How do I call a Matlab script with Model Builder?

Question

I have some Matlab scripts which I want to use in ArcMap. Is there any method to use Matlab scripts with model builder in ArcMap? Thanks!

curtvprice · Answer

I am not familiar with MATLAB at all. However if you know how to run a MATLAB script from a command line, you can run a command line from Python using the Calculate Value tool. python - Executing a subprocess fails - Stack Overflow UPDATE the above example has some good suggestions but is very dated. Updated below, based on the current Python docs: 17.1. subprocess — Subprocess management — Python 2.7.13 documentation For example Expression run_script()‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ Code Block import subprocess from subprocess import STDOUT def run_script(): params = [r"path_to_matlab.exe", "param1", "param2"] msg = subprocess.check_output(params, stdout=STDOUT)‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ return msg ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ Here's a bonehead example of running and command line to get a folder list from cmd.exe. In the example, the model element Folder is of type Folder, created with right click, Create Variable. Expression run_cmd(r"%Folder%")‍‍‍ Code Block import subprocess def run_cmd(f): params = ["cmd.exe", "/c", "dir {}".format(f)] msg = subprocess.check_output(params, cwd=f, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT) return msg‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ When this is run in Model Builder, I get this: Executing (Calculate Value): CalculateValue run_cmd(r"C:\Users\cprice\Documents\ArcGIS") "import subprocess def run_cmd(f): params = ["cmd.exe", "/c", "dir {}".format(f)] msg = subprocess.check_output(params, cwd=f, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT) return msg" Variant Start Time: Wed May 24 15:29:16 2017 Value = Volume in drive C has no label. Volume Serial Number is xyz-xyz Directory of C:\Users\cprice\Documents\ArcGIS 05/05/2017 11:07 AM . 05/05/2017 11:07 AM .. 11/18/2016 03:03 PM AddIns 03/03/2017 09:55 PM 1,123 arcpy_raster.py (...) 38 File(s) 949,426,908 bytes 23 Dir(s) 23,970,992,128 bytes free Succeeded at Wed May 24 15:29:16 2017 (Elapsed Time: 0.11 seconds) ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍

TimothyHales · Answer

Hi Taufiq - Thanks for asking your questions and welcome to the GeoNet community! I wanted to let you know that we're moving your question from the GeoNet Help group to the https://community.esri.com/groups/model-builder?sr=search&searchId=500696b4-eaae-4957-83cd-3d4852609d33&searchIndex=0‌ space so our Esri and user subject matter experts can further help answer this and future questions.  So you're aware on how and where to post your questions, here's a few quick tips and reminders:

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* This GeoNet 101 "How to Ask Questions on GeoNet" post is also a helpful guide to asking questions: https://community.esri.com/community/help-and-feedback/blog/2016/08/15/community-news-and-tips-how-to-ask-questions-and-get-answers

Thanks again for contributing and I hope this helps and let us know if you have any questions.