How to get the user's installation path in my app designer?

When I use app designer, I want to create some folder in the installation path when someone is using my app. How can I get the installation path where my app is installed?

For example, someone installs my app in 'C:\Program Files\myapp', I want to create a folder in this path to save some compute results. How can I get this installation path when I am coding by app designer?

[Rik]

Wouldn't mfilename do the trick?

[Edmond Dantes]

mfilename returns a path similar to C:\Users\<usrname>\AppData\Local\Temp\<usrname>\mcrCache9.10\myapp

and I am also wandering why the config files published with my app are also in this path, rather than in 'C:\Program Files\myapp'

[Edmond Dantes]

I have tried many ways to get the installation path, such as 'mfilename', 'dbstack('-completenames')', evalin('caller', strcat('which(''', 'myapp', ''')')). But they all return the same path similar to 'C:\Users\<usrname>\AppData\Local\Temp\<usrname>\mcrCache9.10\myapp'.

However the app is installed in 'C:\Program Files\myapp'. The exe file is in the path 'C:\Program Files\myapp\application\myapp.exe'.

It is really confusing why I cannot get the real installation path.

Answer 1

[Rik]

If you want more control over where your persistent files are stored, I would suggest the GetWritableFolder.

This will generate a path that is persistent across versions of Matlab and across calls. This is what I currently use if I want to persistently store configurations.

f=GetWritableFolder('ForceStatus',1);

[Edmond Dantes]

The config files are added to the list of 'Files required for your application to run' when package. The installation path is not set by myself. And I do not find any way to change this path.

I have tried to install my app on the other two PCs, and the config files are still installed in a path similar to C:\Users\<usrname>\AppData\Local\Temp\<usrname>\mcrCache9.10\myapp.

So, I think it is a default path set by matlab application compiler.

[Rik]

Can't you simply copy the files from the %TEMP% to your persistent folder? That way you can initialize with the default files, but you will still be able to make persistent changes.

[Edmond Dantes]

Thanks a lot for your answers.

However, the problem is just I do not know where to create my persistent folder. The user can install myapp in any folder. Maybe 'C:\Program Files\myapp', maybe 'D:\Program Files (x86)\myapp', maybe 'E:\myapp'. I want to create some folder in the installation path. But I have not found any way to get where my app is installed.

[Rik]

Why do you want to use the installation folder? It is fairly likely that folder requires administrator privileges for write permission. If you use my GetWritableFolder function you're guaranteed to get the same folder every time, regardless of privilege level.

In short: simply ignore the whole %TEMP% folder entry and use GetWritableFolder('ForceStatus',1) instead.

[Edmond Dantes]

I'm afraid you may not get my problem. It has no concern with privileges.

I just want to get the installation path, and save some results in the user's installation path.

It is a string such as the return of the function 'mfilename'.

In other word: someone installs myapp in some path, such as 'C:\Program Files\myapp', and input '1' and '2' in the UI of my app. I want to save '3' in a txt file in the path 'C:\Program Files\myapp'. Which function can return where my app is installed? i.e. which function can return the string 'C:\Program Files\myapp'?

If I can get the path string, I can save a txt file in the path. Otherwise, the file may be saved in an unpredictability path.

[Rik]

It does have to do with privileges. If the user installs your app as admin (and puts it in a location where you need admin privileges to write), and then runs your app as a normal user, you're stuck. If you use my function you are guaranteed the same path every time, and you should have write access as any user.

I don't know if there is a function that will return the installation folder (maybe matlabroot gets modified?), but you shouldn't be using that anyway. The %APPDATA% folder shortcut exists for a reason.