Help with basic GUI that answers why

I'm trying to get an understanding on basic GUI stuff. As a test, I tried to make a window with a button and a static text, and upon pressing the button, the 'why' function returns an answer in the static text. To do this, I have under the function_pushbutton1_Callback the code

set(handles.whydisplay, 'string',why);

which returns the 'Too many output arguments' error. This code works with other strings, numbers, and functions that give numerical outputs. I don't understand why it doesn't work here, and what I'm missing.

Answer 1

[Jan]

The command why does not have output arguments. Your code is equivalent to:

str = why;   % FAILS!
set(handles.whydisplay, 'string', str);

but the first line does not work. Look in the code of why.m. It starts with:

function why(n)

You see: Not output arguments. Therefore the problem does not concern the GUI, but the handling of the function why. A workaround:

set(handles.whydisplay, 'string', evalc('why'));

or better create your clone of why.m, which replies a string as output.

[Thomas]

Thanks. This works now. I hadn't noticed there was no a=why(n) or such. Now I can go ahead and make my random fantasy character name generator.

[Image Analyst]

Like I suggested, Jan suggested (instead of using evalc), and even why.m itself suggested:

%   Please embellish or modify this function to suit your own tastes.

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Try editing it

>> edit why.m

Now change the first line to

function a = why(n)

Then save why.m, and try your code again.