Ken & Mike on the MATLAB Desktop

September 21st, 2009

It may seem backward in late 2009 that one of the great new features in MATLAB is integrating a web application, the MATLAB File Exchange, into the Desktop. However it’s not surprising to me that this arrangement works out quite well. Because the file exchange exists for sharing files created in and to be used in the MATLAB environment, this actually streamlines the workflow. This new tool solves the pain of making files from the exchange available and searchable right there without having to leave MATLAB.

The File Exchange window is not open by default, so to bring it up, use the toolbar menu: Desktop -> File Exchange.

Downloading is quite simple. Let’s say I wanted to download Ken’s breakpoint muting program:
1. Search
2. Download

3. Go

It’s pretty a simple feature, but the convenience factor is really there. You can search for toolbox functions using the Function Browser, and if we didn’t give you a particular function, you can then turn to the File Exchange and see if one of your friends on the web has already done the work for you.

The file exchange is an active and friendly community and if you’ve come up with useful program, we encourage you to share that with the community through the File Exchange web interface. If your program is up to snuff, it may even be chosen as the File Exchange Pick of the Week.

Resources:

1. FAQ
2. Watch the tutorial video

By Michael Katz

Mike is a developer on the MATLAB Desktop team. When not describing himself in the third person, biking, homebrewing, or rooting for the home team, he's busy trying to make the world a better place for programming.

12:37 UTC | Posted in MATLAB Central, web | Permalink |

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12 Responses to “The Front Page of the File Exchange: Your Desktop”

1. Han Geerligs replied on September 22nd, 2009 at 10:49 UTC :
   

   Hi Mike,

   I’d like to mention that both links (FAQ and Tutorial Video) at the bottom of the blog don’t work.

   –Han

2. Mike replied on September 22nd, 2009 at 12:33 UTC :
   

   Thanks, Han. We’re constantly improving (and therefore changing) how we do things on the web, which left my usual link process wanting…

3. StephenLL replied on September 22nd, 2009 at 17:48 UTC :
   

   Thanks. I like having the FEX available from within MATLAB.

   One feature that I think would make it even more useful:

   Check for updates of the downloaded files and have ability to download those updates.

4. Mike replied on September 22nd, 2009 at 18:55 UTC :
   

   Stephen,

   That is a interesting idea. I will let the developers know.

   Thanks!

5. Duane Hanselman replied on September 26th, 2009 at 11:58 UTC :
   

   This is a great feature. I can now get Marco’s help right from the desktop!

6. Mike replied on October 2nd, 2009 at 14:49 UTC :
   

   For you File Exchange Pick of the Week fans out there, check out their post on the File Exchange widget: http://blogs.mathworks.com/pick/2009/10/02/integrating-the-file-exchange-with-the-matlab-desktop/.

   Use this new feature to upload your cool projects and maybe they will highlight it a a pick of the week!

7. Oscar replied on October 3rd, 2009 at 15:25 UTC :
   

   Can we change the default download folder? I’m on Win7 x64 and files are being placed c:/documents/matlab/downloads/… in their respective folders. I’d prefer if things were placed in my home folder’s matlab folder, or perhaps in a “downloads” folder in the c:/progra~1/Matlab/2009b/toolboxes folder.

8. Mike replied on October 5th, 2009 at 13:39 UTC :
   

   Oscar,

   I don’t think you can change the download folder but the File Exchange app remembers the last download location so once you choose one, you can just click the download button to download the next file to the same directory.

9. Iram replied on October 7th, 2009 at 21:06 UTC :
   

   When I download a file from the FEX, I like to select “Watch this file” to get email on updates and comments. So it would be nice to have this available here as well

10. OysterEngineer replied on November 9th, 2009 at 23:30 UTC :
    

    It appears that to use this, I need to set up the Web Preferences a certain way. I don’t understand the significance of what your documentation is asking me to do & I don’t know where to get this Proxy host / Proxy port information. I don’t know how to figure out if this is “safe,” so I’m not likely to try it.

    Among the ~4 dozen users I know of out here, I don’t think more than a couple of us ever look at the File Exchange. And even then, it is only to find good ideas. Or, to down load tools like Code Metrics or xUnit Test. Which seem kind of like quasi MathWorks tools anyway.

11. Mike replied on November 11th, 2009 at 16:04 UTC :
    

    @OysterEngineer, I’ll forward your comments on the developers and documentation folks.

    My hope is that if you and handful of your colleagues find the File Exchange useful, you’ll extol its virtues to your non-File Exchange-using friends, and maybe even contribute a file or two!

12. OysterEngineer replied on November 12th, 2009 at 22:23 UTC :
    

    Mike,

    I understand you hope. But, my employer owns my intellectual property, so I can’t put useful things that I’ve developed into the public domain.

    It is one of those unfortunate realities that I’m happy to agree to in return for a regular paycheck. After all, my oyster farm is only part time.

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These postings are the author's and don't necessarily represent the opinions of The MathWorks.