Customize How Files Display in MATLAB

Since R2025a

You can customize how to display file types in MATLAB^® using extension points.

Specify Icon and Label

You can customize the icon and label for file types in MATLAB. For each file type that you want to customize, define an object within the mw.fileTypes.icons and mw.fileTypes.labels extension points. To specify an icon, specify the object name as the extension of the file type and the object value as the path to the icon. To specify a label, specify the object name as the extension of the file type, and the object value as the label text. When adding icons and labels for multiple file types, separate each object with a comma. For more information, see mw.fileTypes.icons and mw.fileTypes.labels.

For example, this set of JSON declarations adds a custom icon and label for markdown files (.md) and SVG files (.svg).

{
    "mw.fileTypes.icons": {
        "md": "./documentList.svg",
        "svg": "./images.svg"
    },
    "mw.fileTypes.labels": {
        "md": "Markdown Documentation File",
        "svg": "Support Vector Graphics"
    }
}

Specify Filename Validation

You can add filename validation for file types. For each file type, define an object within the mw.fileTypes.filenameValidation extension point. When adding filename validation for multiple file types, separate each object with a comma.

Within each file type object, define one or more errorRegexPatterns or warningRegexPatterns objects, separating each object with a comma. Include an errorRegexPatterns or warningRegexPatterns object for each pattern that you want to validate for. Then, for each errorRegexPatterns and warningRegexPatterns object, specify a pattern to valid against, any validation flags, and the error or warning message to display. For more information, see mw.fileTypes.filenameValidation.

For example, this set of JSON declarations adds filename validation for markdown files (.md) to check whether the name of a markdown file is not empty or too long when the file is created or renamed.

{
    "mw.fileTypes.filenameValidation": {
        "md": {
            "errorRegexPatterns": [
                {
                    "pattern": "/^.+$/;",
                    "flags": "ig",
                    "errorLabel": "Filename must not be empty"
                }
            ],
            "warningRegexPatterns": [
                {
                    "pattern": "/^.{0,125}$",
                    "flags": "ig",
                    "warningLabel": "Filename is too long"
                }
            ]
        }
    }
}

Create Groups of File Types

You can create groups of file types in MATLAB using the mw.fileTypes.groups extension point. Creating groups allows you to customize multiple file types at the same time.

To create a group of file types, define an object within the mw.fileTypes.groups extension point. Specify the object name as the name of the group that you want to create and the object value as an array of file type extensions that you want to include in your group. When creating multiple groups, separate each object with a comma. Then, to use the group to customize multiple file types at the same time, specify groups.groupname instead of a file type extension. For more information, see mw.fileTypes.groups.

For example, this set of JSON declarations creates a group for markdown files (.md) and SVG files (.svg), and then customizes the icon and label for the group.

{
    "mw.fileTypes.groups": {
        "myfiletype": [
            "md",
            "svg"
        ]
    },
    "mw.fileTypes.icons": {
        "groups.myfiletype": "./images.svg"
    },
    "mw.fileTypes.labels": {
        "groups.myfiletype": "My file types"
    }
}

Enable Your File Type Customizations

To enable your file type customizations, add the folder containing the resources folder with the extensions.json file to the path. When the folder is added to the path, files with a .md or .svg extension appear in the Files panel with the icon and label specified in extensions.json. If the Type column is not visible in the Files panel, go to the top-right corner of the panel, click the Files actions button , and select Show > Type.