External Interfaces

Examples of a MATLAB Automation Server

This section provides code examples that show you how to access a MATLAB automation server from Visual Basic and C#.

Example -- Running an M-File from Visual Basic

This example calls an M-file function named solve_bvp from a Visual Basic client application through a COM interface. It also plots a graph in a new MATLAB window and performs a simple computation:

• Dim MatLab As Object
  Dim Result As String
  Dim MReal(1, 3) As Double
  Dim MImag(1, 3) As Double
  
  Set MatLab = CreateObject("Matlab.Application")
  
  'Calling m-file from VB
  `Assuming solve_bvp exists at specified location
  Result = MatLab.Execute("cd d:\matlab\work\bvp")
  Result = MatLab.Execute("solve_bvp")
  
  'Executing other MATLAB commands
  Result = MatLab.Execute("surf(peaks)")
  Result = MatLab.Execute("a = [1 2 3 4; 5 6 7 8]")
  Result = MatLab.Execute("b = a + a ")
  `Bring matrix b into VB program
  Call MatLab.GetFullMatrix("b", "base", MReal, MImag)
  

Example -- Viewing Methods from a Visual Basic 6.0 Client

You can find out what methods are available from a MATLAB automation server using the Object Browser of your Visual Basic client application. To do this, follow this procedure in the client application to reference the MATLAB Application Type Library:

1. Select the Project menu
2. Select Reference from the subsequent menu
3. Check the box next to the MATLAB Application Type Library
4. Click OK

This enables you to view MATLAB automation methods from the Visual Basic Object Browser under the Library called MLAPP. You will now also be able to see a list of MATLAB automation methods when you use the term Matlab followed by a period. For example,

• Dim Matlab As MLApp.MLApp
  
  Private Sub View_Methods()
  Set Matlab = New MLApp.MLApp
  
  'The next line should show a list of MATLAB Automation methods
  Matlab.
  
  End Sub
  

Example -- Calling MATLAB from a C# Client

This example simply creates data in the client C# program and passes it to MATLAB. The matrix (containing complex data) is then passed back to the C# program.

Note that the reference to the MATLAB Type Library for C# is:

• MLApp.MLAppClass matlab = new MLApp.MLAppClass(); 
  

Here is the complete example.

• using System;
  namespace ConsoleApplication4
  {
  class Class1
  {
  [STAThread]
  static void Main(string[] args)
  {
  MLApp.MLAppClass matlab = new MLApp.MLAppClass();
  
  System.Array pr = new double[4];
  pr.SetValue(11,0);
  pr.SetValue(12,1);
  pr.SetValue(13,2);
  pr.SetValue(14,3);
  
  System.Array pi = new double[4];
  pi.SetValue(1,0);
  pi.SetValue(2,1);
  pi.SetValue(3,2);
  pi.SetValue(4,3);
  
  matlab.PutFullMatrix("a", "base", pr, pi);
  
  System.Array prresult = new double[4];
  System.Array piresult = new double[4];
  
  matlab.GetFullMatrix("a", "base", ref prresult, ref piresult);
  }
  }
  }
  

Automation Server Functions

MATLAB Automation Properties

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