MATLAB crashes with big mfile

Hi all,

Has anyone had experience with MATLAB crashing with a large mfile in the current directory?

Specifically I have a 2MB mfile with an optimization problem description it, generated from a 3rd party solver. However when I navigate to the directory containing this file in MATLAB, it crashes MATLAB! I did not even get a chance to open it...

The file looks ok to me, and the interface has had no problem on smaller problems.

The file has has the following form:

% Objective
fun = @(x)2164*x(1)+2046*x(2)....

% Bounds
lb = [-Inf,-Inf,-Inf,...    
ub = [Inf,Inf,Inf,Inf,....

Where the problem has 87482 variables, all listed in the linear objective fun, and in vectors lb and ub.

Regards,

Jonathan

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

I think the size and contents of the m-file have no bearing on the problem since you said that you never even got to open it because it crashed as soon as you set the current folder to the folder where that file lives. So in that case, I'd call the Mathworks. Or maybe do some sort of file system integrity check to check for a corrupted file system on your computer.

[Jonathan Currie]

The file opens fine with notepad++, and no matter which directory I place it in MATLAB crashes when I navigate to it. I've generated two indepedent files of around the same size, which both cause the same issue.

[Image Analyst]

Bizarre. The Mathworks will have to figure it out.

Answer 2

[Ken Atwell]

MATLAB does scan a folder when you navigate ("cd") to it, so it is not out the question to see a behavior (bug) triggered by "merely" changing folders.

I would try completely closing the Current Folder window and then change folders the "old fashioned" way -- using "cd" in the Command Window. Does that help matters?

In either case, please do report this to MathWorks support.

[Jonathan Currie]

Unfortunately not! Still crashes. I have reported to our local MathWorks support, thanks guys.

Answer 3

[Ahmad]

I'm facing a similar problem. An m-file I use to postprocess simulatuion results consists of ~8500 lines and is ~350 KB in size. It does not crash, it rather stalls if I edit the file, then resumes after 3-4 secs. This does not happen with smaller files. It's just like you're exceeding a certain pre-set text buffer.

[Jonathan Currie]

MathWorks returned to me with a solution. It turned out I was exceeding the java stack memory for the editor thread, and it would promptly crash. There is a workaround (editing a Matlab Java Options file), but really the fix is not have such large files! Use a .mat file if possible.

[Image Analyst]

But you said that you never even got to try to open it in the editor. You said that it crashed when you just opened the folder where the file lived. Now you apparently contradict that and say you have an "editor thread" indicating that you DID actually try to open it, whereas before you said that you "did not even get a chance to open it" because it crashed when you opened the folder.

[Ahmad]

Please describe the solution they provided you with in more detail. Thanks.

Answer 4

[Ahmad]

Here's the solution: http://www.mathworks.com/support/solutions/en/data/1-6MBFQL/?solution=1-6MBFQL