How do I fix the error "Function definitions are not permitted at the prompt or in scripts"?

I get an error when I type this:

function S = timestr(D,precision)

Here is the error:

Error: Function definitions are not permitted at the prompt or in scripts.

What does it mean?

[Jan]

After you've edited the text, your question is clearer. And you type this in the command line? Do you want to create the function or do you have a file called "timestr.m" already?

Answer 1

[Ben Mitch]

Perhaps where you have

function S = timestr(D,precision)

you intended

S = timestr(D,precision)

[Fangjun Jiang]

No. More likely is the case that Jan described.

Answer 2

[Jan]

Is timestr a script file? Then the message is clear: A script file cannot contain function definitions.

See also:

• vote-if-you-do-not-want-to-have-m-function-in-m-script,
• vote-if-you-want-to-have-m-function-in-m-script
• vote-if-you-don-t-care-to-have-m-function-in-m-script

[Fangjun Jiang]

Aha, those posts have some use after all!