Desktop Tools and Development Environment

Toolbars

The toolbar in the desktop provides easy access to frequently used operations. Position the cursor over a button for a second or two and a tooltip appears that describes the item.

Some tools also have their own toolbars, which are located within the tool's own window. For example, the Current Directory browser has its own toolbar. When you undock one of these tools, the undocked tool includes the toolbar.

To hide a toolbar, or to show it again after hiding it, use the appropriate toolbar item in the Desktop menu. For figure windows, use the toolbar item in its View menu.

Current Directory Field

The current directory field in the desktop toolbar shows the MATLAB current working directory. You can change the current directory using this field and any of these methods:

• Type the new current directory directly in the field.
• Use the drop-down list to change to a previously used current directory. To specify the number of entries maintained each session, use the History preference you access via File -> Preferences -> Current Directory.
• Use the Browse for folder button ... to select a new current directory.
• Use the Go Up One Level button to move the current directory up one level.

The same current directory field also appears in the Current Directory browser when the Current Directory browser is undocked from the desktop. Use the Current Directory browser to perform many additional file operations. For more information, see File Management Operations.

Status Bar

Along the bottom of the desktop is the status bar. It displays messages, such as when MATLAB is busy executing statements or when the Profiler is on. Some tools, such as the Editor/Debugger, display additional status information, such as the current line number. Not all status information appears on the status bar--many MATLAB functions and tools provide status information that is not reported to the status bar.

You can construct your own functions to provide status information. See the timer function, and search for other specific terms describing the status of interest.

Menus and Context Menus

Sizing, Arranging, and Sorting Columns in Tools

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