How to Call A Matlab Script From VB.NET?

12 minutes read

To call a MATLAB script from VB.NET, you can use the MATLAB COM Automation Server. Here's how you can do it:

  1. First, make sure you have MATLAB installed on your machine.
  2. Open Visual Studio and create a new VB.NET project.
  3. Right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer and select "Add Reference."
  4. In the "Reference Manager" window, switch to the "COM" tab.
  5. Look for "Matlab Application" or "Matlab Application Type Library" in the list of available COM references. Select it and click the "OK" button to add the reference to your project.
  6. In your VB.NET code, import the MATLAB namespace by adding the following line at the top of your code file: Imports Matlab
  7. Create an instance of the MATLAB Application object in your code: Dim matlab As New Matlab.Application
  8. Use the Execute method of the MATLAB Application object to run your MATLAB script: Dim result As Object = matlab.Execute("path_to_your_script.m") Replace "path_to_your_script.m" with the actual file path of your MATLAB script. The Execute method returns the result of the script execution, if any.
  9. You can pass arguments to your MATLAB script by including them in the script path, like this: Dim result As Object = matlab.Execute("path_to_your_script.m arg1 arg2") Replace "arg1 arg2" with the actual arguments you want to pass to your script.
  10. After executing the MATLAB script, you can work with the result in your VB.NET code as needed.
  11. Finally, don't forget to release the MATLAB Application object when you're finished:
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matlab.Quit()
System.Runtime.InteropServices.Marshal.ReleaseComObject(matlab)
matlab = Nothing


This ensures proper cleanup and releases the MATLAB resources.


Remember to customize the code according to your specific requirements. The above steps provide a basic overview of how to call a MATLAB script from VB.NET using the MATLAB COM Automation Server.

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How to compile a Matlab script and call it from VB.NET?

To compile a MATLAB script and call it from VB.NET, you can follow these steps:

  1. Open MATLAB and write your MATLAB script. Save the script with the extension ".m". For example, let's assume the script is named "myScript.m".
  2. In MATLAB, use the MATLAB Compiler to compile your script. Open the MATLAB Compiler by typing "mcc" in the MATLAB command window. This will open the MATLAB Compiler app.
  3. In the MATLAB Compiler app, select "Package" as the target. Check the box next to your script "myScript.m" and click on the "Package" button. This will create a compiled executable file of the MATLAB script.
  4. After the compilation process is completed, you will have an executable file with the name "myScript.exe" (assuming your script name is "myScript.m"). The file will be located in a new folder with the same name as your script.
  5. In your VB.NET project, you need to add a reference to the MATLAB COM Automation Server. To do this, right-click on your project in the Solution Explorer, select "Add Reference", and under the "COM" tab, search and select "MATLAB Application".
  6. In your VB.NET code, you can now create an instance of the MATLAB Automation server and call the functions from the compiled MATLAB script. Here is an example of calling the "myScript" function:
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Imports MatlabApp = MathWorks.MATLAB.NET.Arrays
Imports MathWorks.MATLAB.NET.Utility

' Create an instance of the MATLAB Automation server
Dim matlab As New MathWorks.MATLAB.NET.Arrays.MWServer()

' Call the function from the compiled MATLAB script
Dim result As Object = matlab.myScript()

' Convert the result to a usable type in VB.NET
Dim convertedResult As Double = DirectCast(result(0), Double)

' Display the result
MessageBox.Show("Result: " & convertedResult.ToString())


This is a basic outline of how to compile a MATLAB script and call it from VB.NET. Further customization may be required based on the specific functionality of your MATLAB script and how you want to call it from VB.NET.


How to optimize performance when calling Matlab scripts from VB.NET?

