Excel Link 3

Users Guide

Contents
Getting Started

1
What Is Excel Link? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-2

Installing Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

System Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Installing Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Files and Directories Created by the Installation . . . . . . . .
Modifying Your System Path . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-3
1-3
1-3
1-3
1-4

Configuring Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Configuring Excel to Work with Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . .
Setting Excel Link Preferences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-5
1-5
1-6

Starting and Stopping Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Automatically Starting Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Manually Starting Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Connecting to an Existing MATLAB Session . . . . . . . . . . .
Stopping Excel Link . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-8
1-8
1-8
1-8
1-9

About Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
How Excel Link Functions Differ from Microsoft Excel
Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Types of Excel Link Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Using Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Working with Arguments in Excel Link Functions . . . . . . .
Using the MATLAB Function Wizard for Excel Link . . . . .
Create Macros for Excel Link Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-10

Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-20

Information for International Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-22

1-10
1-10
1-11
1-13
1-13
1-17

Solving Problems with Excel Link

2
About the Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-2

Data Regression and Curve Fitting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Worksheet Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Macro Version . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-3
2-3
2-6

Data Interpolation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-9

Stock Option Pricing Using the Binomial Model . . . . . .

2-13

Calculating and Plotting the Efficient Frontier of

Financial Portfolios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-16

Bond Cash Flow and Time Mapping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-20

Functions By Category

vi

Contents

Link Management Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-2

Data Management Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-3

Functions Alphabetical List

4
Error Messages and Troubleshooting

A
Excel Cell Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-2

Error Messages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-6

Audible Error Signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-10

Data Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Matrix Data Errors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Errors When Opening Saved Worksheets . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

A-11
A-11
A-11

Examples

B
Macro Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B-2

Financial Examples . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

B-2

Index

vii

1
Getting Started
What Is Excel Link? (p. 1-2)

How Excel Link works with both

MATLAB and Microsoft Excel

Installing Excel Link (p. 1-3)

How to install Excel Link

Configuring Excel Link (p. 1-5)

How to configure Excel and MATLAB

to work with Excel Link

Starting and Stopping Excel Link

(p. 1-8)

How to start and stop Excel Link

About Functions (p. 1-10)

Discusses the two kinds of Excel

Link functions: Link Management
and Data Management

Dates (p. 1-20)

How dates are represented in Excel

vs. Excel Link

Information for International Users

(p. 1-22)

About Windows regional settings

Getting Started

What Is Excel Link?

Excel Link is a software add-in that integrates Microsoft Excel and MATLAB
in a Microsoft Windows-based computing environment. It positions Excel as
a front end to MATLAB. By connecting Excel with the MATLAB workspace,
you can access the numerical, computational, and graphical power of
MATLAB from Excel worksheet and macro programming tools.
Excel Link lets you use Excel Link functions from an Excel worksheet or
macro to exchange and synchronize data between Excel and MATLAB,
without leaving the Excel environment. With a small number of functions to
manage the link and manipulate data, Excel Link is powerful in its simplicity.

Note The terms worksheet and spreadsheet are used interchangeably

throughout this document.

Excel Link supports MATLAB two-dimensional numeric arrays,

one-dimensional character arrays (strings), and two-dimensional cell arrays.
It does not work with MATLAB multidimensional arrays and structures.

1-2

Installing Excel Link

Installing Excel Link

In this section...
System Requirements on page 1-3
Installing Excel Link on page 1-3
Files and Directories Created by the Installation on page 1-3
Modifying Your System Path on page 1-4

System Requirements
For information on hardware and software requirements for Excel Link, see
http://www.mathworks.com/products/excellink/requirements.html.
Excel Link requires MATLAB for Windows. For best results with MATLAB
figures and graphics, set the color palette of your display to a value greater
than 256 colors:
1 Click Start > Settings > Control Panel > Display.
2 Click the Settings tab. Choose an appropriate entry from the Color

Palette menu.

Installing Excel Link

Install Windows and Excel before you install MATLAB and Excel Link.
To install Excel Link, follow the instructions in the MATLAB installation
documentation. Select the Excel Link check box when you select MATLAB
components to install.

Files and Directories Created by the Installation

The Excel Link installation program creates the subdirectory under
matlabroot/toolbox/, where matlabroot is the directory where MATLAB is
installed on your system. The exlink directory contains the following files:
excllink.xla: The Excel Link add-in
ExliSamp.xls: Excel Link samples described in this manual

1-3

Getting Started

The installation also creates an Excel Link initialization file, exlink.ini, in

the appropriate Windows directory (for example, C:\Winnt).
Excel Link uses Kernel32.dll, which should already be in the appropriate
Windows system directory (for example, C:\Winnt\system32). If not, consult
your system administrator.

