MATLAB: Excel files: how to open, edit, and then close file without causing file to become “Read-Only” in MATLAB

activexexcelread-only

Hi all,
I am having difficulties with editing an Excel file in MATLAB. My ultimate goal is to edit the formatting in the file, particularly the cell borders. When I run this script, it creates the borders that I want, but the Excel file becomes "Read-Only" and I cannot save the changes I've made. I am not sure what is causing the file to become read-only. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, K
% Link to Excel
Excel = actxserver('Excel.Application');
Excel.Workbooks.Open('C:\Users\Keilan\Documents\MATLAB Expirements\2014\MATLAB to Excel test.xlsm');
double = get(Excel.ActiveWorkBook.Sheets,'Item',3);  % Want to edit 3rd sheet in workbook
% Number associated with each border: left, right, top, bottom
lt = 1;
rt = 2;
% tp = 3;
bt = 4;
% Add in the periodic borders required
for kk = 1:ct
    % Row numbers of interest
    rn1 = 1 + 3*kk;    % R1, A(rn1):E(rn2).  R2, BG(rn1):BK(rn2)
    rn2 = 3 + 3*kk;    % R3, A(rn2):BK(rn6)
      % Ranges of interest
      R1 = sprintf('A%d:E%d',rn1,rn2); %'A4:E6';
      R2 = sprintf('BG%d:BK%d',rn1,rn2); % 'BG4:BK6';
      R3 = sprintf('A%d:BK%d',rn2,rn2); % 'A6:BK6';
      Range1 = Excel.Range(R1);
      Range2 = Excel.Range(R2);
      Range3 = Excel.Range(R3);
      % Create solid borders in desired locations
      set(get((Range1.borders),'item',lt),'linestyle',1);
      set(get((Range1.borders),'item',rt),'linestyle',1);
      set(get((Range2.borders),'item',rt),'linestyle',1);
      set(get((Range3.borders),'item',bt),'linestyle',1);
  end
Excel.Visible = 1; % Open the Excel spreadsheet
% Excel.ActiveWorkbook.Save;    % Tried this, didn't work either
delete(Excel);      % Close the activex server

Best Answer

If you don't save the workbook and don't quit excel, the workbook will remain open in excel and be left read-only by excel, thus before closing the activex server:
Excel.ActiveWorkbook.Save;
Excel.Quit;
Side Note: Rather than using ActiveWorkbook, I would use the workbook object returned by the Workbooks.Open method:
workboox = Excel.Workbooks.Open('C:\Users\Keilan\Documents\MATLAB Expirements\2014\MATLAB to Excel test.xlsm');
sheet = workbook.Sheets.Item(3); 
%...
workbook.Save;
Excel.Quit;
And certainly don't use double as a variable name!
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