Is it possible to tell when Matlab is busy executing?

Is it possible to tell when Matlab is busy executing? I'd like to run some code on a timer but I'd rather not execute the main portion of the function if Matlab is currently executing other code (besides other timers or GUI functions).

Thanks, Jim

[Payal Bal]

When >> doesn't show in the current line of the command window.

[Walter Roberson]

I think the point is to determine by code whether MATLAB is busy.

[Jim Hokanson]

Walter is correct, although if no other option were present, looking for the absence of >> would be a decent hack that is possible to do by code. Fortunately I think Jan's approach will work much better.

Answer 1

[Jan]

See FEX: CmdWinTool

isBusy = CmdWinTool('isBusy')

If a program is running, the command window's status text is set to 'Busy'. This does not happen inside a callback of a timer object. So this status text can be used to determine if Matlab is busy.

CmdWinTool assumes, that Matlab is busy, when the status text is not empty. This happens also, if you stop during the debugging.

[Jim Hokanson]

Great. Thanks!

I actually want my code to be running while debugging. Is there any reason why you are avoiding looking for 'Busy'?

[Jan]

An active timer callback might be very confusing during debugging. When Matlab stops in a line I expect that the internal state freezes. But you can replace CmdWinToll('isBusy') by:

~strcmpi(CmdWinTool('statusText'), 'Busy')

Answer 2

[DZ]

One way I insert a bit of "meta" info on the status of a Matlab instance is via the Window title.

To set the title of the running Matlab instance,

com.mathworks.mlservices.MatlabDesktopServices.getDesktop.getMainFrame.setTitle()

To retrieve the title of the running Matlab instance,

com.mathworks.mlservices.MatlabDesktopServices.getDesktop.getMainFrame.getTitle()

So at the start of any function, you can insert a phrase such as '[High Priority]' for the function that you don't want interrupted. I also like to include the PID for general debugging purpose. At the end any function in your library, search for and remove the tag and maybe insert a tag like '[Task Complete]', which makes an idling Matlab instance easier to spot visually in Windows. Functions below may be of help:

contains()
erase()
feature('getpid')

In your timer triggered function, you can simply check for tag in the window title before proceeding to the rest of the function.

Now, the timer triggered function will still interrupt any running function for a brief moment. So you may want to include a component of your code that handles timer interruption -- whether the control is handed back immediately or after your timer triggered function actually ran for a while.

Answer 3

[Tien]

I try to calculateIntraScore Hyperspectral raw file and it's busy for a long time :((

I do not know what is MATLAB doing?