This can be achieved using a MATLAB Automation server from a client application such as Microsoft Visual Basic.
For example the following sequence of steps shows how to run, pause and stop a Simulink application on a target machine which has MATLAB installed, from a client machine (such as a monitor machine) through a Visual Basic application:
1. On the machine that has MATLAB installed (say, the target machine), make these setup changes:
a. Start the DCOM Configuration utility by selecting "Start->Control Panels->Administrative
Tools->Component Services".
b. Select "Component Services->Computers->My Computer->DCOM Config".
c. Right-click the appropriate "Matlab.Application" line and select "Properties". For MATLAB 7.0 (R14) to MATLAB 7.3 (R2006b), select "Matlab.Application (Version 7.0)". In your case, if you are using MATLAB 7.8 (R2009a), choose the application with version 7.3
d. Click the "Identity" tab and select "Interactive User". Click "OK".
2. Now open a VB editor. For example, you can open the VB editor that is available with excel by opening excel and typing (Alt + F11).
Within the editor, use the CREATEOBJECT command to create an instance of MATLAB in the target machine using the code snippet below:
Sub test()
Dim MatLab As Object
Dim Result As String
Set MatLab = CreateObject("Matlab.Application", <ipaddress of target machine>")
MatLab.Execute ("open_system('vdp')")
Result = MatLab.Execute("set_param('vdp', 'SimulationCommand', 'start')")
MatLab.Execute ("set_param('vdp', 'SimulationCommand', 'stop')")
End Sub
Here, "ipaddress of target machine" is the ipaddress of the machine where MATLAB is to be remotely opened. To obtain this address, type IPCONFIG in the DOS prompt of the target machine.
The above code sample opens MATLAB on a remote machine, opens the model VDP, and starts and stops it. Note that you have to use the MatLab.Execute command to execute MATLAB commands
For more information about running simulations programatically, visit the link below:
<http://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/index.html?/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/ug/f11-61832.html>
You can perform most of the GUI operations of Simulink(such as tuning parameters, etc) from the command line using the SET_PARAM command. More information can be obtained in the MATLAB Help documentation at the link below:
<http://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/index.html?/help//releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/slref/set_param.html>
To add blocks and create libraries use the commands ADD_BLOCK, and ADD_LINE. For more information about these commands, follow the links below:
<http://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/index.html?/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/slref/add_block.html>
<http://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/index.html?/help/releases/R2009a/toolbox/simulink/slref/add_line.html>
