How can I compile a live script exporter?

I have created a live script export function with the help of this answer and I want to compile it into an executable.

It compiles into an exe, but when trying to execute I receive an error. I imagine it occurs because I am calling an internal function.

Is there a way I can get around this limitation?

The intention for this is to allow other applications such as Git view a text representation of live scripts.

Here's the very simple function which works well from MATLAB:

function mlxToLaTeX(mlxFilePath)
% Description:
%   Function to convert a *.mlx file to LaTeX format text and display in
%   the command window.
% 
%   Compile by running:
%       mcc('-m', '-d', pwd, 'mlxToLaTeX.m');
% 
% *************************************************************************
% Examples:
%   mlxToLaTeX('someScript.mlx');
%
% See also matlab.internal.liveeditor.openAndConvert

tmpFile = sprintf('%s.tex', tempname);
matlab.internal.liveeditor.openAndConvert(mlxFilePath, tmpFile);
texCode = fileread(tmpFile);
delete(tmpFile);

fprintf('%s',texCode);

But when compiled, I recieve the following output:

!mlxToLaTeX someScript.mlx

Unable to resolve the name matlab.internal.liveeditor.openAndConvert.

Error in mlxToLaTeX (line 31)

MATLAB:undefinedVarOrClass

MATLAB version: 2019b

Thank you,

Ben

Answer 1

[Martin Knelleken]

Hi Ben,

Thank you for using the Live Editor and for bringing this up!

Indeed, matlab.internal.liveeditor.openAndConvert is not supported by the MATLAB complier. You should have seen warnings while running the compiler already. Something like: 'The file or function has been excluded from packaging for the "MCR" target environment'. One reason is that this is an internal function which is not made for public use and therefore it's not neccessarily supposed to work with the compiler.

We're actively working on a public replacement for openAndConvert. I can't promise that the first version of that will be fully supported by the compiler but we'll definitively attach importance to that.

Thanks

- Martin