matlab is a Bourne shell script that starts the MATLAB
executable (note lower case matlab refers here to the script
and upper case MATLAB refers to the application program).
Before actually initiating the execution of MATLAB, this
script configures the runtime environment by:
o Determining the MATLAB root directory
o Determining the host machine architecture
o Processing any options specified
o Reading the MATLAB startup file, .matlab5rc.sh
o Setting MATLAB environment variables
There are two ways in which you can control the way the
matlab script works:
o By specifying command-line options
o By assigning values in the MATLAB startup file,
.matlab5rc.sh
The file .matlab5rc.sh is a shell script that contains
definitions for a number of variables that the matlab script
uses. These variables are defined within the matlab script,
but can be redefined in .matlab5rc.sh. When called, matlab
looks for the first occurance of .matlab5rc.sh in the
current directory, in the $HOME directory, and in the
matlab/bin directory (where the template version of
.matlab5rc.sh is located).
You can edit the template file to redefine information used
by the matlab script. You can copy the edited version to
your current or home directory if you do not want your
changes applied system wide. Ensure that you edit the
section that applies to your machine architecture.
The .matlab5rc.sh file defines the following variables:
______________________________________________________
The FLEXlm license file.
TOOLBOX Path to the $MATLAB/toolbox directory
MATLABPATH The MATLAB search path. The initial path
created at install time is stored in
$MATLAB/toolbox/local/pathdef.m.
XAPPLRESDIR The X application resource directory
$MATLAB/app-defaults
XKEYSYMDB The X keysym database file
$MATLAB/app-defaults/XKeysymDB
SHELL The shell to use when "!" is issued in
MATLAB
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The matlab script determines the path of the MATLAB root
directory by looking up the directory tree from the
matlab/bin directory (where the matlab script is located).
The $MATLAB variable is then used to locate all files within
the MATLAB directory tree.
You can change the definition of $MATLAB, if for example,
you want to run a different version of MATLAB or if, for
some reason, the path determined by the matlab script is not
correct (this may happen when certain types of automounting
schemes are used by your system).
$AUTOMOUNT_MAP is used to modify the MATLAB root directory
path. Whatever pathname that is assigned to $AUTOMOUNT_MAP
is deleted from the front for the MATLAB root path. (It is
unlikely that you will need to use this option.)
See the comments in the .matlab5rc.sh file for more
explanation on these variables.
OPTIONS
-h,-help This option shows matlab command usage. MATLAB is
not started when you specify this option.
-n This option causes matlab to display the values of
the environment variables used by MATLAB. MATLAB
is not started when you specify this option.
-clicensefile
Sets the value of the LM_LICENSE_FILE variable to
licensefile. This setting supersedes values
specified in .matlab5rc.sh and the default values
defined within the matlab script.
license.dat.DEMO.* files in the matlab/etc
directory.
-displayhostname:display
The X display used for MATLAB output. For
example, matlab -display falstaff:0 cause MATLAB
output to be displayed on the host named falstaff.
The value specified with this option supersedes
the value of the DISPLAY environment variable and
the display variable defined in .matlab5rc.sh.
-debug Provides debugging information, especially for X-
based problems. Note that your should use this
option only in conjunction with a Technical
Support Representative from The MathWorks, Inc.
-Ddebuggeroptions
Start MATLAB with the specified debugger (e.g.,
dbx, xdb, gdb, ups, etc.). Any debugger options
you want to use should be specified in options.
Using the -D options sets the environment
variable:
MATLAB_DEBUG=debugger
Note that for certain debuggers, such as gdb, the SHELL
environment variable is always set to /bin/sh.
This option is useful for using a debugger on MEX-files,
which are subroutines linked to MATLAB. You should build the
MEX-file using the -g option. (See the mex manual page for
information on building MEX-files. See the MATLABApplicationProgramInterfaceGuide for information on
debugging MEX-files).
FURTHER INFORMATION
If you have a Web browser like Netscape you can easily
access online documentation for MATLAB. If you are at the
Unix shell prompt then invoke the matlabdoc command, for
example,
$ matlabdoc
Go to the link MATLABHelpDesk. The matlabdoc command is
accessable in the same may as the matlab and mex commands.
If you are at the MATLAB prompt use the helpdesk command,
for example
>> helpdesk
There are a number of manuals. See the MATLABInstallationGuide for information on installing MATLAB. See the Getting