How can I set up Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition to be used with MATLAB to create MEX files on 32-bit Windows?

I would like to know the steps required for using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition on 32-bit Windows machines for creating MEX files.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition can be used on 32-bit Windows to create MEX files in the following releases of MATLAB:

* MATLAB 7.4 (R2007a)

* MATLAB 7.5 (R2007b)

* MATLAB 7.6 (R2008a)

* MATLAB 7.7 (R2008b)

To install Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition with all required components:

1. Install Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition. The default options can be used during installation.

2. Install Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 SP1. The Microsoft Platform SDK for Windows Server 2003 SP1 should be available by searching Microsoft's download site, or by going directly to:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/download/details.aspx?id=15656

Do not install beta or 'Release Candidate' (RC) versions.

3. Define the MSSdk variable in the Windows environment. The value of this environment variable is the path to the installation directory of the SDK. This environment variable is not usually defined by the Microsoft Platform SDK installation program.

4. At this point you should be able to proceed and compile code as usual.

For example, to select the compiler and build the YPRIME.C example MEX-file,

mex -setup   % Select Visual Studio 2005 Express Edition
copyfile(fullfile(matlabroot,'extern','examples','mex','yprime.c'))
mex -v yprime.c
yprime(1,1:4)

The final line should execute the MEX-file, and calculate the following output:

ans =

    2.0000    8.9685    4.0000   -1.0947