Compiled Location of Data Files

I have a compiled "program" (GUI) that relies on data files. However, to get the progbram to read the data files, I need to include them in the compile. I am using an fopen() on the data file, but if it is not included in the compile, the files are not found. I would like to not have to include the files, as they change pretty regularly and I do not want to have to recompile each time.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

The current directory of a compiled executable is not what you might expect. If you specify the full directory of the files when you fopen() then it should be able to find them.

[Paul Huter]

The install location of the executable changes when it is deployed to a network. How can I specify to look for the data files in the directory the executable is in?

[Image Analyst]

Like Walter said, you don't. Don't store the data files where the executable was deployed because that's not the real executable. The real executable is in a different folder - one you wouldn't expect. The executable you're seeing is more like a self-extracting archive and it unpacks the real executable plus a bunch of other files to some secret folder. You're far, far better off storing your data files in some known folder, like in c:\ProgramData\MATLAB\YOUR_GUI or wherever. Then use fullfile() and exist() to check for them. You can store the last folder you looked to for those files in a mat file if you want, then you can read that upon startup to initialize the data folder to the last folder you used.

[Paul Huter]

Got it! Thank you.