Call matlab from STATA

Hello,

I basically want to call MATLAB from STATA to create a file, then returning the control to STATA. I have this piece of code:

cd "${REGCON_read_path}"
shell matlab -noFigureWindows -r "try; run 'regcon_cnae_map.m'; catch; end; quit" -wait

So MATLAB opens a session in the correct folder, but it seems that it just opens the script and closes it without 'clicking on run'. I would appreciate if somebody could tell me what I am doing wrong.

I guess this is the correct forum since I could well call matlab from the windows prompt instead.

KR

Answer 1

[the cyclist]

I haven't run MATLAB from the command line in probably 20 years, but I think I would try putting the whole try-catch structure into its own *.m file, and call that. (I am not able to test that idea right now.)

[Rubén Pérez Sanz]

Hi,

Thanks for you answer.

Although I don't understand what you mean by ' try-catch structure into its own *.m file', an example would be very helpful if posible.

Of course, this is the way I found in the Internet, if you knew a better way I would appreciate if you shared it.

KR

[the cyclist]

For debugging purposes, I would try to simplify what you are doing. So, I'd recommend the following.

First, try not calling from Stata. Just call MATLAB from the command line directly, to see if that works. That would look like

matlab -noFigureWindows -r "try; run 'regcon_cnae_map.m'; catch; end; quit" -wait

I think I would also remove the quit statement, so that the MATLAB window stays open when it is done. Maybe you'll get a clue from the open MATLAB window. That simplifies the command to

matlab -noFigureWindows -r "try; run 'regcon_cnae_map.m'; catch; end" -wait

I think I would also remove the try-catch block. The way you have written this, MATLAB is told, "Try to run regcon_cnae_map.m, but if there is an error, do nothing." ("Do nothing", because there is no command after the "catch".) That simplifies the command to

matlab -noFigureWindows -r "run 'regcon_cnae_map.m'" -wait

or, even simpler

matlab -noFigureWindows -r "regcon_cnae_map" -wait

That is a more barebones version, that simply opens MATLAB and runs the file regcon_cnae_map.m. (Notice that this last version of the command does not have the ".m" at the end.)

My guess is that your file is going to throw some error, which is why the try-catch structure opened it and then shut it down.

Answer 2

[Rubén Pérez Sanz]

Many thanks, you approach worked perfectly.