MATLAB Central Newsreader - General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

Alexander — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 12:06:13 -0500

Hello,

I've read that there is a Matlab compiler which is able to create standalone Matlab applications. I have several questions on that:

- I am using a GUI and also some 3D plots for a program which I am developing entirely in Matlab (it's a rather simple program showing a 3D animation of a spinning top). Is it possible to create a standalone app with these "components"?

- Does the compiler require some special programming or something, or can I just use it on a given - let's say - m-File or several m-Files?

- Is the compiler for free? Where can I download/buy it? Can it compile for Linux and for Windows, or would I have to buy separate compilers? Is it able to handle even 3D plots on different OS?

Thank you in advance, I'm curious to read your replies!

Alexander

Re: General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

Matt — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:36:11 -0500

"Alexander" <alexander.erlich@gmail.com> wrote in message <glhkjl$4el$1@fred.mathworks.com>...
> Hello,
>
> I've read that there is a Matlab compiler which is able to create standalone Matlab applications. I have several questions on that:
>
> - I am using a GUI and also some 3D plots for a program which I am developing entirely in Matlab (it's a rather simple program showing a 3D animation of a spinning top). Is it possible to create a standalone app with these "components"?

Plots should be okay.
According to the documentation, GUI routines are not supported. However, I have found that GUI functions like uigetfile() will compile, but execute VERY slowly.

> - Does the compiler require some special programming or something, or can I just use it on a given - let's say - m-File or several m-Files?

The compiler's GUI let's you compile a group of inter-dependent mfiles with a single button-click.

The main difficulty is that certain adjustments may need to be made to your mfiles. For example, if your code dynamically determines the name of a function to use, say using eval() or str2fun(), the compiler has no way of recognizing that dependency, and you have to add it manually.

> - Is the compiler for free? Where can I download/buy it?

No, it's one of the more expensive MathWorks products. You can buy (and I believe download it) from the MathWorks website

>Can it compile for Linux and for Windows, or would I have to buy separate compilers? Is it able to handle even 3D plots on different OS?

Probably separate, but I'm not sure.

Re: General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

Arnaud Miege — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 14:06:49 -0500

"Alexander" <alexander.erlich@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:glhkjl$4el$1@fred.mathworks.com...
> Hello,
>
> I've read that there is a Matlab compiler which is able to create
> standalone Matlab applications. I have several questions on that:
>
> - I am using a GUI and also some 3D plots for a program which I am
> developing entirely in Matlab (it's a rather simple program showing a 3D
> animation of a spinning top). Is it possible to create a standalone app
> with these "components"?
>
> - Does the compiler require some special programming or something, or can
> I just use it on a given - let's say - m-File or several m-Files?
>
> - Is the compiler for free? Where can I download/buy it? Can it compile
> for Linux and for Windows, or would I have to buy separate compilers? Is
> it able to handle even 3D plots on different OS?
>
> Thank you in advance, I'm curious to read your replies!
>
> Alexander

Hi Alexander,

You can find out more about the MATLAB Compiler at
http://www.mathworks.com/products/compiler/.

I believe for your application to be used on a certain OS, it needs to be
compiled on that same OS: i.e. if you compile your application on win32,
then the end user will be able to run it on win32 only. If you want the end
user to be able to run it on other OS, such as Linux, then you need to
re-compile it under Linux.

Hope this helps,

Arnaud

Re: General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

Alexander — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:03:09 -0500

Thank you for your replies,

I tried to add the compiler to the cart to check its price, but I was even told that the Compiler is not available for Student Versions of Matlab.

Is there no other way to create standalone apps? I've learned that mex is able to include C functions into Matlab, is there no way to let's say use the plot commands from Matlab in C? Or maybe another way of at least getting command line programs into executable, Matlab-independent files?

Alexander

Re: General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

Bruno Luong — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:08:12 -0500

"Matt " <mjacobson.removethis@xorantech.com> wrote in message
>
> No, it's one of the more expensive MathWorks products. You can buy (and I believe download it) from the MathWorks website
>
> >Can it compile for Linux and for Windows, or would I have to buy separate compilers? Is it able to handle even 3D plots on different OS?
>
> Probably separate, but I'm not sure.
>
>

When you purchase Matlab and Compiler, you have it for all supported platforms, but you must install your Matlab and compile your application on the target OS where you want your application to be run on.

No worry about 3D graphic. Some of the specific functions in some toolbox might not be supported by the compiler. They are not many of them, but to be sure please take a look at Matlab documentation. The only modification you might have make in your program is to indicate for the compiler which function are invoked (by EVAL).

Bruno

Re: General questions about creating standalone apps with Matlab

Arnaud Miege — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 22:08:28 -0500

"Alexander" <alexander.erlich@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:glhuvd$6kv$1@fred.mathworks.com...
> Thank you for your replies,
>
> I tried to add the compiler to the cart to check its price, but I was even
> told that the Compiler is not available for Student Versions of Matlab.
>
> Is there no other way to create standalone apps? I've learned that mex is
> able to include C functions into Matlab, is there no way to let's say use
> the plot commands from Matlab in C? Or maybe another way of at least
> getting command line programs into executable, Matlab-independent files?
>
> Alexander

Ah, you didn't say you had a student version. The MATLAB compiler is not
avaialble for student version, you need to use either an academic license or
a professional one. The add-on products available for the student version
are listed at
http://www.mathworks.com/academia/student_version/companion.html.

Hope this helps,

Arnaud