How can I increase Memory

Dear friends

I used a "for" loop in my M.file codes and I used "fopen" and "fclose" functions in "for" loop.

After 508 iterations, MATLAB has been stopped and following message showed:

"??? Error using ==> fprintf
Invalid file identifier.  Use fopen to generate a valid file identifier."

I think, MATLAB faced Low memory problem because by closing software and starting again MATLAB can continue to remain iterations. Therfore I need to a function to increase MATLAB memory. The "clear all" is not useful.

Regards

[Matt J]

It doesn't sound like a memory issue. Why don't you think it's an issue with the file identifier, like the error message says?

[Mohsen]

Because in previous iterations (first 508 iterations), file identifier do not have any error.

[Jan]

Btw., clear all is useful only in very strange situations.

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

You aren't using the same filename are you? So that it might be a timing issue. Try adding a pause(0.1). Another shot in the dark: try fclose('all').

[Jan]

@Mohsen: Flags are used to inform the admins and editors about a message, which should be deleted or edited because it conflicts with the forum rules. Therefore I've deleted your flag "Regards, your guide is useful".

[Jan]

@Mohsen: Now you have flagged my comment. Does this mean, that you want the admins and other editors to check, if my comment violates the forum rules? Although the message of your flag "Thanks a lot" seems to imply, that you do not want my comment to be deleted due to rude or inappropriate contents, I hesitate to delete a flag of my own posting.

Please use comments to post comments, and not flags.

@Admins/editors: Please remove this flag. Sorry for being nitpicking, but I think that editors should not clean up flags for their own postings. Thanks.

Answer 2

[Jan]

The best method to increase memory is installing more RAM and using a 64 bit version of Matlab.

But in your case the error message is unequivocally an invalid file identifier. This is a completely other problem and not related to memory. It means that you have tried to open a not existing file. This should be checked in every case:

FID = fopen(FileName, 'r');
if FID == -1
  error('Cannot open file for reading: [%s]', FileName);
end

The square brackets in the message helped me to recognize unexpected file names like control characters or spaces.

It is strongly recommended to include the path in the file name, because the current directory can change for unexpected reasons, e.g. GUI or TIMER callbacks.

Another problem can be that the closing of the files is not successful. Check this by:

list = fopen('all')

The list of files, which can be open at the same time, is limited by the operating system. Usually the need to have more than 20 file opened is a clear argument for a bad program design.

Answer 3

[Matt J]

When you call

fid=fopen(...)

do you check whether fid=-1? E.g.,

 if fid==-1
   keyboard
 end

You need to do so, to be sure MATLAB has found the file. If you run with the above, the code will pause when it can't find the file and you can investigate why from the K>> prompt.

[Mohsen]

After error, software should be close and and start again because software has been interrupted.

[Matt J]

You shouldn't reach the error if you've inserted

    if fid==-1
       keyboard
     end

before the fid is used.

[Image Analyst]

Then just put

if fid == -1
  continue;
end

and it will just skip that file and continue on.

Answer 4

[Konrad Malkowski]

A few questions:

1. What operating system are you using?
2. Do you close the previously open files?

The reason for these questions is that most operating systems limit the number files (file descriptors) that can be opened by a user/process/operating system at any given time.

[Walter Roberson]

Especially with the "508" being meantioned. MATLAB uses 3 file descriptors internally, so the problem is showing up after 511 open files, which is almost certainly a system limit of some kind.