Why the loop does not stopped?

Hello,

Using designer, I make same program as below.

When click 'Run Start', current time and loop running count will be described at 'Run Count' and 'Run Time'.

When click 'Run Stop', running loop will be stopped.

So I programmed as below.

------------------------------------

       % Button pushed function: btnStart
        function btnStartPushed(app, event)
            app.btnStart.Enable = 'off';
            app.btnStop.Enable = 'on';
            runCount = 0;
            runTime = datestr(now, 'HH:MM:SS');

            global runStatus
            runStatus = 0;
            
            gcf
            set(gcf, 'WindowButtonUpFcn', @btnStopButtonPushed)
            
            while ~runStatus 
                drawnow
                app.efRunCount.Value = num2str(runCount);
                app.efRunTime.Value = runTime;
                runCount = runCount + 1;
                runTime = datestr(now, 'HH:MM:SS');                
            end
            
            app.btnStart.Enable = 'on';
            app.btnStop.Enable = 'off';
        end

        % Button pushed function: btnStop
        function btnStopButtonPushed(app, event)
            global runStatus
            runStatus = 1;
        end

---------------------------------------

I got this kind of method from this site.

Why I use 'drawnow' order in this program?

When I remove 'drawnow' because I have own windows, the loop is not stopped even through 'Run Stop' is clicked.

How can I handle this problem?

Answer 1

[Ben Cunningham]

See the 'interruptible' property of callbacks in app designer - e.g. here under the heading 'Callback execution control'.

The answer to your question is :

"The interruption occurs at the next point where MATLAB processes the queue, such as when there is a drawnow, figure, uifigure, getframe, waitfor, or pause command."

In other words the drawnow command is providing an oppurtunity for your stop button to interrupt the execution of the while loop to set the global variable, then when the while loop resumes ~runStatus will evaluate false.

Without drawnow, the stop button will wait until the previous callback is finished - which never occurs since your while loop will spin forever.

[Hasung Hwang]

I understand your comment.

But, I really want to close the loop action in the same windows.

Is there any proper other way to close the loop without additional windowns?

[Hasung Hwang]

I solve this problem as below.

Previous---------------------------

gcf

set(gcf, 'WindowButtonUpFcn', @btnStopButtonPushed)

while ~runStatus

drawnow

app.efRunCount.Value = num2str(runCount);

app.efRunTime.Value = runTime;

runCount = runCount + 1;

runTime = datestr(now, 'HH:MM:SS');

end

Current------------------------------

set(get(groot, 'CurrentFigure'), ...

'WindowButtonUpFcn', @btnStopButtonPushed)

while ~runStatus

drawnow

app.efRunCount.Value = num2str(runCount);

app.efRunTime.Value = runTime;

runCount = runCount + 1;

runTime = datestr(now, 'HH:MM:SS');

end

----------------------------------------------------------

After then, there is no additional windown and while loop also closed by stop button click.

Thank you for your request.

Best regards,

[Ben Cunningham]

Well figured out! No worries.

Cheers,

Ben