How to connect Matlab *.m file and c# project?

Good morning! I have c# project "Database" which contains information about patients (in a table). In one of the table cells there is a *.txt file with an ECG data. Using this data *.m file builds graphs. I need to connect this *.m file with c# project, for example, I click the button on c# form to open Matlab form.

One more problem. In c# each patient has his own *.txt file. When I push "Open Matlab" button (for certain patient, that means certain *.txt file is chosen), I need Matlab form to use one and the same *.txt file. Is it possible?

Thank you in advance!

Answer 1

[Aniket]

Hi @Maria Drozdova,

It is possible to integrate MATLAB with a C# project and pass in patient-specific .txt files dynamically using MATLAB COM Automation Server. This allows you to run MATLAB scripts/functions from your C# code. Please follow the below steps to achieve the same:

1. Enable MATLAB COM Server: Ensure MATLAB is installed and registered as a COM server. Typically, it's available as: MWServer.Matlab
2. Create the C# console application in your development environment. The reference to the MATLAB Type Library for C# is:

MLApp.MLApp matlab = new MLApp.MLApp();

Below is a complete code for C# Button handler:

using MLApp; // Add reference to MATLAB COM Object

private void btnOpenMatlab_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    string txtFilePath = GetPatientTxtFile(); // Get path of selected patient’s ECG txt

    // Start MATLAB session
    MLApp.MLApp matlab = new MLApp.MLApp();

    // Make MATLAB visible (optional)
    matlab.Visible = 1;

    // Change folder to location of your .m script
    matlab.Execute(@"cd 'C:\Path\To\Your\MFiles'");

    // Pass txt file path to MATLAB function (plotECG)
    string cmd = $"plotECG('{txtFilePath.Replace("\\", "/")}')";
    matlab.Execute(cmd);
}

You can find more details regarding using MATLAB functions from C# applications from this documentation:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_external/call-matlab-function-from-c-client.html

I hope this helps achieve the desired functionality.