I have a Simulink model wihich reads some data from a .mat file using a "From File" block. For ilustration's sake I created the following simple system which has the same problem I'm experiencing with my original model:
I need to generate a C code to run the model on another PC that does not have MATLAB. I generated the code and compiled it to validate it and I noticed that the executable is not reading the .mat file. No matter what signal I put on the file, the executable runs the model using the signal available at the moment of the compilation. I even erased the .mat file and the executable ran normally. Why is this happening? it is supposed that the "From File" block is there to read a .mat file, but it is not fulfilling its purpose.
NOTE: I am using MATLAB R2012b and Simulink version 8.0. I am using the Embedded Coder target (ert.tlc) for the code generation. I tried using the Rapid Simulation target (rsim.tlc) and the executable worked properly, however the execution time was higher. So I want to find a way to use the Embedded Coder target to have a lower execution time.
Related
I am using a MATLAB m file code which loads a simulink file, runs it and evaluats it so many times inside a complicated parallel loop.
It runs perfect at MATLAB environment. When compiling the code via deploytool command, installing it and running it from command line, I would have a difficult time.
At the line where it is loading the model,
mymodel= ... ;
load_system(mymodel);
I get the following error
C:\Program Files\mymain\application>Warning: Name is nonexistent or not a directory: model
> In path at 109
In addpath at 86
In run_main at 3
Warning: Name is nonexistent or not a directory: data
> In path at 109
In addpath at 86
In run_main at 4
Warning: Name is nonexistent or not a directory: graphics
> In path at 109
In addpath at 86
In run_main at 5
Starting parallel pool (parpool) using the 'local' profile ... connected to 2 workers.
Initializing ...
Undefined function 'load_system' for input arguments of type 'char'.
Error in run_main (line 40)
MATLAB:UndefinedFunction
I don't care about warnings (as I don't care about most of other MATLAB warnings) however I get error about not recognizing function to open a simulink model ('load_system') :
Undefined function 'load_system' for input arguments of type 'char'.
I did a search and I found the following questions:
load_system using MCR
Deployment of Simulink Models
The first link says
I just got confused: is deployment tools about compiling to C++ or to .NET ?
Is is supposed to increase speed or becomming stand-alone is the only advantage?
The problem with both links is that they talk about strategy. But how to implement them? How can I compile a MATLAB code which uses load_system and sim command to load and simulate a model?
Can anybody bring step by step solution for a very simple example of a MATLAB code (m file) simulating a model and then compiling both of them?
The first sentence of your documentation screen shot is the important one. As mentioned by #Navan (in a comment), Simulink functionality is not compatible with MATLAB Compiler. That is, any m-code that uses Simulink functinality (load_system, sim, etc) will not execute when using the MATLAB Compiler.
Assuming that you have access to Simulink Coder, and that your model doesn't contain functionality that prevents it from being converted to c-code, then your only option is to develop your application in two parts:
With your Simulink model: Use Simulink Coder to create an executable from your model. There are several examples of doing this in the doc, including Using RSIM Target for Batch Simulations. There are various command line options for passing new parameter sets and inputs to the executable via a mat file. The results of the simulation (i.e what would normally be written to the MATLAB Workspace) gets written to a mat file created by the executable.
Within you MATLAB code: replace all Simulink functionality with a call (typically using the system function, as shown in the linked example) to the executable created in step 1. Prior to this call you'll need to create a mat file with all your parameters in it; and after the call you'll want to read results from the mat file created by the executable.
It's not a trivial process, but is do-able.
i made exe file from simulink model using rsim method. i followed this link
how to import mat file to simulink?
that means i made simulinks input to mat file called "suma", and then comppiled it, "suma" is a mat file I save my variables from GUI.
the problem is that when i change my variables in GUI, and the "suma" varibales in that mat file change, my exe file still uses the old values that i used to compile it.
here is the code
a=get(handles.abroj, 'String');
b=get(handles.bbroj, 'String');
a=str2num(a);
b=str2num(b);
save('file_path_for_suma.mat','a','b');
system('file_path_for_exe_file') %this is for starting exe file?
zbroj3=load(file_path_to_output_exe_mat_file)
You're mixing up the way that Simulink works when simulating a model, and the way a simulation works when it has been converted to an executable.
A good example of the steps you will need to take can be found here: Using RSim Target for Parameter Survey.
Background
Say I compile the following simple function in MATLAB
function foo(path_to_m_file)
disp([' Running ' path_to_m_file])
run(path_to_m_file);
end
The function foo just takes a path to an .m file and tries to run it.
However, when I actually try to run foo after compiling it:
./run_foo.sh $path_to_run_time $path_to_m_file
where path_to_m_file is a simple .m file with a statement such as:
a = 2;
I get the following error:
Error using ==> run
MATLAB:run:FileNotFound
However, I know that foo gets the correct path. For example, if I try replacing the line with run by the following two lines in foo
fID = fopen(conf_file, 'rt');
first_line = textscan(fID, '%s', Inf, 'Delimiter', '\n');
foo reads the corresponding line of the .m file. So the .m file is there, and the MATLAB engine can "see" it. Indeed I can even run eval on strings read with textscan.
So my questions are:
Why do I get the error above? Why doesn't foo run the .m file?
Update: See #strictlyrude27's answer below for what seems to be an answer to this question.
If the above doesn't work. Is there a way to get a MATLAB-compiled function to run an .m file that may have changed after compiling the original function?
