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Install and Use Function Wizard

The Function Wizard add-in, available with MATLAB® Compiler™, provides a control panel that you use in Microsoft® Excel® to create custom Excel macros using one or more MATLAB Compiler Excel add-ins. The generated macro consists of Microsoft Visual Basic® for Applications (VBA) code that you can modify for additional customization. To use the wizard, you do not need knowledge of VBA programming.

The Function Wizard enables you to create Excel macros that specify the placement and output of data from compiled MATLAB functions to the worksheets. You pass Excel worksheet values to a compiled MATLAB model, and then return model output to a cell or range of cells in the worksheet. Use the Function Wizard to handle MATLAB functions that have structure array arguments or multiple outputs.

For a complete example on creating an Excel macro using the Function Wizard, see Create Macro Using Multiple MATLAB Functions.

Install Function Wizard

You install the Function Wizard in Excel the same way you install MATLAB Compiler generated add-ins. For instructions, see Install Excel Add-Ins.

The add-in file for the Function Wizard is located at matlabroot\toolbox\matlabxl\matlabxl\win64\FunctionWizard.xla. For example, if you compiled your add-in using MATLAB R2024b, install the file C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2024b\toolbox\matlabxl\matlabxl\win64\FunctionWizard.xla. This file contains a macro that adds the Function Wizard add-in button to the Home tab.

Start Function Wizard

Note

Before you can use the Function Wizard add-in, you must first register the MATLAB utility libraries. For details, see Register MATLAB Utility Libraries.

Click the Function Wizard add-in button on the Home tab to start the Function Wizard. When the wizard has initialized, the control panel opens.

Function Wizard Control Panel

The Function Wizard Control Panel for working with MATLAB functions

Note

Closing the Function Wizard control panel does not remove any MATLAB functions or arguments that you add in an Excel session, but closing Excel resets the Function Wizard.

Define Functions to Execute

Add the MATLAB function you want to execute with the Function Wizard.

  1. In the control panel, click Add Function in the Setup Functions area. The MATLAB Components dialog box opens.

  2. In the Available Components area, select the name of your component from the drop-down list.

    Note

    If your component is not listed, make sure you have registered its DLL. For details, see Register Add-Ins and COM Components.

  3. From Functions for Class classname, select the function you want to execute.

  4. Click Add Function. The Function Properties dialog box opens.

    Tip

    The Function Syntax and Help area in the Function Properties dialog box displays the first help text line in a MATLAB function. This description can be helpful for end users who are unfamiliar with the MATLAB function.

Define Input Arguments

Note

The Function Wizard does not currently support the MATLAB sparse or complex data types.

From the Function Properties dialog box, define input argument properties for your MATLAB function.

  1. On the Input tab, click Set Input Data. The Input Data for x dialog box opens, where x is the name of the input variable.

    The Input Data for x panel for specifying input arguments

  2. Select the type of input argument.

    • Range refers to a range of cells in the worksheet. Click the text box or the cell select button on the right, then choose the cells from your worksheet that contain input data.

      To automatically recalculate the spreadsheet data each time it changes, select the Auto recalculate on change option.

      Caution

      Avoid selecting ranges using arrow keys. If you must use arrow keys to select ranges, apply the necessary fix from the Microsoft site: https://mskb.pkisolutions.com/kb/291110.

    • Value refers to a value you specify in the text box. Enter a value to use as the input data and select the data type in the dropdown list.

    • If the argument refers to a structure array (struct), select This is a MATLAB structure array argument and click OK. The Input Data for Structure Array Argument x dialog box opens.

      The Input Data for Structure Array Argument x panel for specifying struct array input agruments

      The Function Wizard supports one and two-dimensional structure arrays for both input and output.

      When you deploy a function with struct array arguments, let end users know which arguments are structure arrays and list their field names.

      1. In the Structure Array Organization area, select either Element by Element Organization or Plane Organization. For more information, see Ways to Organize Data in Structure Arrays.

