Tab autocompletions in functions for paths

Is it possible to get paths autocompletions even in functions created by the user? For example if I create a function that gets a path as a input variable, is it possible to make sure that matlab knows that the variable is a path and checks for possible solutions in the written directory? It would be also interesting if this is made inside the function WITHOUT changing matlab settings to make it easily distributable

Answer 1

[Dheeraj]

Hi,

I understand you want to know if it is possible to possible to ensure that MATLAB recognizes the input variable as a path and checks for possible solutions in the written directory.

Yes, you can do this by using the “dir” function to list all files in a directory and then use the“load” function to load the file into your function. Here is an example of how you can do this assuming the path directs to a “.mat” file.

function testfunction(pathToFile) 
   % Check if pathToFile is a directory 
    if isfolder(pathToFile) 
        % List all files in the directory 
        files = dir(fullfile(pathToFile, '*.mat')); 
        % Load each file into your function
        for i = 1:numel(files) 
            data = load(fullfile(pathToFile, files(i).name));
            % Do something with the data 
        end 
    else 
        % Load the file into your function 
        data = load(pathToFile); 
        % Do something with the data 
    end 
end 

If you wish to make this change in MATLAB settings, you could refer to this MATLAB answer that has been previously posted and answered.

https://in.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/9046-autocomplete-of-filenames-for-function-input-params

Hope this helps!

[Andrea Somma]

Hey! Thank you for answering, I understand what your function does, but I don't understand how il could be run in the background to check if any paths are available to be autocompleted. I want to do exactly what you attached as link but WITHOUT changing matlab settings, so the function can be used "out of the box" in every matlab installation

[Andrea Somma]

Nevermind I found out that at the end of the thread you posted there are new solutions for new matlab versions too. Thank you very much