Creating a custom copy of a Matlab function (xlsread)

Hi,

I'm trying to create a copy of the xlsread function that will work slightly differently for my particular application.

What I tried is typing

edit xlsread

then going file/save as, and saving it in my working directory under a different name (and changing the function name to match its new file name).

When I try to use the new function, I get the following error:

??? XLSREAD unable to open test.xls. Undefined function or method 'validpath' for input arguments of type 'char'.

What is the problem?

Answer 1

[Andy]

If you type

which xlsread

you will see something like

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2009a\toolbox\matlab\iofun\xlsread.m

In the parent folder ...\iofun\, there is a subfolder ...\iofun\private, and this contains the function validpath. Mine is at:

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2009a\toolbox\matlab\iofun\private\validpath.m

If you also copy this file to the same location as your copy of xlsread, it should work. I highly recommend you change the name of the local copy of validpath (and change the call to it in your local copy of xlsread). It is clearly not a supported function, and may be used internally by other MATLAB functions. So if you altered your local file, you won't know what other consequences it might have.

Good luck.