Is it possible for a Simulink block to access variables loaded from a MAT-file in the local workspace of a function?

I have a function in which I load variables from a MAT-file and then start a Simulink model using the SIM function. The function looks as follows:

 

function startfun
load 'mymatfile.mat'
sim('mymodel');
end

The model contains some constant blocks which use the loaded variables for their "Constant value" parameter. However, running startfun results in the following error:

  ERROR: ??? Error using ==> startfun at 4 Error evaluating parameter 'Value' in 'mymodel/Constant': Undefined function or variable 'myvar'.

where myvar is a variable saved in my MAT-file and that I use for the constant value in a constant block.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

Simulink blocks like the Constant block read variables from the base workspace. As such, variables loaded in a function's local workspace are invisible to these blocks.

As a workaround, use EVALIN inside your function to load the MAT-file in the base workspace:

 

function startfun
evalin('base','load mymatfile.mat');
sim('mymodel');
end