Desktop Tools and Development Environment

Startup Directory for MATLAB

The current directory in MATLAB when it starts is called the startup directory. The default startup directory depends on your platform and installation. You can specify a different startup directory.

Startup Directory on Windows Platforms

On Windows platforms, when you installed MATLAB, the default startup directory was set to $matlabroot/work, where $matlabroot is the directory in which MATLAB files are installed.

Startup Directory on UNIX Platforms

On UNIX platforms, the default startup directory is the directory you are in on your UNIX file system when you start MATLAB.

Changing the Startup Directory

You can start MATLAB in a directory other than the default.

For Windows Platforms Only.   To change the startup directory on Windows platforms,

1. Right-click the MATLAB shortcut icon and select Properties from the context menu.

1. The Properties dialog box for matlab.exe opens to the Shortcut page.

2. Enter the new startup directory in the Start in field and click OK.

The next time you start MATLAB using that shortcut icon, the current directory will be the one you specified in step 2.

You can make multiple shortcuts to start MATLAB, each with its own startup directory, and with each startup directory having different startup options.

For All Platforms.   To change the startup directory,

1. Create a startup.m file--see Using the Startup File for MATLAB, startup.m.
2. In the startup.m file, include the cd function to change to the new directory.
3. Put the startup.m file in the current startup directory.

Starting MATLAB

Startup Options

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