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Troubleshooting for the Matlab application

These instructions describe known problems and solutions for them in the Matlab application. The instructions apply to Windows workstations at least, but they may be of assistance on other platforms too.

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If Matlab crashes on startup, remove the following file if it exists then restart Matlab:
Z:\Documents\MATLAB\pathdef.m
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Matlab does not function properly if files are accessed directly from a network folder looking like this (which is unfortunately the default setting):
\\home.org.aalto.fi\username\data\Documents\MATLAB
Close all documents from Matlab, restart it, then change the path to:
Z:\Documents\MATLAB

These are in fact the same location on the user network folder, but with Z: things work better. This setting must be redone on each session on VDI- and classroom workstations, but should stay with staff/faculty workstations between sessions. In the first picture below, the path has been changed to be accessed via Z:\Documents\MATLAB

If the application’s basic functions do not work properly and you receive strange error messages in the Command Window when you start using the application

The first thing you should do is try restoring the application’s default paths (not the same thing as the user path described above), as follows:

1. In the Command Window, type the command:

restoredefaultpath

Matlab path after changing to Z: and resetdefaultpath command

2. Select the Home tab, then from the  Environment section the Set Path.. function.

3. Click Default. Save your selection by pressing Save, and close the window by pressing Close. Do not mind that you can still a path starting with \\home.org.aalto.fi\ in the Set Path dialog, as long as it is not like that on the Matlab main window path field.

Matlab set path

4. Close Matlab and start it again. The application should work as usual.

If restoring the default paths as described above does not help, close Matlab and delete the following file from your user profile’s document directory if this file exists:
Z:\Documents\MATLAB

NOTE!

If the profile directory does not contain the pathdef.m file described above and you save the settings of the default paths, Matlab tries to create that file first in the application’s program directory where an ordinary user does not have author access rights. This results in an error message or ID enquiry; bypassing these brings you to the following window:

Troubleshooting Matlab 3

In the image above, select Yes, and Matlab will suggest the user profile’s document directory as the storage location. When pathdef.m is contained in that directory, Matlab can retrieve it from there in the future and save any changes there too.

Related instructions

Offline use of Matlab on an Aalto-Mac

Use of Matlab, installed on an Aalto Mac through the Managed Software Center, requires a network connection to Aalto’s license servers (such as VPN).

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