MATLAB/C++ Mixed Programming: call MATLAB directly in VC++

There are two ways in VC++ to call MATLAB:

1. distribute MATLAB code into MATLAB independent C++ shared library. Refer to the previous blog for details.

2. call MATLAB directly in VC++.

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This blog will focus on the second approach (also the easier one).

Pre-work:

• Install MATLAB: unlike the first method, make sure you have the whole MATLAB application installed in order to call MATLAB directly in VC++ (only MATLAB Compiler Runtime is needed for the first method). We will take MATLAB-x64-R2013a as an example (installed under C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2013a).
• Platform consistence: the platforms of MATLAB and VC++ compile platform must be the same, i.e. Win32/x86 VC++ compile platform can only use x86 MATLAB and x64 VC++ compile platform can only use x64 MATLAB.
• Example: take the following example myadd2.m (assume under C:\):

  function [y, z] = myadd2(a, b)
  % dummy function, just to demonstrate the idea
  y = a+b;
  z = a+2*b;
  disp('Output from MATLAB.');
  end

VC setup:

1. Add MATLAB include folder to project Include files: i.e. C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2013a\extern\include
2. Add MATLAB library folder to project Library files: i.e. C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2013a\extern\lib\win64\microsoft
3. Add relevant libraries to Linker>Input>Additional Dependencies: libmx.lib libeng.lib
4. Add MATLAB Compiler Runtime binary folder to project Debugging>Environment: i.e. PATH=%PATH%;$(ProjectDir)\dlls_x64;C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2013a\runtime\win64;C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2013a\bin\win64
5. Add header to main code: #include "engine.h"

6. Call in VC++: refer to VC_call_MATLAB_directly.cpp for details.

   In this cpp file, there are also ways to handle data passing of different types between VC++ and MATLAB (see the SHOW_EXTEND_INFO part), which includes:

   • double (or int/float/…)
   • string
   • matrix
   • gray-scale image
   • RGB image

Other Remarks:

• Try to close the previous MATLAB window first (extra command window) if stuck at engOpen(NULL).