Where to install libraries

I downloaded some files from File Exchange to my Mac. When I tried to open and run a .slx file, I got some errors. Somewhere I read that the libraries should be installed on some kind of Matlab path. Can you tell me where it is located? I only found the MATLAB_R2016b icon on the Application folder. Cannot find a Matlab folder.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

If you are using a Mac (locations are different for other operating systems):

Some files are put into your ~/Documents/MATLAB directory and licenses and preferences are put into your ~/.matlab directory. Starting from R2016b, licenses and preferences are put into your ~/Library/Application\ Support/MathWorks directory instead of under ~/.matlab

If you download using the Add-On Explorer then everything necessary should be down-loaded for you and automatically put onto your MATLAB path; it is the ~/Documents/MATLAB/Add-Ons and ~/Documents/MATLAB/SupportPackages directory that would be used for that.

If you manually download from the File Exchange instead of using the Add-On Explorer, then you can put the download files anywhere convenient for you. You can then invoke the MATLAB

pathtool

and use that to add those directories to your MATLAB path.

Note: my recommendation when you use pathtool is to add such packages to the bottom of the list, so that if what you download accidentally has the same routine name as one of the built-in MATLAB routines, then existing routines will not suddenly stop working.

[Walter Roberson]

Okay, it turns out that what you have to do for that demo is go to the MATLAB command prompt and execute

startup_Scissor_Lift

[Ron Rosychuk]

Yes, startup_Scissor_Lift works but I am learning how to make the model step by step by following the video: https://www.mathworks.com/videos/modeling-a-scissor-jack-68849.html

At 6:15, the guy opened the Scissor_Jack2_From_Libraries model and the simulation worked. I got a bunch of errors as mentioned.

Executing startup_Scissor_Lift first and then opened Scissor_Jack2_From_Libraries does not solve the problem.

Answer 2

[Ron Rosychuk]

Thank you Walter. I deleted the files on my desktop and installed the files using the Add-On Explorer approach you mentioned. Some of the errors are gone but there is sill a list of errors namely: Error evaluating parameter X... Caused by: Undefined variable ...Para or class ....Component Simulink | Category:Modelerror

where X are: block_width, block_height, material_density, material_color, etc.

Know how to solve this problem?

[Walter Roberson]

Which model did you install?

[Ron Rosychuk]

Scissor Lift Model in Simscape Multibody

I followed a YouTube video from MATLAB called "Modeling a Scissor Jack". At about 6:15, the guy opened Scissor_Jack2_From_Libraries and it was running fine for him. However, I got a list of errors mentioned above. I am running R2016b.