Desktop Tools and Development Environment

Arranging the Desktop

You can modify the desktop configuration to best meet your needs. Refer to Arranging the Desktop--Overview first, and then if needed, consult these online details.

Opening Desktop Tools

To open a tool, select the tool from the Desktop menu. Open tools have a check mark before them in the menu. The tool appears in the location it occupied the last time it was open. The sizes of other open tools adjust to accommodate the newly opened tool.

Documents and the tools they are associated with can be part of the desktop, but you do not open them via the Desktop menu:

• Array Editor--Open it by double-clicking a variable in the Workspace browser.
• Editor/Debugger--Open it by creating a new text file, such as an M-file, or opening an existing file. For instructions, see Starting, Customizing, and Closing the Editor/Debugger.
• Figures--Create figures using plot and other graphics functions.

You can also open desktop tools by

• Selecting the tool from the Start button Desktop Tools item.
• Using a function. For example, type helpbrowser to open the Help browser. These functions are documented with each tool.

The following example shows how the MATLAB desktop might look with the Command Window, Command History window, Help browser, and the files collatz.m and povertystats.m open. Because the Command Window is the active window, its title bar is dark blue. By default, the Help browser does not open in the desktop, although you can move it into the desktop (dock it).

GUI Reference for Desktop Tools and Development Environment

Navigating Among Desktop Tools

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