XLSWRITE - into same folder location as M file

I want to store my M files on a USB stick for protability. Some of these M files create xlsx files as an output. I would like to store these in the same folder location as the M file which creates them. I used the usual xlswrite ('filename.xlsx', variable); but get an error:

Error using xlswrite (line 220)

Invoke Error, Dispatch Exception:

Source: Microsoft Excel Description: Microsoft Excel cannot access the file 'C:\WINDOWS\system32\38C41000'. There are several possible reasons:

• The file name or path does not exist.

• The file is being used by another program.

• The workbook you are trying to save has the same name as a currently open workbook.

Many thanks.

Answer 1

[Vineet Guru]

Thanks guys for your attempts. Your help is most appreciated.

I eventually stumbled upon the "uigetfile" instruction as with just a one click on the m file of interest in a folder, and the uigetfile picks up the folder + filename. I then stripped the filename and retained the folder.

[Walter Roberson]

If you just want the directory, then uigetdir() would be more appropriate.

[Iain]

If you know the name of the files, you could use "which" to do it automatically as well.

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

You should specify the folder when using xlswrite

xlswrite('yourolder/yourfile.xls',data)

[Vineet Guru]

Hi Azzi, Thanks for your response. I did this previously but I do not want to write this path everytime as these folder paths might change depending upon where the M file moves to. What I am looking for is some global instruction which automatically writes the XLS file to the same M file location, even though I do not know the full path.

Thanks.

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

Then use pwd to guet the current folder

yourfolder=pwd
xlswrite([ youfrolder '\yourfile.xls'],data)

[Vineet Guru]

The pwd instruction points to C:\windows\system32, which is not where my M file is.

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

How are you running your m-file? your m-files, are not in the current folder? And I am not getting what the aim of what you are looking for

Answer 3

[Iain]

 [p f] = fileparts(mfilename('fullpath'));
 xlswrite([p '\excel filename.xls'], ...)

[Vineet Guru]

Hi Iain,

Thanks for your reply.

However, is there a Matlab instruction that automatically grabs the pathlink used in

[p f] = fileparts('pathlink+mfilename');

The pwd instruction I used points me to C:\windows\system32

while my M file is store in:

e:\matlab\ure01\unsupervised.m

I would like to grab this (e:\matlab\ure01\unsupervised.m) automatiically without having to type in the path, which often is unknown or too long and tedious to type in everytime the M file location changes.

[Iain]

mfilename('fullpath') grabs the path, and the filename of the m file (but not the .m bit)

[Jan]

fullfile(p, 'excel filename.xlsx') considers potentially existing trailing and OS depending file separators automatically.