Is it possible to generate/update MATLAB toolbox project file (*.prj) programmatically?

Hi,

I have created a custom toolbox. Now I'm trying to have a continuous development process that would automatically package the toolbox every midnight (if any of the files have changed). I'm trying to understand if it would be possible to update the toolbox project file programmatically - to change toolbox version, project file list, excluded file list, etc. I can then use the updated prj file to package the new toolbox.

Cheers,

sunny

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2017b/matlab/ref/matlab.addons.toolbox.packagetoolbox.html and friends.

I don't know of a documented way to generate the prj file the first time.

[Sunny Talekar]

Thanks Sean. I have been using packageToolbox for packaging the actual toolbox.

I'm just trying to understand if there is a way to manipulate the toolbox project file (the way you can do for Simulink project files) from command line.

[Frederik Zilstorff]

Sunny, did you find an answer for this problem? Thank you in advance.

[Sean de Wolski]

There is no documented way as of R2018a. I put in the enhancement request and will add your vote to it.

[Sunny Talekar]

Thanks Sean

[James]

upvote from me for this too.

[Sean de Wolski]

Done!

[Harley Day]

Yes I've been thinking the same thing. There doesn't seem to be a way to programatically update a matlab project file. This would be useful for the purposes of code maintenance from github. My continuous integration server could then be configured to build and distribute new releases of the toolbox when I commit to the master branch.

Answer 2

[Sunny Talekar]

Workaround:

Given that the toolbox project file is just an xml under the hood, I knocked up some functions to update relevant sections of the project file using built-in xml editing functionality. Serves the purpose but a built-in solution would be much appreciated.

[Harley Day]

Hi Sunny,

Great. Any chance we can use your code?

H

[Sunny Talekar]

Hi Harley,

I'll have to redact some of the IP. Let me see if I can do it over the weekend.

Watch this space :)

sunny

[Harley Day]

Hi Sunny,

Any progress?

H

[Eric Hoffmann]

Hi Sunny,

I too would be interested in looking at your code.

Thanks,

Eric

Answer 3

[Sly Knight]

Use readstruct and writestruct.

project = readstruct(fullfile(path,project_name.prj),'FileType','xml');
project.configuration.param_version = project_file.configuration.param_version + 1;
writestruct(project,fullfile(path,project_name.prj),'FileType','xml')