MATLAB: Undefined function ‘workspacefunc’ — How to change search path back after accidentally changing it

MATLABpathreset

I couldn't remember the function to check if a directory exists so I typed the following, and then accepted the suggested correction:

>> ispath('plots')
Unrecognized function or variable 'ispath'.
 
Did you mean:
>> path('plots')
Warning: Name is nonexistent or not a directory: /Users/billtubbs/gel-2005/notes/10/plots 
> In path (line 34) 
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.
com.mathworks.jmi.MatlabException: Method 'workspaceUpdated' is not defined for class 'internal.matlab.variableeditor.MLNamedVariableObserver' or is removed from MATLAB's search path.

Now I get these errors whatever command I type (including path). I can't even quit MATLAB.

How do I recover from this situation?

Ideally I would like to restore whatever paths I had set up before typing the above command.

Best Answer

In the end I simply force-quitted MATLAB and restarted it and it works as normal again.

(Remember to save your work first).

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Do I receive the warning message “Warning: Name is nonexistent or not a directory: …. ” when I start MATLAB

These warnings could be because of one the following possible scenarios.

1. The indicated directories are in the 'pathdef.m' file used by MATLAB, but the directories do not exist in the file system.

2. The directories are added to the MATLAB path using a custom 'startup.m' file and the directories do not exist in the file system.

To troubleshoot this issue, please type 'which -all pathdef.m' at the MATLAB prompt. The topmost line of the output represents the 'pathdef.m' file which is used by MATLAB.

If the topmost line in the output is NOT $matlabroot\toolbox\local\pathdef.m (where $matlabroot is the output of typing 'matlabroot' at the MATLAB prompt), then it means that the 'pathdef.m' which is being used by MATLAB was not updated by the installer and the directory structure of MATLAB-code was changed since the previous version of MATLAB.

(The installer only updates $matlabroot\toolbox\local\pathdef.m on an install of MATLAB)

If you did not create the file that appears as the topmost output or are not concerned about which 'pathdef.m' file is used by MATLAB or you wish to use the latest 'pathdef.m' file updated by the installer then please rename/delete all the 'pathdef.m' files in the output above except $matlabroot\toolbox\local\pathdef.m.

However, if you wish to continue using the same 'pathdef.m' file then please take the following steps:

Update the above 'pathdef.m' file with the latest path information by typing the following at the MATLAB prompt. (Please note that this would delete all the previous path information and replace it with the factory settings. Hence, you might want to back up the old pathdef.m file so that you can use other path information from it at a later period.)

>>restoredefaultpath; savepath;

Note: The warning may be a symptom of a bigger issue. If the pathdef.m file created by the installer isn’t being used, not only will removed directories cause the warnings, but new directories in the new release will not be added to the MATLAB path. This could result in a much bigger issue.

However, if none of the above steps resolve the issue, then it's possible that there exists a 'startup.m' file which is adding these non-existent directories to the path. You can edit the 'startup.m' file by typing the following at the MATLAB prompt and then delete the lines that are adding the directories that appear in the warning message:

>>edit startup.m

If you are explicitly adding directories to your path in startup.m make sure you are doing so recursively by using the GENPATH command as in

addpath(genpath(<myDirectory>));

*If you are receiving warning regarding an editor path in R2020a or R2020b, please see the following Answer for workarounds:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/514545-why-do-i-get-a-warning-name-is-nonexistent-or-not-a-directory-about-the-editor_vxdxq-folder

MATLAB: Is the modified path not saved in MATLAB

The MATLAB path information is saved in the file "pathdef.m". When the "Save" button in the "Set Path" GUI is pressed, the location of the file pathdef.m is determined using the output of the function WHICH.

If there is a file called pathdef.m inside one of the directories that were just added to the top of the MATLAB search path, then this file is used to save the changes to the path instead of using the built-in file $MATLABROOT\toolbox\local\pathdef.m (where $MATLABROOT is your root MATLAB directory).

This can be verified by calling the following right after saving the path changes:

which pathdef -all

Normally, only one file should be found:

$MATLABROOT\toolbox\local\pathdef.m

If multiple files are found, then the path changes are saved to the file that appears topmost.

Always avoid using file names that collide with built-in MATLAB files. The newly added directories could also be moved to the bottom of the search path, this way the function WHICH will find $MATLABROOT\toolbox\local\pathdef.m first, and will save the path changes there.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Do I receive the warning message “Warning: Name is nonexistent or not a directory: …. ” when I start MATLAB

MATLAB: Is the modified path not saved in MATLAB

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