Matlab 2020a - Search index not found

Hi,

I am installing Matlab 2020a on a number of computers and have found that occasionally the Help search functionality is not working when trying to use the locally installed documentation. On some computers after installation I get the following error when trying to search:-

Search index not found.

I am very new to Matlab so if anyone has an idea of why this is happening, I would be most grateful.

Thanks!

Edit: I am using Windows 10.

[Walter Roberson]

If you are using MS Windows, check your Windows Firewall settings to be sure that you permit MATLAB to form network connections. MATLAB uses network connections to processes on the same computer in order to communicate with the help system, and in order to communication with Simulink, and in order to communicate with the symbolic engine, and a few other situations too.

[Anthony Camacho]

Hi Walter, Thanks for getting back to me. I had already created a firewall rule to allow matlab.exe's inbound/outbound traffic. I have double-checked and the rule is in place on working and non-working clients.

I shoud add that if I switch the Documentation Location to 'Web, on mathworks.com' the search functionality works as expected. Any idea of where this setting is located in either the Windows files system or Registry. The requirement is to implement an automated installation to thousands of computers, so it's not feasible to simply set the preference by hand.

Thanks again for any knowledge you can impart my way.

[Walter Roberson]

Sorry, I don't think I have any further ideas at this time. (I do not use Windows much.)

Answer 1

[Aman Vyas]

Hi,

See https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/builddocsearchdb.html for re-creating the search database. Maybe this helps you to find the corresponding files in the help folders(see "recent versions" or "file history"). Maybe one of your functions overwrites them or you have shadowed a built-in function, such that the search fails?

Hope it helps !

[Anthony Camacho]

Thanks for the advice. I will give it a try.