Modifying Your System Path

For Excel Link to function properly, you must add the following directories
to your system path. For more information on how to do this, consult your
Windows documentation or your system administrator.
On all supported operating systems, add C:\MATLAB\bin to your path.
On Windows 2000, add C:\MATLAB\bin, C:\Winnt\system, and
C:\Winnt\system32 to your path.

1-4

Configuring Excel Link

Configuring Excel Link

In this section...
Configuring Excel to Work with Excel Link on page 1-5
Setting Excel Link Preferences on page 1-6

Configuring Excel to Work with Excel Link

After you have installed Excel Link, you are ready to configure Excel. You
need to do these steps only once.

Note These instructions are for Excel 2003 and earlier versions. For
instructions on how to configure Excel 2007 to Work with Excel Link, see
The MathWorks Support Web site.

1 Start Microsoft Excel.

2 Click Tools > Add-Ins > Browse.
3 Find and select the Excel Link add-in excllink.xla under

matlabroot/toolbox/exlink.

Note Throughout this document the notation matlabroot represents the

MATLAB root directory, the directory where MATLAB is installed on your
system.

4 Click OK.

The Excel Link add-in loads now and with each subsequent invocation of
Excel.
Note the MATLAB Command Window button on the Windows taskbar.

1-5

Getting Started

Note the Excel Link toolbar on your Excel worksheet.

Start
MATLAB

Execute MATLAB
command

Start MATLAB
Function Wizard for
Excel Link

Send data to Retrieve data

MATLAB
from MATLAB
Import current
MATLAB figure

Set MATLAB
Preferences

Excel Link is now ready for your use.

Setting Excel Link Preferences

Use the Preferences dialog box to set Excel Link preferences. Click the
preferences button in the Excel toolbar to open this dialog box.

1-6

Configuring Excel Link

Preferences include:
Start MATLAB when Excel starts (enabled by default) starts
MATLAB automatically when Excel starts.
MATLAB current working directory enables you to specify the current
working directory for your MATLAB session at startup.
Use MATLAB desktop starts the entire MATLAB desktop, including
the current directory, workspace, command history and command window
panes, when Excel starts.
Force use of MATLAB cell arrays with MLPutMatrix enables you to
set the MLPutMatrix function to use cell arrays for transfer of data between
Excel Link and MATLAB.
Treat missing/empty cells as NaN sets data in missing or empty cells to
NaN or zero.

1-7

Getting Started

Starting and Stopping Excel Link

In this section...
Automatically Starting Excel Link on page 1-8
Manually Starting Excel Link on page 1-8
Connecting to an Existing MATLAB Session on page 1-8
Stopping Excel Link on page 1-9

Automatically Starting Excel Link

When installed and configured according to the instructions in Configuring
Excel Link on page 1-5, Excel Link and MATLAB automatically start when
you start Excel.

Manually Starting Excel Link

To start Excel Link and MATLAB manually from Excel:
1 Click Tools > Macro.
2 Enter matlabinit into the Macro Name/Reference box.

For more information about the matlabinit function, see Chapter 3,

Functions By Category.
3 Click Run.

Watch for the MATLAB Command Window button on the Windows taskbar.

Connecting to an Existing MATLAB Session

To connect a new Excel session to an existing MATLAB process, you must
start MATLAB with the /automation command-line option. The /automation
option starts MATLAB as an automation server. The MATLAB Command
Window is minimized, and the MATLAB desktop is not running.

1-8

Starting and Stopping Excel Link

To add the /automation option to the command line:

1 Right-click your shortcut to MATLAB.
2 Select Properties.
3 Click the Shortcut tab.
4 Add the string /automation in the Target field. Remember to leave a

space between matlab.exe and /automation.

5 Click OK.

Stopping Excel Link

To stop both Excel Link and MATLAB, stop Excel as you normally would.
Excel Link and MATLAB both stop when you stop Excel.
To stop MATLAB and Excel Link and leave Excel running, enter
=MLClose() into an Excel worksheet cell. You can use the MLOpen or
matlabinit functions to restart Excel Link and MATLAB manually.

1-9

Getting Started

About Functions
In this section...
How Excel Link Functions Differ from Microsoft Excel Functions on page
1-10
Types of Excel Link Functions on page 1-10
Using Worksheets on page 1-11
Working with Arguments in Excel Link Functions on page 1-13
Using the MATLAB Function Wizard for Excel Link on page 1-13
Create Macros for Excel Link Functions on page 1-17

How Excel Link Functions Differ from Microsoft Excel

Functions
Excel Link functions perform an action, while Microsoft Excel functions
return a value. Keep this distinction in mind as you use Excel Link.
Excel Link function names are not case sensitive; that is, MLPutMatrix and
mlputmatrix are the same.
MATLAB function names and variable names are case sensitive; that is,
BONDS, Bonds, and bonds are three different MATLAB variables. Standard
MATLAB function names are always lowercase; for example, plot(f).

