clearvars does not work as indicated in documentation

I'm having problems with clearvars.

Example 1:

>> A = 1; B = 2; C = 3; D = 4;
>> whos
  Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes

    A         1x1                 8  double              
    B         1x1                 8  double              
    C         1x1                 8  double              
    D         1x1                 8  double              

>> clearvars -except C D
>> whos
>>

(in other words, all variables are cleared)

Example 2:

>> A = 1; B = 2; C = 3; D = 4;
>> whos
  Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes

    A         1x1                 8  double              
    B         1x1                 8  double              
    C         1x1                 8  double              
    D         1x1                 8  double              

>> clearvars('-except','C')
>> whos
>> 

>> A = 1; B = 2; C = 3; D = 4;
>> whos

    Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes

    A         1x1                 8  double              
    B         1x1                 8  double              
    C         1x1                 8  double              
    D         1x1                 8  double              

>> clearvars('*','-except','C')
>> whos

    Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes

    A         1x1                 8  double              
    B         1x1                 8  double              
    C         1x1                 8  double              
    D         1x1                 8  double              

>>

(doesn't clear anything)

Any help?

[per isakson]

With R2013a

>> clear all
>> A = 1; B = 2; C = 3; D = 4;
>> clearvars -except C D
>> whos
  Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes
  C         1x1                 8  double              
  D         1x1                 8  double

and

>> A = 1; B = 2; C = 3; D = 4;
>> 
>> clearvars('*','-except','C')
>> whos
  Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes
  C         1x1                 8  double

Which version do you use?

[Guillaume]

clearvars works for me in 2015a. As per said, you need to tell us which version you're using.

Have you shadowed the built-in clearvars per chance? What does

which clearvars

return?

Answer 1

[Jonathan Wharrier]

You might try

clearvars -except

this works with the latest release. I typed clearvars on its own and it did not but this seems to work and clears all.