MATLAB: Reference dependent property of object within MATLAB gui code

dependent propertyguiMATLABoop

I have a LaunchSimulation class that has some dependent properties that need to be calculated whenever the property is referenced. I am trying to access these properties inside a button callback of my GUI file. I create my simulation object inside the openingFcn and am able to reference the regular properties just fine, but when I try and reference any dependent property, it says that the field does not exist.
How can I access the dependent properties? I am not too sure why they do not exist.
Below is my LaunchSimulation class:
classdef LaunchSimulation < handle
          %%Constants
          properties (Constant)
              g = 9.81 % m/s^2
          end
          %%Properties
          properties
              launcher
          end
          %%Dependent Properties
          properties (Dependent)
              horizontalRange
              verticalRange
              timeOfFlight
          end
          %%Non-static Methods
          methods
              %%constructor
              function this = LaunchSimulation(launcher)
                  this.launcher = launcher;
              end
              %%Launch data computation for user input values
              function computeHorizontalAndVerticalRange(this)
                  this.launcher.launchVelocity = input('Enter launcher velocity: ');
                  this.launcher.launchAngle = input('Enter launcher angle: ');
                  DataDisplayer.displayLauncherSettingsTable(this);
                  fprintf('Horizontal Range: %f \n', this.horizontalRange)
                  fprintf('Vertical Range: %f \n', this.verticalRange)
              end
              %%Getters and Setters
              % horizontalRange
              function value = get.horizontalRange(this)
                  value = ((this.launcher.launchVelocity)^2 * sind(2 * this.launcher.launchAngle)) / LaunchSimulation.g;
              end
              % verticalRange
              function value = get.verticalRange(this)
                  value = ((this.launcher.launchVelocity^2) * sind(this.launcher.launchAngle)^2) / (2 * LaunchSimulation.g);
              end
              % timeOfFlight
              function value = get.timeOfFlight(this)
                  value = ((2 * this.launcher.launchVelocity) * sind(this.launcher.launchAngle)) / LaunchSimulation.g;
              end
          end
      end
and here is the relevant code for the GUI file
OpeningFcn:
   % --- Executes just before RocketLauncherSimulationGUI is made visible.
      function RocketLauncherSimulationGUI_OpeningFcn(hObject, eventdata, handles, varargin)
      % This function has no output args, see OutputFcn.
      % hObject    handle to figure
      % eventdata  reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
      % handles    structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)
      % varargin   command line arguments to RocketLauncherSimulationGUI (see VARARGIN)
      % Choose default command line output for RocketLauncherSimulationGUI
      handles.output = hObject;
      % Update handles structure
      guidata(hObject, handles);
      % Instantiate a launcher object with zeroed property values
      launcher = Launcher(0,0,0,0);
      % Instantiate a simulation object
      simulation = LaunchSimulation(launcher);
Here is where I try and reference the dependent properties in the callback:
      % --- Executes on button press in buttonSimulate.
      function buttonSimulate_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
      % Set the launcher data
      simulation.launcher.springConstant = get(handles.editSpringConstant, 'String');
      simulation.launcher.projectileMass = get(handles.editProjectileMass, 'String');
      simulation.launcher.launchVelocity = get(handles.editLaunchVelocity, 'String');
      simulation.launcher.angle = get(handles.editLaunchAngle, 'String');
      % This is the part that does not work. For some reason these fields do not exist
      % Construct data matrix for table using simulation object
      tableData = {simulation.launcher.springDisplacement ...
                 % simulation.horizontalRange              ...
                 % simulation.verticalRange                ...
                 % simulation.timeOfFlight};
      % Set the data of the table
      set(handles.tableSimulationData, 'Data', tableData);

Best Answer

Once the RocketLauncherSimulationGUI_OpeningFcn function finishes executing, the local variable simulation in its workspace is destroyed along with the rest of the function workspace because that variable is not returned from the function. [There are some other ways to "spare" the variable in a regular function, but I'm ignoring them for right now.] If you want to use it in another function in your GUI, the easiest ways are to use one of these techniques.
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