Executable created with Application Compiler works only for limited amount of time

I am creating an executable using the Application Compiler of MATLAB 2018b. When building it, it incorporates all the "required files", that is, all the necessay .m files and also a few .jpeg and .png picture files used by the UI. This executable works perfectly fine on my two PCs, it's self-contained and never complains about missing files, wherever the executable may be located. The same is true when I test it on some of my colleagues' computers.

However, for some other colleagues, it works fine for a few days and then stops working all the sudden. It either crashes w/o information or complains about missing .jpeg and .png files, all of them which are part of the package. I have to provide them with a new copy of the executable, which solves the problem for a few days and then stopps working again...

I created 3 versions, one with "opengl software", one with "opengl hardware", one wiuthout any opengl indication, in case the issue is related to opengl but that did not solve the problem.

We all use the same runtime compiler version 9.5.

Would you have any suggestion?

Thanks

[Walter Roberson]

Hypothetically:

There might be system "cleanup" software or anti-virus or "optimization" software running, that is removing part of the expanded CTF.

This could be explored by installing the executable, taking a record of which files are in the expansion directory, and then after it fails, looking to see which files are present.

[Philippe Tardy]

Many thanks for this suggestion. I'll be able to investiagte this soon on those PCs with the issue. It looks like the likely explanantion indeed. Your comment made me realize how the standalone applications are managed. I was not aware of this expansion directory which I could also find on my PCs.

Is there any way to prevent a physical copy of the files. The issue I see now is that this process exposes the source MATLAB scripts (.m files)?

[Steven Lord]

The files in the MATLAB Runtime are encrypted as stated on this documentation page. If you were to open one you wouldn't be able to read the source code.

[Philippe Tardy]

Exact! Thanks!

[Philippe Tardy]

I confirm that after some time, some files are removed from the expasion folder. Probably an anti-virus setings on these computers. Emptying the expansion solved the problem as the executable would then re-gerenrate it with all the files. Thank you Walter and Steven!

Answer 1

[Philippe Tardy]

Walter Roberson on 25 Aug 2021 at 0:18

Hypothetically:

There might be system "cleanup" software or anti-virus or "optimization" software running, that is removing part of the expanded CTF.

This could be explored by installing the executable, taking a record of which files are in the expansion directory, and then after it fails, looking to see which files are present.

Steven Lord about 24 hours ago

The files in the MATLAB Runtime are encrypted as stated on this documentation page. If you were to open one you wouldn't be able to read the source code.