appdesigner output as of R2020a

as of R2020a, is matlab appdesigner able to have an output?

i am trying to have the output be imported to a text file

the output will be coordinates in an array

Answer 1

[Priysha LNU]

Hi,

There are three approaches that you can utilize for using data from an app created using App Designer in a different function or script. All these methods are based on saving the data from the app to the MATLAB Workspace, which the other function or script can access.

1. Using "assignin" to assign the value of the desired variable in the workspace. You can refer to the following documentation link for an example:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/assignin.html#d119e47975

2. Using "export2wsdlg" to export variables to workspace :

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/export2wsdlg.html

3. Finally, you can also save the desired variables in a MAT file using the "save" command and then load the variables in the other function or script using the "load" command:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/save.html

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/load.html

You can use any of the above approaches inside of the "CloseRequestFcn" such that when the app is closed the variables will be saved as the "CloseRequestFcn" is executed. Here is an example of using the "CloseRequestFcn" for a figure :

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/matlab.ui.figure-properties.html#buiwuyk-1-CloseRequestFcn

Having saved the variables in the workspace, you may export in the text file using the 'save()' function:

save('myFile.txt', '<variable name>', '-ASCII','-append');

Hope this helps!

DISCLAIMER: These are my own views and in no way depict those of MathWorks.

Answer 2

[Michael]

A bit late of a response, but here's an approach to have output arguments for an appdesigner app without using assignin, for anyone that's searching for this:

1) In your appdesigner app, add a property for each variable you want to return

2) Also in the app, add a property called 'readyToExit'

3) Add a button to your GUI, with a button pushed callback that does this:

app.readyToExit = true;

4) Write a .m file to call the app like:

app = appName(inputArg);

%Here, the user interacts with the app like normal. waitfor blocks execution until the 'readyToExit' property is set to true by the button press
waitfor(app,'readyToExit',true);

%retrieve output from the GUI, now that the button has been pressed
outputArg1 = app.outputArg1;
outputArg2 = app.outputArg2;

%close the app
delete(app);

5) Instead of calling your app directly, call the .m file:

[outputArg1, outputArg2] = runApp(inputArg);

This will give you an appdesigner app that acts like a modal GUI.