How to make deployed program directory not read only

Hello

I have a compiled program (prog_name.m) that takes data from an external file (data.csv). The external file needs to be editable by the user, and the data from this external file is loaded into the program.

I included the external file in the "Files installed for your end user" section of the matlab compiler app.

When i install using the generated installer, the program installs to

C:\Program Files\prog_name\application

and in this folder there is my prog_name.exe and the external file (data.csv)

However, this folder always read only, and I can't edit data.csv without a fair amount of headache and changing file permissions. This isn't something I want the users to have to deal with. Is there a way I can make the installed folders not read only?

Im using windows 10 and R2020b

Thanks!

Answer 1

[Eric Delgado]

In this case you should use AppData as default installation folder (see below). If this is not a solution, then you should put in the startup of your app a folder validation (Is the folder writable? If not, create a new one in ProgramData Windows folder, for example, copying your file "data.csv").

See here an explanation about a folder validation - https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/296657-how-can-i-check-if-i-have-read-or-write-access-to-a-directory.

Your code will be something like that...

if ~isfolder(fullfile(getenv('PROGRAMDATA'), 'TheNameOfYourApp'))
    mkdir(fullfile(getenv('PROGRAMDATA'), 'TheNameOfYourApp'))
    movefile(fullfile(app.RootFolder, 'data.csv'), fullfile(getenv('PROGRAMDATA'), 'TheNameOfYourApp'));
end

% app.RootFolder is the path of your app

[HpW]

Chainging the directory for installaton worked

thx