How to access a file in another directory

Hi there!

I'm writting a script located in the driver 'E:\' and I want it to access a file in 'C:\'.

When try to read the file I receive this message:

>> ls C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2018a\toolbox
Error using ls (line 60)
Too many input arguments.

I've also tried using '/' before 'Files' and received the same error message:

>> ls C:\Program/ Files\MATLAB\R2018a\toolbox
Error using ls (line 60)
Too many input arguments.

Why is it happening and how can I overcome this problem?

Thanks in advance!

[Stephen23]

"C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2018a\toolbox"

Accessing files directly inside any application's installation folder is a very dubious idea. Most likely you should just set the MATLAB Search Path and rely on MATLAB to locate the files.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

The problem is that you are using command syntax (an unfortunate remnant of MATLAB's venerable origins):

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/command-vs-function-syntax.html

With command syntax every space separates one variable. Look at your code and find the spaces:

ls C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2018a\toolbox
% ^          ^            two  spaces!

So if we were to write your command syntax as a normal function call, it would look like this:

ls('C:\Program','Files\MATLAB\R2018a\toolbox')
%  ^^^^^^^^^^^^                                 1st input
%               ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^    2nd input

So how many inputs are you calling ls with? (hint: two)

The best solution is to forget about (awful, outdated, ugly) command syntax and always use function syntax:

ls('C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2018a\toolbox')