MATLAB: Loadlibrary issue with dll – Math Solves Everything

Hello,

I'm trying to load a vendor dll and header file and call from Matlab. I've been able to successfully call this dll from Python, but I'm having mixed results in Matlab.

The library loads without out errors and it appears that I'm able to connect to the device (Total Phase Aardvark). However, a simple function call to turn on the target power does not work (it doesn't throw errors though).

The dll and header file are attached. Any thoughts on why this isn't completely working? Here is the code that I've been using.

%load dll shared library
[warnings, notfound] = loadlibrary('aardvark','aardvark.h');

This line returns several warnings:

Warning: The data type 'error' used by structure AardvarkVersion does not exist.  The structure may
not be usable. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by structure AardvarkVersion does not exist.  The structure may
not be usable. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by structure AardvarkVersion does not exist.  The structure may
not be usable. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by structure AardvarkVersion does not exist.  The structure may
not be usable. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by structure AardvarkVersion does not exist.  The structure may
not be usable. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by structure AardvarkVersion does not exist.  The structure may
not be usable. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_find_devices does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_find_devices_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_find_devices_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_unique_id does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_target_power does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_sleep_ms does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_sleep_ms does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_bus_timeout does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_write_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_enable does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_enable does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_enable does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_set_response does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_set_response does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_write_stats_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_slave_read_ext does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_monitor_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_i2c_monitor_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_i2c_pullup does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_spi_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_spi_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_spi_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_spi_write does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_spi_slave_set_response does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_spi_slave_set_response does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_spi_slave_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'errorPtr' used by function c_aa_spi_slave_read does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_gpio_direction does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_gpio_pullup does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_gpio_set does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424 
Warning: The data type 'error' used by function c_aa_gpio_change does not exist. 
> In C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2014b\toolbox\matlab\general\loadlibrary.p>loadlibrary at 424

the return variable notfound shows that some of the data types have errors which I feel may be the source of why it isn't completely working.

>> notfound
notfound =
aardvark.h
Type 'unsignedint__int8' was not found.  Defaulting to type error.
Found on line 80 of input from line 79 of file H:\\Matlab\\aardvark.h
Type 'unsigned__int16' was not found.  Defaulting to type error.
Found on line 81 of input from line 80 of file H:\\Matlab\\aardvark.h
Type 'unsigned__int32' was not found.  Defaulting to type error.
Found on line 82 of input from line 81 of file H:\\Matlab\\aardvark.h
Type '__int8' was not found.  Defaulting to type error.
Found on line 84 of input from line 83 of file H:\\Matlab\\aardvark.h
Type '__int16' was not found.  Defaulting to type error.
Found on line 85 of input from line 84 of file H:\\Matlab\\aardvark.h
Type '__int32' was not found.  Defaulting to type error.
Found on line 86 of input from line 85 of file H:\\Matlab\\aardvark.h
aardvark_thunk_pcwin64.c
   Creating library aardvark_thunk_pcwin64.lib and object aardvark_thunk_pcwin64.exp

listing the available functions using:

libfunctions aardvark

shows all of the functions have loaded:

Functions in library aardvark:
c_aa_async_poll                 c_aa_i2c_monitor_read           c_aa_open_ext                   
c_aa_close                      c_aa_i2c_pullup                 c_aa_port                       
c_aa_configure                  c_aa_i2c_read                   c_aa_sleep_ms                   
c_aa_features                   c_aa_i2c_read_ext               c_aa_spi_bitrate                
c_aa_find_devices               c_aa_i2c_slave_disable          c_aa_spi_configure              
c_aa_find_devices_ext           c_aa_i2c_slave_enable           c_aa_spi_master_ss_polarity     
c_aa_gpio_change                c_aa_i2c_slave_read             c_aa_spi_slave_disable          
c_aa_gpio_direction             c_aa_i2c_slave_read_ext         c_aa_spi_slave_enable           
c_aa_gpio_get                   c_aa_i2c_slave_set_response     c_aa_spi_slave_read             
c_aa_gpio_pullup                c_aa_i2c_slave_write_stats      c_aa_spi_slave_set_response     
c_aa_gpio_set                   c_aa_i2c_slave_write_stats_ext  c_aa_spi_write                  
c_aa_i2c_bitrate                c_aa_i2c_write                  c_aa_status_string              
c_aa_i2c_bus_timeout            c_aa_i2c_write_ext              c_aa_target_power               
c_aa_i2c_free_bus               c_aa_i2c_write_read             c_aa_unique_id                  
c_aa_i2c_monitor_disable        c_aa_log                        c_aa_version                    
c_aa_i2c_monitor_enable         c_aa_open

Despite the notfounds and warnings I'm able to successfully connect to the device using:

aa_handle = calllib('aardvark','c_aa_open',0);

aa_handle returns a 1 which based on the dll documentation indicates it's a valid handle.

At this point I should be able to issue lib calls to functions such as turning on the target power. However, the device does not appear to respond to this function call (although it does using Python):

%turn on adapter power 0x03
calllib('aardvark','c_aa_target_power',aa_handle,3);

Best Answer

These lines of code :

 typedef unsigned __int8   u08;

Are making use of a Microsoft extension to the c language ( __int8 ) and are not supported by loadlibrary. There may be no easy solution to the problem. I would probably make a copy of aardvark.h and edit it as need to make loadlibrary work. Your other option is to give up on loadlibrary and create your own mex file.

To make a modified version of aardvark.h work the typedefs secion might need to look like:

 typedef unsigned char   u08;
 typedef unsigned short  u16;
 ...
 typedef char   s08;
 typedef short s16;
 ...

To get the include of aardvark to work correctly you might need to change it to

#include "aardvark.h"

That is standard c syntax if the header is in the same directory and not on the include path.

Best Answer

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