R2013a on OSX, java errors prevent editor to start

My Matlab 2013a generates a series of java errors when attempting to open the editor. This is what I get:

java.lang.NullPointerException at sun.reflect.UnsafeFieldAccessorImpl.ensureObj(UnsafeFieldAccessorImpl.java:36) at sun.reflect.UnsafeObjectFieldAccessorImpl.get(UnsafeObjectFieldAccessorImpl.java:18) at java.lang.reflect.Field.get(Field.java:358) at apple.awt.CAccessibility.getAccessibleRoleFor(CAccessibility.java:200) at apple.awt.CAccessibility$11.call(CAccessibility.java:215) at apple.awt.CAccessibility$11.call(CAccessibility.java:212) at apple.awt.CToolkit$CallableWrapper.run(CToolkit.java:1125) at java.awt.event.InvocationEvent.dispatch(InvocationEvent.java:199) at apple.awt.CToolkit$CPeerEvent.dispatch(CToolkit.java:1215) at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEventImpl(EventQueue.java:708) at java.awt.EventQueue.access$400(EventQueue.java:82) at java.awt.EventQueue$2.run(EventQueue.java:669) at java.awt.EventQueue$2.run(EventQueue.java:667) at java.security.AccessController.doPrivileged(Native Method) at java.security.AccessControlContext$1.doIntersectionPrivilege(AccessControlContext.java:87) at java.awt.EventQueue.dispatchEvent(EventQueue.java:678) at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpOneEventForFilters(EventDispatchThread.java:296) at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForFilter(EventDispatchThread.java:211) at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEventsForHierarchy(EventDispatchThread.java:201) at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:196) at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.pumpEvents(EventDispatchThread.java:188) at java.awt.EventDispatchThread.run(EventDispatchThread.java:122)

As a result, I can no longer use Matlab because I have no access to the editor and subsequently no longer can 'run' a matlab script. In an attempt to solve this, I have removed matlab entirely and reinstalled it. In addition, I have deployed fix packages found on the mathworks site and a variety of tips/tricks pointed out by others all without effect.

I am using java 7 update 21, OSX 10.8.3. I like to point out that my troubles started "all of a sudden" and not after some major upgrade. I.e., matlab r2013a was operating just fine under 10.8.3 and java 7-21. The only hint I have is that I worked with a file on a dropbox account that was updated outside the matlab environment. I detected that the .m file had been updated elsewhere, I exited Matlab without saving the .m file (the dropbox version was more up to date). Restarting matlab, and attempting to load the dropbox located file and my problems started.

Hopefully someone can help because I am dead in the water right now. Pretty silly error for such an expensive package btw...

[Ken Atwell]

Can you run "version -java" in the Command Window and report what is returns? R2013a needs Java version 6 and I want to make sure MATLAB is correctly using that version and not version 7.

Second thing, a stab in the dark: You might try clearing out your preferences. <http://blogs.mathworks.com/community/2009/12/07/the-preferences-directory/>

[Joost]

Thanks for responding Ken, the "version -java" command returned: Java 1.6.0_45-b06-451-11M4406 with Apple Inc. Java HotSpot™ 64-Bit Server VM mixed mode So I seem to be in good shape there.

Clearing out the preferences as you indicated did not change the java error.

However, I did find a way to get access to the editor back; if I press Layout/Default, the editor shows up as a docked panel whereas I normally us it as a floating window on my second monitor. At least I can use Matlab albeit a bit more limited and still with a bunch of java errors showing up when hovering over some of the buttons (open/recent files for example).