Why do I receive an error message when I try to choose Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition compiler using MEX -SETUP?

Date Last Modified: Friday, June 26, 2009

Solution ID:		1-66BY08
Product:		MATLAB
Reported in Release:		R2007b+
Platform:		Windows
Operating System:		Windows XP

Subject:

Problem Description:

I am trying to choose Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition compiler on a 32-bit Windows machine, using 'mex -setup' as follows
Please choose your compiler for building external interface (MEX) files Would you like mex to locate installed compilers [y]/n? Select a compiler: [1] Lcc-win32 C 2.4.1 in C:\PROGRA~1\MATLAB\R2007b\sys\lcc [2] Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8 [0] None Compiler: 2 Please verify your choices: Compiler: Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition Location: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio 8 Are these correct?([y]/n): However, I get the following error message
***************************************************************************** Error: The Microsoft Platform Software Development Kit (SDK) was not found. Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition requires that the SDK is installed properly. MEX uses the environment variable "MSSdk" to find the SDK. If it is installed properly, please verify that the environment variable "MSSdk" points to the correct location. Otherwise, install the SDK and try again. ***************************************************************************** Trying to update options file: C:\Documents and Settings\yair\Application Data\MathWorks\MATLAB\R2007b\mexopts.bat From template: C:\PROGRA~1\MATLAB\R2007b\bin\win32\mexopts\msvc80freeopts.bat "

Solution:

Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 also needs to be installed when using Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition.

In addition, the MSSdk variable needs to be defined in the Windows environment when using Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition with MATLAB® and related products. The value of this environment variable is the path to the installation directory for Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003. This environment variable is not usually defined by the Microsoft Platform SDK installation program.

Please follow the steps listed below to setup the MSSDk environment variable after you have installed Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003.

1. Go to Control Panel -> System -> "Advanced" -> "Environment variables".
2. Create a new system variable with the name "MSSdk".
3. The value of this variable should be the path where the Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 is installed.
4. Click OK a few times to close out the Control Panel window, and all its children.
5. Restart MATLAB.

You should now be able to use the Microsoft Visual C++ 2005 Express Edition compiler with MATLAB.

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