MATLAB: M-function in a M-script

Question

When I write M-scripts (It's a script, not an M-Function), sometimes I want to have a quick and dirty function, such as:

test1.m

a=1;
b=MyFunction(a)
Function y=MyFunction(x)
y=x/2;
end

But it is not allowed because "FUNCTION keyword is invalid heare". I have to create another M-file called MyFunction.m to define MyFunction.

Why is that? What is the rational behind it?

I know I can work this way:

test2.m

function test2
a=1;
b=MyFunction(a)
end
function y=MyFunction(x)
y=x/2;
end

Although no need to specify the argument for function test2, still, I have to add the first line for function test2, add an "end" for function test2. And worst of all, no easy access to base workspace data.

Answer 1

That was covered in depth on CSSM.

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/newsreader/view_thread/298837