Additional (configuration) Files in compiled standalone application

Hello,

I need to write a standalone GUI application using R2010b (specified by customer, I would be happe to use a newer version...).

I would like to include at least one configuration file in Excel format (*.xlsx) to give the user some flexibility to configure the tool (e.g. labels of measurement quantitities which change over time). I would like the user to be able to change this file in place and the tool shall use the changed file when the tool ist started next. I want to avoid that the file is stored outside my distributed directory and that the user needs to specify where it is (at least) the first time the tool ist started.

I am able to include the xlsx-file in my code such that the compiled version works correctly and obviously uses it. However, the file is not to be found in the directory distrib created by the compiler. It ssems to be included in the *.exe.

Is it possible to do what I want? If yes - how? If not - is it at least possible to include a template file for the xlsx which the user can get from the distributed directory without having to add it manually each time I create a new version of the tool?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

You can use which() in the executable to determine where the file ended up when you added it to the project

If the location of the file is to be understood to be per-user then you may wish to look at setpref() / getpref() to save information between runs. One of the bits of saved information could be a date that you could compare to the file creation date returned by dir()

[Jette]

I tried this and get something like

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\[username]\mcrCache7.14.1\[ProgDirs]\[myfile].xlsx

However, I started the program from a completely different folder by executing an exe-file. Therefore, I currently don't see any possibility to save the xlsx-file to the folder I am executing the programm from.

The folder which I get out of the compiler only yields

• Prog.exe
• Prog.log
• readme.txt

I tried both the mcc and deploytool which gave me the same results.

Any idea?

[Walter Roberson]

Programs are mostly started from icons, and icons are not in any particular directory. But if you meant the location of the .exe then see http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/182482-how-to-determine-application-exe-name-at-run-time

[Jette]

I meant the location of the .exe

And this link was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks for your quick reply

Answer 2

[Titus Edelhofer]

Hi,

I would suggest the following:

• Add the .xlsx to the compiled app
• When the application starts and wants to read the .xlsx make a distinction: if it exists in the folder where the compiled app is, use it. Otherwise read from the archive and save it where the compiled app is (using pwd), so that the user may adapt for the next run.

Titus

[Jette]

I tried this but I always get something like this if I try to find out the folder (e.g. mfilename, ctfroot, which)

C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Temp\[username]\mcrCache7.14.1\[ProgDirs]\[myfile].xlsx

However, this is not the directory I am executing my programm from (see also my comment on the answer of Walter Roberson )

[Titus Edelhofer]

Hi Jette,

Walter cites a thread for finding out the location of the .exe ...

Titus