Call a function in an m-file from a method of a handle class

I would like to know, if the object, which is being created with the help of the (handle) class methods, would also be visible for modifications in a function called from a method of the (handle) class, even if I don't pass the object itself to that function?

If the object is visible to the function called in a class method, so I can just work with it from the function using it's name from the class itself (using the name of the "constructor function")?

Or must I pass the object to the function called in the class method?...

Thank you for your answer in advance!

[Ahmed Hossam]

I just would like to have the Implementation of the class methods outside of the class so that the class looks clean and tidy without so many code lines inside it

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

A method operating on objects of a class must have the object as its first input in matlab. (In other languages, e.g C++, this first parameter is automatically added by the compiler).

However, you can separate the methods of a class into different files. See this page for the details. Basically, create a folder named @yourclassname, populate this folder with at least yourclassname.m which can just contain the class definition. You can implement the methods either in yourclassname.m or in separate files in the same @ folder. Either way, the first input of the method must be the class object.

[Ahmed Hossam]

Nice!

Answer 2

[Adam]

If you don't pass the object in then it has to be a static function and has knowledge of the class only, not the specific object. You can define class functions in separate files, although I can't remember what you need to do, I've never wanted to do it myself. It is mentioned somewhere in the large pdf file on Matlab OOP though (Section 5-2 seems to cover this)

[Ahmed Hossam]

Is it weird to define each method of a class in a separate file? What is common practice here?

[Guillaume]

It's not weird. I do it sometimes when the class are complex. It is much easier to locate a particular file than scroll through 1000s of lines in a single file.