      2. To add fields for each of your struct array arguments, click Add Field. The Field for Structure Array Argument dialog box opens.

        The Field for Structure Array Argument panel for specifying struct array fields

      3. In the Name field, define the name for the structure array field. The name you specify must exactly match the field name of the structure array in your MATLAB function.

      4. In the Range field, specify the range of the field for the structure array.

        The Field for Structure Array Argument panel with the Name and Range fields filled in

      5. Click OK to add the field.

        Repeat these steps for each field in the structure array.

  3. To specify how to format dates and handle empty cells for this input data, click Options in the Input Data for x dialog box. The Input Conversion Options dialog box opens.

    The Input Conversion Options dialog box

    • From the Coerce Numeric to Type drop-down list, select a data type to control the conversion of numeric data.

    • From the Treat Missing Data As drop-down list, specify either Zero or NaN (Not a Number).

  4. Click OK to add the input argument.

Repeat the procedure for each input argument for your function.

Define Output Arguments

In the Function Properties dialog box, define output argument properties for your MATLAB function.

  1. On the Output tab, click Set Output Data. The Output Data for y dialog box appears, where y is the name of the output variable.

    The Output Data for y panel for specifying output arguments

    Tip

    You can also specify MATLAB Compiler to automatically resize output data (Auto Resize), transpose it (Transpose), or output it in date format (Output as date).

  2. In the Range field, specify the type of output argument as either a range of cells or a MATLAB structure array.

    For details on using structure array arguments, see Define Input Arguments.

  3. To enable Excel to dynamically select the number of output cells, select Auto Resize if it is not already selected.

  4. Click Done in the Output Data for y dialog box to add the output argument.

Repeat the procedure for each output argument for your MATLAB function.

Note

When working with functions that have multiple outputs, define a separate output range for each argument.

Test and Save Macro

Once you are finished adding arguments to your MATLAB function, click Done in the Function Properties dialog box. Your function appears in the Active Functions list of the control panel in the Function Wizard. You can edit function arguments at any time by selecting your function in the list and then clicking Edit/Set Data.

The Function Wizard Control Panel with myfunction in the Active Functions list

To test your macro, click Execute in the Execute Functions area. Cell ranges defined as output arguments are automatically populated with your function output on the current Excel sheet.

To save your macro:

  1. In the Create Macros area of the control panel, enter a name for your macro in the Macro Name field.

  2. From the Store Macro In drop-down list, select the workbook to store the macro.

  3. In the Description field, enter a brief description of the macro functionality.

  4. Click Create Macro.

    A macro is created and saved in the target Excel workbook.

Execute Macro in Excel

Run the macro in Microsoft Excel.

Tip

You may need to enable the proper security settings before running macros in Microsoft Excel. For information about macro permissions and related error messages, see Errors and Solutions.

  1. In Microsoft Excel, click View > Macros > View Macros.

  2. Select the macro from the Macro name drop-down list.

  3. Click Run. Cell ranges defined as output arguments are automatically populated with your function output.

Access Microsoft Visual Basic Code (Optional)

To access or modify the Visual Basic code in your macro:

  1. From the Excel Developer tab, click Visual Basic, or press ALT+F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor. In older versions of Excel, it may be located under Tools > Macro > Visual Basic Editor.

  2. In the Project - VBAProject window, double-click to expand VBAProject (Book1).

  3. Expand the Modules folder and double-click the Matlab Macros module.

    The Visual Basic Code window opens with the code for this project.

Map Macro to Button (Optional)

To create a form control button that runs the macro when you click the button:

  1. From the Excel Developer tab, click Insert.

  2. From the Form Controls menu, select the Button (Form Control) icon.

    Tip

    To see the various control labels, point your mouse over the Form Controls menu.

  3. In the Assign Macros dialog box, select the macro you want to assign the button to and click OK.

An Excel spreadsheet with the Insert Form Controls menu highlighted and the Assign Macros dialog box open

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