Is it possible to call a function that doesn't have precedence?

I am aware of Matlab's Function Precedence Order. It appears that the only way to call a function that isn't on the path, or has lower precedence on the path, is to change directories so that it has precedence.

However, I am trying to write a function, 'someFunc', that extends an older version of 'someFunc' (and is actually a protected .p file). Unfortunately, the original 'someFunc' indirectly calls itself (it calls another function which then calls it again). This means the technique of changing directories to call the original 'someFunc' won't work, since all recursive calls then call the original 'someFunc' not the new 'someFunc' (since it is in the current directory). Moreover, since 'someFunc' isn't directly recursive, I can't use a private function to override the precedence either.

I was hoping to use a function handle to call the original function instead of changing directories, but that doesn't work either, as outlined here.

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

You could put it in a package and then import the package (import pack.somefunc) or call directly into the package (pack.somefunc()).

[cwshep]

Thanks!

Unfortunately this didn't work for me. As soon as I put the pcoded class in a package it quit working. My only guess is that the pcoded class isn't using classdef (as required), but I can't tell since it is protected and matlab doesn't give any other feedback other than "Undefined variable" when called as pkg.class or "Import argument 'pkg.class' cannot be found or cannot be imported.' when trying to import it.

However, I verified this would have worked if it was either a standalone function or a class created with classdef, so I am accepting this as the solution, since it will probably work 99% of the time.

[Sean de Wolski]

You can learn more about your class by looking at metaclass() of it (also the ?)

mc = pkg.class

Then inspect mc to learn what the restrictions are.

[cwshep]

Thanks for the tips.

Here's what happens:

>> mc = mypkg.myclass
Undefined variable "mypkg" or function "mypkg.myclass".

But I can do (where someF just prints SomeF):

>> mypkg.someF
SomeF

If I pull myclass out of +mypkg I can do:

>> metaclass(myclass)
Error in myclass(line 196)

Output argument "obj" (and maybe others) not assigned during call to "myclass".

>> ? myclass

ans = 

    0x0 class array with properties:

      Name
      Description
      DetailedDescription
      Hidden
      Sealed
      Abstract
      Enumeration
      ConstructOnLoad
      HandleCompatible
      InferiorClasses
      ContainingPackage
      PropertyList
      MethodList
      EventList
      EnumerationMemberList
      SuperclassList

Edit: If I call a valid constructor I get the same as the ?:

>> metaclass(myclass(correctargs))

ans = 

    0x0 class array with properties:

      Name
      Description
      DetailedDescription
      Hidden
      Sealed
      Abstract
      Enumeration
      ConstructOnLoad
      HandleCompatible
      InferiorClasses
      ContainingPackage
      PropertyList
      MethodList
      EventList
      EnumerationMemberList
      SuperclassList