How to display Command Window in App Designer in real time

My main script contains the following simple code:

%% Initializing diary
dfile ='diary.txt';
if exist(dfile, 'file') 
    delete(dfile); 
end
diary(dfile)
diary on

%% Main Code
disp("first")
pause(5)
disp("second")
pause(5)
disp("third")

diary off

I have a button that starts a function and inside this button I have:

% Button pushed function: StartScriptButton
function StartScriptButtonPushed(app, event)
    run("Test.m");
                
    temp = regexp(fileread('diary.txt'), '\r?\n', 'split');
    app.OutputTxt.Value = temp;
end

The .m file has a diary log that starts at the start of the matlab script and eds at the end. The problem is that the values are only printed after the whole script has executed... I want them to be displayed as soon as they are done. How could this be accomplished? Am I supposed to turn off the diary and turn it on afer every time I have a print in the .m script? Ii haven't found a solution that works for me online, so sorry if the question sounds like it has been already asked.

[Rik]

You will have to modify the Test.m file.

[Jimmy Neutron]

Could you please advise me on the optimal way of doing so?

[Rik]

As you did not share any details about Test.m, it is impossible to say anything about it. You will have to modify it so it will report during its operation. Not every operation can be interupted. Did you actually do anything with the handle to the app in your script?

[Jimmy Neutron]

I have updated my question and now you can see the simple thing Iam trying to accomplish. As soon as the "disp(...)" execute I want it to display in a tex edit box in my app. Sorry for the newbie question, but I am not sure what you mean by "Did you actually do anything with the handle to the app in your script?"

[Rik]

Where are you using the app variable? Is this how your code looks now? It shouldn't.

%% Initializing diary
dfile ='diary.txt';if exist(dfile, 'file'),delete(dfile);end
diary(dfile),diary on

app = get(findall(0, 'Tag', 'AppUIFigure'), 'RunningAppInstance');

%% Main Code
disp("first")
pause(5)
disp("second")
pause(5)
disp("third")

diary off

[Jimmy Neutron]

yes, unfortunately this is exactly what it looks like... Why is that incorrect?

[Rik]

Where are you telling Matlab to do anything with app? How should Matlab know what you want to happen? Did you edit the disp function?

See my comment under the answer by Mario.

[Jimmy Neutron]

Dear Rik, your comment under Mario's worked splendidly! Thank you very much. If you could, please edit your answer so I could mark it as the right answer :)

Answer 1

[Rik]

Slightly expanding on the answer by Mario Malic:

You need to retrieve the handle to your application, e.g. like this:

app = get(findall(0, 'Tag', 'AppUIFigure'), 'RunningAppInstance');

Then inside your script you can set the Value property of your text box, like the code below.

disp("first"),app.OutputTxt.Value="first";
pause(5)
disp("second"),app.OutputTxt.Value="second";
pause(5)
disp("third"),app.OutputTxt.Value="third";

[John K. George]

Hi, I am running Matlab R2019a and getting the following attached UnrecognizedMethod error. I am able to "Save Copy As" - R2017b and R2019a will run. Could you please save to one of these previous versions and resubmit an attachment? thx.

[David Alejandro Ramirez Cajigas]

how to display a window with the Command Windows in the App Designer in the first place?

[Rik]

@David: that is not possible. You will have to print results to a text field yourself. You can also use a diary to retrieve previous results.

Answer 2

[Mario Malic]

Set a tag, or a unique name for your app in Component Browser, under UIFigure - Identifiers, and get its handle this way:

%%  in your script
app = get(findall(0, 'Tag', 'AppUIFigure'), 'RunningAppInstance');

To remove diary from previous run, otherwise it appends to it

Diary_File = 'diary.txt'
if isfile (Diary_File)
    delete(Diary_File)
end
diary (Diary_File) 

Updating the text

Cmd_Window_Text = fileread(Diary_File);
app.OutputTxt.Value= Cmd_Window_String;

[Jimmy Neutron]

Thank you for your answer. I believe you have a typo

Cmd_Window_Text = fileread(Diary_File);
app.OutputTxt.Value= Cmd_Window_Text;

I put this in my "script.m" file

%%  in your script
app = get(findall(0, 'Tag', 'AppUIFigure'), 'RunningAppInstance');

But I still only get the prints after the script has finished running...

[Mario Malic]

Correct, I made a mistake on Text and String.

If you mind sharing your main script then write an example how it looks like.

If you have a loop, in which you run disp/fprintf commands, then put these two lines after it.

Cmd_Window_Text = fileread(Diary_File);
app.OutputTxt.Value= Cmd_Window_Text;

if not, then put those two lines after each fprintf/disp/whichever function you used for printing the outputs.

[Jimmy Neutron]

I have written my main script. It is extremely simple :)

[Mario Malic]

You have the instructions already in my comment above. You need to include this line, remember to set the tag of your application.

%%  in your script
app = get(findall(0, 'Tag', 'AppUIFigure'), 'RunningAppInstance');

[Rik]

app = get(findall(0, 'Tag', 'AppUIFigure'), 'RunningAppInstance');

%% Main Code
disp("first"),app.OutputTxt.Value="first";
pause(5)
disp("second"),app.OutputTxt.Value="second";
pause(5)
disp("third"),app.OutputTxt.Value="third";

[John K. George]

Hi, I am running Matlab R2019a and getting the following attached UnrecognizedMethod error. I am able to "Save Copy As" - R2017b and R2019a will run. Could you please save to one of these previous versions and resubmit an attachment? thx.

Answer 3

[Walter Roberson]

"The problem is that the values are only printed after the whole script has executed... I want them to be displayed as soon as they are done. How could this be accomplished?"

A few years ago Mathworks modified diary to flush to file as each line is generated. If you are using Mac or Linux then you can read from the diary file as it is being generated.

If you are using Windows then you have the hassle that Windows might well have locked the file. Perhaps Mathworks deliberately made it shareable when it is open; I do not know.

[Mario Malic]

If you are using Mac or Linux then you can read from the diary file as it is being generated.

Confirming above for Windows as well.