Cannot open .m files using open dialag in editor, macos big sur, r2021a

If I select "open" in the matlab editor and then select a .m file to open, the file does not open. I can "manually" open the file from the matlab commandline by typing "edit myfile.m." This used to work a month or so ago. I have given Matlab full disk access in my security preferences and that did not change the behaviour.

[Hans De Sterck]

I have the same problem on big sur (with Matlab 2021b and 2018b).

Answer 1

[Sulaymon Eshkabilov]

You should check your MATLAB [Preferences] settings.

[Gary]

My MATLAB preferences look normal. I even changed a few and saved them to make sure the preferences were being saved properly, but it still doesn't work.

Answer 2

[Gary]

I did eventually fix this issue but it involved creating a new user account (thus ditching everything in my Library/ directory). I had tried selectively deleting various folders or files but I never identified the specific one(s) causing the problem.

[Hans De Sterck]

thanks for the update; definitely an annoying issue; I can open files in the editor using the "edit" command or by clicking on files in the "current folder" pane, but not using the "Open" dialog (the selection window just disappears when selecting a file, without opening the file in the editor); I wonder whether this may be a java/user interface issue (this issue started when I upgraded to big sur)

Answer 3

[Christopher Smith]

I have a similar problem. Whenever I try to open a m-file (from folder list by dbl clicking or by alt-click open) and/or edit (both via line command), I get error dialog stating a bad line in the respective command (i.e., open or edit). It appears to be restricted to 2021b only and seems to have started with the most recent update. For example, I also have 2021a installed and it does not seem to have the same problem. Not sure the cause. Is there a Mathworks/Matlab moderator/tech on this forum is it just other users.

Answer 4

[Ivana Kancheva]

Hi all! I think it sounds a bit as if I have a similar issue.

I am logging onto a remote server for an internship I am doing and I use Matlab verion r2021b. I have a script contained in a standard Matlab script (.m) file. It was sent to me by a colleague who uses Mac and I am a Windows user. When I log onto the remote server (which uses Linux), I use Terminal to launch Matlab and set a path to the folder with the images I need, including the .m script files.

When I double-click on one of the .m files to display it as a script or try opening it as Live script, no contents get displayed. Instead, what I see is an error message starting with 'Mac OS' and then a bunch of intelligible characters. I tried different versions of Matlab or to Convert the script to Local Function in case this was the issue, but it does not work.