Why am I unable to compile a code that contains the SYSTEM command using the MATLAB Compiler?

Why am I unable to compile a code that contains the SYSTEM command using the MATLAB Compiler?

When I try to compile a simple code like the following:

function test

system('ls')

I get the following error message:

 Warning: No M-function source available for "system", assuming

 function [varargout] = system(varargin)

 NOTE: This will produce a link error in stand-alone code

 unless you provide a hand-written definition for this function.

 Setting MSVCDir for use with MSVC 6.0  

 test.obj : error LNK2001: unresolved external symbol _mlfNSystem 

 compiled\test.exe : fatal error LNK1120: 1 unresolved externals 

   MBUILD.BAT: Error: Link of 'compiled\test.exe' failed. 

 ??? Error using ==> mbuild

 Unable to complete successfully

 ??? Error: An error occurred while shelling out to mbuild (error code = 1).

 Unable to build executable (specify the -v option for more information).

 Error in ==> D:\MATLAB6p5\toolbox\compiler\mcc.dll

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This feature has been added in MATLAB Compiler 4.0 (R14). If you are using a previous version, read the following:

Using MATLAB Compiler 3.x (R13), you cannot compile an MATLAB code that make a call to the SYSTEM function. This has been forwarded to our development staff for consideration for a future release of MATLAB.

To work around this issue, you have several options:

1) Use the Bang (!) operator   

         OR

2) Use the DOS or UNIX command as follows:

                if ispc

                    dos('dir')

                else

                    unix('ls')

                end