The motivation for my second question:
I would like to have the ability to "update" an .m file that is part of the project without having to re-compile the full project. Any ideas for this would be greatly appreciated.
From the MATLAB Compiler's documentaton:
Compiled Applications Do Not Process MATLAB Files at Runtime
The MATLAB Compiler was designed so that you can deploy locked down functionality. Deployable MATLAB files are suspended or frozen at the time MATLAB Compiler encrypts them—they do not change from that point onward. This does not mean that you cannot deploy a flexible application—it means that you must design your application with flexibility in mind. If you want the end user to be able to choose between two different methods, for example, they both must be compiled in.
The MCR only works on MATLAB code that was encrypted when the component was built. Any function or process that dynamically generates new MATLAB code will not work against the MCR.
Some MATLAB toolboxes, such as the Neural Network Toolbox™ product, generate MATLAB code dynamically. Because the MCR only executes encrypted MATLAB files, and the Neural Network Toolbox generates unencrypted MATLAB files, some functions in the Neural Network Toolbox cannot be deployed.
Similarly, functions that need to examine the contents of a MATLAB function file cannot be deployed. HELP, for example, is dynamic and not available in deployed mode. You can use LOADLIBRARY in deployed mode if you provide it with a MATLAB function prototype.
Instead of compiling the function that generates the MATLAB code and attempting to deploy it, perform the following tasks:
Run the code once in MATLAB to obtain your generated function.
Compile the MATLAB code with MATLAB Compiler, including the generated function.
Tip: Another alternative to using EVAL or FEVAL is using anonymous function handles.
If you require the ability to create MATLAB code for dynamic run time processing, your end users must have an installed copy of MATLAB.
You can read read an m file, line by line and execute each line with the eval() function. There are restrictions on the format of the m file (no line breaks for example, each line must contain a complete MATLAB statement) but it does work and can add to your run time environment inside the compiled application. I use this technique to allow users to define configuration and data files for a compiled application I have developed.
Clearly, if your end user provides a poorly formed m file to evaluate, you will end up with difficult to resolve bugs.
How to lock MATLAB files keeping them executable.
I am writing code to create GUI where third party should run the .fig file but should be unable to read the code written. Main GUI editor file contains user defined functions also, where they should be locked too with capability of execution.
Thank you in advance.
You can p-code your MATLAB functions:
http://www.mathworks.co.uk/help/matlab/matlab_prog/protect-your-source-code.html
Background
Say I compile the following simple function in MATLAB
function foo(path_to_m_file)
disp([' Running ' path_to_m_file])
run(path_to_m_file);
end
The function foo just takes a path to an .m file and tries to run it.
However, when I actually try to run foo after compiling it:
./run_foo.sh $path_to_run_time $path_to_m_file
where path_to_m_file is a simple .m file with a statement such as:
a = 2;
I get the following error:
Error using ==> run
MATLAB:run:FileNotFound
However, I know that foo gets the correct path. For example, if I try replacing the line with run by the following two lines in foo
fID = fopen(conf_file, 'rt');
first_line = textscan(fID, '%s', Inf, 'Delimiter', '\n');
foo reads the corresponding line of the .m file. So the .m file is there, and the MATLAB engine can "see" it. Indeed I can even run eval on strings read with textscan.
So my questions are:
Why do I get the error above? Why doesn't foo run the .m file?
Update: See #strictlyrude27's answer below for what seems to be an answer to this question.
If the above doesn't work. Is there a way to get a MATLAB-compiled function to run an .m file that may have changed after compiling the original function?
The motivation for my second question:
I would like to have the ability to "update" an .m file that is part of the project without having to re-compile the full project. Any ideas for this would be greatly appreciated.
From the MATLAB Compiler's documentaton:
Compiled Applications Do Not Process MATLAB Files at Runtime
The MATLAB Compiler was designed so that you can deploy locked down functionality. Deployable MATLAB files are suspended or frozen at the time MATLAB Compiler encrypts them—they do not change from that point onward. This does not mean that you cannot deploy a flexible application—it means that you must design your application with flexibility in mind. If you want the end user to be able to choose between two different methods, for example, they both must be compiled in.
The MCR only works on MATLAB code that was encrypted when the component was built. Any function or process that dynamically generates new MATLAB code will not work against the MCR.
Some MATLAB toolboxes, such as the Neural Network Toolbox™ product, generate MATLAB code dynamically. Because the MCR only executes encrypted MATLAB files, and the Neural Network Toolbox generates unencrypted MATLAB files, some functions in the Neural Network Toolbox cannot be deployed.
Similarly, functions that need to examine the contents of a MATLAB function file cannot be deployed. HELP, for example, is dynamic and not available in deployed mode. You can use LOADLIBRARY in deployed mode if you provide it with a MATLAB function prototype.
Instead of compiling the function that generates the MATLAB code and attempting to deploy it, perform the following tasks:
Run the code once in MATLAB to obtain your generated function.
Compile the MATLAB code with MATLAB Compiler, including the generated function.
Tip: Another alternative to using EVAL or FEVAL is using anonymous function handles.
If you require the ability to create MATLAB code for dynamic run time processing, your end users must have an installed copy of MATLAB.
You can read read an m file, line by line and execute each line with the eval() function. There are restrictions on the format of the m file (no line breaks for example, each line must contain a complete MATLAB statement) but it does work and can add to your run time environment inside the compiled application. I use this technique to allow users to define configuration and data files for a compiled application I have developed.
Clearly, if your end user provides a poorly formed m file to evaluate, you will end up with difficult to resolve bugs.