I keep getting the error "Error: File: builtin.m Line: 1 Column: 24 Invalid text character...". How do I fix this?

Hi,

The full error is:

"Error: File: builtin.m Line: 1 Column: 24

Invalid text character. Check for unsupported symbol, invisible character, or pasting of non-ASCII characters."

I get it whenever I try to do anything, including close Matlab. The file name changes slightly depending on what I do: for example, when I try to open a new file, I get the following error:

"Error in matlab.unittest.internal.ui.toolstrip.getFileInfoForToolstrip (line 8)

isClassBasedTest = false;",

preceded by the above text with "false.m" as the file name.

I think the problem started when I tried to set the path? I got the following error:

"Unable to run P-code file. The file header is damaged.

Error in pathtool (line 13)

isDesktop = desktop('-inuse');"

But I'm not sure. Any help that you can give me would be appreciated!

[Steven Lord]

Can you confirm that you haven't defined your own builtin.m function that's taking precedence over the built-in builtin function?

which -all builtin

built-in (/MATLAB/toolbox/matlab/lang/builtin)
/MATLAB/toolbox/coder/half/@half/builtin.p      % half method

What do you see when you look at the first line of builtin.m (which ought to contain just the help text for the built-in builtin)?

dbtype 1 builtin.m

1     %BUILTIN  Execute built-in function from overloaded method.

[Dinithi]

I keep getting the error code again...

which -all builtin

Error: File: which.m Line: 1 Column: 24

Invalid text character. Check for unsupported symbol, invisible character, or pasting of non-ASCII

characters.

Error using connector.internal.getClientType

Unable to run P-code file. The file header is damaged.

Error in matlab.desktop.editor.internal.useConnectorEditorService (line 11)

clientType = connector.internal.getClientType();

Error in opentoline>isUnsupported (line 99)

tf = matlab.desktop.editor.internal.useConnectorEditorService ...

Error in opentoline (line 17)

if isUnsupported

and then I get

1 V2MCC8000MEC2000MCR2000

followed by a mess of symbols, some of which are in the image below:

thank you for helping me, by the way!

Answer 1

[Samay Sagar]

Hi @Dinithi,

It looks like your MATLAB environment has encountered some internal corruption, possibly related to the path settings or some damaged P-code files. You can consider resetting the MATLAB path to its default state by running the following commands:

restoredefaultpath;
rehash toolboxcache;
savepath;

If the error persists, you can try reinstalling MATLAB or connect with the MathWorks support team:

https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

[Dinithi]

It worked, thank you SO MUCH.