How to get the exact file pathname for a linked library

Matlab version: 2019b

Hello,

I have a Simulink 'system' model that contains several linked libraries (.slx files) from various folders. I would like to modify signal-names/data in the system model and propagate those back to the linked library files. For this, I'm using the commands

li = libinfo(bdroot);

for i = 1:length(li)

if ~strcmp(li(i).Library, 'simulink') % Ignore libraries named simulink

lib1 = sprintf("%s", string(li(i).Block)); % Get the Block name

each_lib = split(lib1, '/');

for j = length(each_lib):-1:1

this_lib = strjoin(each_lib(1:j), '/'); % Iterate to create a list of all possibilities

try

set_param(this_lib, 'LinkStatus', 'propagate') % Push the system changes to the library.

save_system(this_lib); % Save the library & close it

close_system (this_lib);

end

end

end

end

[This forced method is not bad, because the code skips over any library strings that cannot or do not need to be modified.]

This opens the corresponding linked library in a different window and pushes the changes, all good. However, the save_system gives an error indicating the library .slx file is being shadowed because another file with the same name exists in a different folder. How can I get the exact path-name for the .slx file corresponding to the linked library above so I can save the correct one? Or is there a totally better/faster way of achieving this goal?

Thanks in advance.

Joe

Answer 1

[Fangjun Jiang]

save_system() has options to skip prompt, ignore warning and force save.

If there are multiple files with the same name as the Simulink library file, something must be done before opening the model to make sure the library file is the correct one. Otherwise, once "propagagted", it is too late.

Once getting the libinfo(), you can use the which('libname','-all') to see all the matching files. Once confirmed that the library is correct, force save with confidence.

[Prabhakar Vallury]

Thanks!

In your 2nd paragraph, how would I know which is the matching file for the library being used in the system model? For example, if the library returned by libinfo() is 'this_lib' and the which command returns 3 instances of this_lib.slx. Which of these would be the right one? Clearly, Simulink knows which one to propagate to, so shouldn't that be possible to get directly?

Best regards,

Joe

[Fangjun Jiang]

When the model is loaded, Simulink searches for the library name according to the order of the MATLAB path. So, yes, Simulink knows which one to propagate but you have to make sure it is the right one. libinfo() or the Simulink model itself does not save the absolute path of the library file. That is done on purpose, because you can switch the MATLAB path to point to a different set of library files, or, your model can work seamlessly on someone else's computer with different MATLAB installation folder.

The absolute file path of the library can be found through which(...,'-all'). That is consistent with the description above.

[Prabhakar Vallury]

Figured this out. Here is the code to find all user libraries that need to be updated/propagated with changes from the system model. Matlab automatically knows the correct user-library, so no need to find the path.

li = libinfo(bdroot);

saved_libs = []

for i = 1:length(li)

if strcmp(li(i).LinkStatus, 'inactive')

sprintf("Pushing changes to user library %s", li(i).Library)

try

open_system(li(i).Library)

lock_status = get_param(li(i).Library, 'Lock');

if strcmp(lock_status, 'on')

set_param (li(i).Library, 'Lock', 'off');

end

set_param(li(i).Block, 'LinkStatus', 'propagate')

save_system(li(i).Library);

close_system(li(i).Library);

saved_libs = [saved_libs ' ' li(i).Library];

catch ME

sprintf("ERROR saving %s: %s %s", li(i).Library, ME.message, extractAfter(ME.stack(1).name))

ontinue

end

end

end

sprintf("Following user libraries have been saved: %s", string (saved_libs))

[Prabhakar Vallury]

This issue can be closed. Thanks!