Is there a way to play audio/run a script when matlab debugger stops at a breakpoint?

Hi, I would like matlab to play a sound or run a script when the program stops at a breakpoint. I run many copies of matlab simultaneously and it would great to be alerted when a particular script reaches a breakpoint. Does anyone know if this can be done?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Write a small function

function t = notify()
  beep();
  t = true;

Now, when you set a breakpoint, make it a conditional breakpoint. For example instead of

dbstop at 18

use

dbstop at 18 if notify()

[Daniel Moss]

Thanks, that is great and when I clear the breakpoints it will be removed.

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Yes. When you're in the editor and going to click on a particular line to set a breakpoint there, just put a line before that line that says

beep();

or you can call soundsc() or audioplayer

[y, Fs] = audioread(filename);
player = audioplayer(y, Fs);
play(player);

Once you've successfully debugger your program you can always remove those lines.

Answer 3

[Jan]

This cannot work: What happens if the breakpoint is set in the code, which is called, when the breakpoint is reached? As soon as Matlab stops at the breakpoint, it stops the processing.

Note that Matlab's JIT acceleration cannot work efficiently, if breakpoints are set. This can slowdown the code by a factor of 2 or 20. Therefore if might be more useful to insert a specific command, which triggers the signal and stops by the keyboard command.

[Daniel Moss]

Thanks for the point about JIT. It explains a lot!