breakpoints for debugging
dbtypeList text file with line numbers
dbupShift current workspace to workspace of caller, while in debug mode

Code Performance

benchMATLAB benchmark
checkcodeCheck MATLAB code files for possible problems
cputimeElapsed CPU time
memoryDisplay memory information
mlintrptRun checkcode for file or folder, reporting results in browser
profileProfile execution time for function
profsaveSave profile report in HTML format
ticStart clock to measure performance
tocStop clock to measure performance

Source Control

checkinCheck files into source control system (UNIX platforms)
checkoutCheck files out of source control system (UNIX platforms)
cmoptsName of source control system
customverctrlAllow custom source control system (UNIX platforms)
undocheckoutUndo previous checkout from source control system (UNIX platforms)
verctrlSource control actions (Windows platforms)

Publishing

grabcodeExtract MATLAB code from file published to HTML
notebookOpen MATLAB Notebook in Microsoft Word software (on Microsoft Windows platforms)
publishPublish MATLAB file with code cells, saving output to specified file type
snapnowForce snapshot of image for inclusion in published document

System

Operating System InterfaceExchange operating system information and commands with MATLAB
MATLAB Version and LicenseInformation about MATLAB version and license

Operating System Interface

clipboardCopy and paste strings to and from system clipboard
computerInformation about computer on which MATLAB software is running
dosExecute DOS command and return result
getenvEnvironment variable
hostidServer host identification number
perlCall Perl script using appropriate operating system executable
setenvSet environment variable
systemExecute operating system command and return result
unixExecute UNIX command and return result
winqueryregItem from Windows registry

MATLAB Version and License

ismacDetermine if version is for Mac OS X platform
ispcDetermine if version is for Windows (PC) platform
isstudentDetermine if version is Student Version
isunixDetermine if version is for UNIX platform
javachkGenerate error message based on Java feature support
licenseReturn license number or perform licensing task
prefdirFolder containing preferences, history, and layout files
usejavaDetermine whether Sun Java feature is supported in MATLAB software
verVersion information for MathWorks products
verLessThanCompare toolbox version to specified version string
versionVersion number for MATLAB and libraries
  


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