Accessing global variable from function

I have the following code:

function [ dirsOut, dirsPerTask ] = prepare( n )

    global dirs;

    numOfDirs = size(dirs,1);
    dirsPerTask = round(numOfDirs/n);

end

dirs is defined as global:

EDU>> whos global

Name Size Bytes Class Attributes

dirs        2198x1             301616  struct    global    
status         0x0                  0  double    global

Got an error while calling function prepare:

EDU>> [o, n] = prepare(4)

Error in ==> prepare at 3 global dirs;

Probably I'm missing something ... Please assist.

[Vishal Rane]

The error you have posted 'Error in ==> prepare at 3 global dirs;' seems incomplete.

Run lasterror command after you get that error and post the contents of the message field.

[Jan]

@Irene: Please post the complete error message.

Answer 1

[dpb]

Remove the trailing ';' from the global statement--ML thinks dirs; should be a variable name but the semi-colon isn't valid character in a name

--

[Walter Roberson]

I used to think that too, but I was wrong. It turns out that command/function duality ends lines at semi-colons.

Answer 2

[dpb]

Hmmm....I did a test first, why did it error? Oh, drat. I mistyped 'global' as 'globals' and didn't notice; just that it errored on the expected line. Mea culpa...

OK, so what is problem w/ the posted function?