Opening Matlab figures from Windows explorer

Hello,

I had to reinstall Windows and all the software in my laptop. When I did it with Matlab (2019b), I found that all the default associations in Windows with the matlab files extensions (.fig, .m, .mat, etc.) were not made.

Then, I did it manually (with .fig extension) and what I got is that when I double-click a matlab figure file in Windows explorer, Matlab starts, but the figure does not open. Moreover, when I do it and Matlab is already running, it starts Matlab again in a new window, but still not the figure.

When I check which is the application that Windows is using to open the file, I find "Matlab starter application". I have searched for another Matlab application to do it but I cannot find any.

I know that I can open Matlab files from the own Matlab browser, but I would like to do it from any other application (for instance, I'm using hyperlinks to matlab figures in Offices documents). I never found this problem before.

Thank you,

C. Muñoz

Answer 1

[Lubos Smolik]

Try to associate your files with the Matlab application which can be fing in the following directory:

install_path\bin\win64\ (typically C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2019b\bin\win64\ )

If this solution does not help, try this workaround (click here).

Note that the solution above does not necessarily solve your problem with the invisible figures. If your figures were saved using the Live Editor, you might need to change their "Visible" property to "on", i.e.

set(gcf, "Visible", "on");

[kionstan]

Thank you very much, but I couldn't sort it out.

When I associate .fig files (or any other matlab extension) to the executable program MATLAB in C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2019b\bin\win64\, I'm still using, according Windows, 'Matlab starter application', and the result is the same.

I have tried as well with scripts fixing association issues, but they did not work either.

I will carry on my search.

C. Muñoz

Answer 2

[Matus Diveky]

I have the same problem. Having installed new MATLAB R2020a, .fig files are no longer opened as figures, but rather entire new maltab window starts and the figures appear of the left in "Curret Folder" section, and only when double-clicked there, the proper figure windows opens.

[kionstan]

I didn't try any other possible fix since my first approach, but today I have tried updating Matlab (in my case 2019b) and that worked: I can open my figures and scripts from the browser again.

Regards,

C. Muñoz