Here are some tips to optimize performance when calling Matlab scripts from VB.NET:

  1. Use the COM interface: Matlab provides a COM interface that allows calling Matlab functions and scripts directly from VB.NET. This is usually faster than using other inter-process communication methods like calling Matlab as a separate process.
  2. Pre-allocate arrays: If your script repeatedly creates and modifies large arrays, pre-allocate them with the appropriate size before running the script. This reduces memory reallocation and can significantly improve performance.
  3. Minimize data transfers: Avoid transferring unnecessary data between VB.NET and Matlab. Only pass the minimum required data to Matlab and retrieve only the necessary results back to VB.NET. Data transfer can be a bottleneck, especially for large datasets.
  4. Avoid unnecessary function calls: Minimize the number of function calls to Matlab. Each function call has some overhead, so try to combine multiple operations into a single call whenever possible.
  5. Use vectorized operations: Matlab is optimized for vectorized operations, where an operation is performed on entire arrays instead of individual elements. When calling Matlab functions, try to pass entire arrays instead of looping over individual array elements.
  6. Use compiled MATLAB code: If performance is critical, you can compile your Matlab code using the MATLAB Compiler. This can result in significant speed improvements as the compiled code can be executed more efficiently.
  7. Profile your code: Use Matlab's profiling tools to identify the performance bottlenecks in your code. Once you find the slow parts, you can focus on optimizing those specific areas for better performance.


By applying these techniques, you can optimize the performance when calling Matlab scripts from VB.NET and achieve better overall performance in your application.


How to retrieve plots or figures generated by Matlab in VB.NET?

To retrieve plots or figures generated by Matlab in VB.NET, you can use the Matlab Engine API for COM automation. Follow the steps below:

  1. Install "MATLAB Engine API for COM Automation" on your computer if it's not already installed. You can download and install it from the MathWorks website.
  2. Add a reference to the Matlab COM Object in your VB.NET project: Right-click on the project in the Solution Explorer and select "Add Reference." Go to the "COM" tab and search for "Matlab Application" in the list. Select it and click "OK" to add the reference.
  3. In your VB.NET code, import the Matlab namespace and create an instance of the Matlab engine:
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Imports Matlab

' ...

Dim matlab As New Matlab.Application


  1. Execute your Matlab code and generate the desired plots or figures:
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matlab.Execute("plot(x, y)") ' Replace "x" and "y" with your data variables


  1. Use the GetVariable method to retrieve the plot or figure as a COM object:
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Dim plotObj As Matlab.Figure = matlab.GetVariable("ans") ' "ans" is the default variable name for the last generated figure


  1. To access and manipulate the figure in VB.NET, you can use the methods and properties of the Figure object. For example, you can save it as an image file:
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plotObj.SaveAs("path\to\save\figure.png")


Note that this approach allows you to retrieve the entire figure as an object. If you need to access individual plots or specific parts of the figure, you can explore the methods and properties of the Figure object to extract the desired parts.

  1. Finally, remember to release the Matlab engine when you're done:
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matlab.Quit()
Marshal.ReleaseComObject(matlab)


This will free up any resources used by the Matlab engine.


Make sure you have a valid Matlab license and have Matlab installed on your computer for this solution to work.


How to handle dependencies between Matlab scripts and functions in VB.NET?

To handle dependencies between Matlab scripts and functions in VB.NET, you can use the MATLAB Compiler SDK (Software Development Kit). Here is a general approach to handle dependencies:

  1. Install the MATLAB Compiler SDK: Start by installing the MATLAB Compiler SDK on your machine.
  2. Import the MATLAB Compiler SDK assemblies: In your VB.NET project, import the necessary MATLAB Compiler SDK assemblies. These assemblies provide the required API for communicating with MATLAB.
  3. Create an instance of the MATLAB Compiler runtime engine: Use the MatlabCompiler.McrFactory class to create an instance of the MATLAB Compiler runtime engine. This engine allows you to execute MATLAB functions and scripts from your VB.NET application.
  4. Load and run the MATLAB scripts and functions: Use the MatlabCompiler.McrEngine instance to load the MATLAB scripts and functions you want to execute. You can specify the script file and any required input arguments.
  5. Handle any dependencies: To handle dependencies between scripts and functions, make sure to include all required MATLAB files (scripts and functions) in your project. These files might include files called by your main script or function.
  6. Build and run your VB.NET application: Build your VB.NET application, ensuring that the necessary MATLAB files are included in the build output. Run your application, and it will execute the desired MATLAB scripts and functions, including handling any dependencies.


Note: The exact implementation might vary based on your specific requirements and the MATLAB version you are using. Additionally, ensure that you have the appropriate licenses to use MATLAB Compiler and MATLAB Compiler SDK.

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