Why does MATLAB crash when using CLEAR or WHOS with very large variables in the command window using MATLAB R2011a (7.12) on a 64-bit Mac?

MATLAB periodically crashes when using the command window to manipulate very large arrays and variables. Specifically, the CLEAR and WHOS commands cause the crash most often. Sometimes happens with typing the normal variable name in or with some other commands.

The same commands executed in MATLAB script files do not cause crash.

Crash happens right after the command is entered and causes MATLAB to close with a fatal error.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

This bug has been fixed in Release 2013a (R2013a). For previous product releases, read below for any possible workarounds:

This is a bug in MATLAB 7.12 (R2011a) on 64-bit Mac OS 10.7 when using CLEAR or WHOS command in MATLAB command window.

There are no workarounds.