Note Excel operations and function keys may behave differently with Excel
Link functions.

Types of Excel Link Functions

Excel Link provides functions to manage the link and to manipulate data
between Excel and MATLAB without your ever needing to leave the Excel
environment. You can invoke functions as worksheet cell formulas or in
macros. With Excel Link, Microsoft Excel becomes an easy-to-use data-storage
and application-development front end for MATLAB, which is a powerful
computational and graphical processor.

1-10

About Functions

Excel Link provides two types of functions: link management functions and
data management functions.
Link management functions initialize, start, and stop Excel Link and
MATLAB. Any link management function other thanmatlabinit can be
invoked as a worksheet cell formula or in macros. This function must be
invoked from the Excel Tools Macro menu or in macro subroutines.
Data management functions copy data between Excel and MATLAB and
execute MATLAB commands from Excel. Any data management function
other than MLPutVar and MLGetVar can be invoked as a worksheet cell
formula or in macros. These functions can be invoked only in macros.
For more information about Excel Link functions, see Chapter 3, Functions
By Category.

Using Worksheets
Entering Functions into Worksheet Cells
Excel Link functions expect A1-style worksheet cell references; that is,
columns designated with letters and rows with numbers. This is the default
reference style. If your worksheet shows columns designated with numbers
instead of letters:
1 Click Tools > Options.
2 Click the General tab.
3 Under Settings, clear the R1C1 reference style check box.

Enter Excel Link functions directly into worksheet cells as worksheet

formulas. Begin worksheet formulas with + or = and enclose function
arguments in parentheses. The following example uses MLPutMatrix to put
the data in cell C10 into matrix A:
=MLPutMatrix("A", C10)

For more information on specifying arguments in Excel Link functions, see

Working with Arguments in Excel Link Functions on page 1-13.

1-11

Getting Started

Note Do not use the Excel Function Wizard, as it can generate unpredictable
results.

After an Excel Link function successfully executes as a worksheet formula,

the cell contains the value 0. While a function is executing, the cell may
continue to show the formula you entered. To change the active cell when an
operation completes, click Excel Tools Options > Edit > Move Selection
after Enter. This provides a useful confirmation for lengthy operations.

Automatic Calculation Mode Vs. Manual Calculation Mode

Excel Link functions are most effective in automatic calculation mode. To
automate the recalculation of an Excel Link function, add to it some cell
whose value changes. In the following example, the MLPutMatrix function
reexecutes when the value in cell C1 changes:
=MLPutMatrix("bonds", D1:G26) + C1

Note Be careful not to create endless recalculation loops.

To use MLGetMatrix in manual calculation mode, enter the function into a

cell, press F2; then press Enter to execute it.

Note Pressing F9 to recalculate a worksheet affects only Excel functions. It

does not operate on Excel Link functions.

If you use explicit cell addresses in a function and then later insert or delete
rows or columns, or move or copy the function to another cell, you need to edit
the function arguments to reference the new cell address. Excel Link does not
automatically adjust cell addresses in functions.

1-12

About Functions

Working with Arguments in Excel Link Functions

This section describe tips for managing variable-name arguments and
data-location arguments in Excel Link Functions.

Variable-name Arguments
You can directly or indirectly specify a variable-name argument in most
Excel Link functions.

To specify a variable name directly, enclose it in double quotation marks;

for example, MLDeleteMatrix("Bonds").
To specify a variable name as an indirect reference, enter it without
quotation marks. The function evaluates the contents of the argument to
get the variable name. The argument must be a worksheet cell address
or range name.

Data-location Arguments
A data-location argument must be a worksheet cell address or range name.
Do not enclose a data-location argument in quotation marks (except in
MLGetMatrix, which has unique argument conventions).
A data-location argument can include a worksheet number; for example,
Sheet3!B1:C7 or Sheet2!OUTPUT.

Note You can use virtually any special character as part of a worksheet
name if you embed the sheet name within single quotation marks ('')
when referencing it in MLGetMatrix or MLPutMatrix.

Using the MATLAB Function Wizard for Excel Link

The MATLAB Function Wizard for Excel Link allows you to browse MATLAB
directories and run functions from within Excel.

1-13

Getting Started

List functions available Display list of

MATLAB working directories
for specified
Refresh
and available function categories directory/category list
directory/category

Select function signature

and enter formula into
specified spreadsheet cell

1-14

Display help for given

function signature

About Functions

Use The MATLAB Function Wizard for Excel Link to do the following:
1 Display a list of all MATLAB working directories and function

categories
All directories or categories in the current MATLABPATH display in the
Select a category field. Click an entry in the list to select it. Each
entry in the list displays as a directory path plus a description read from
the Contents.m file in that directory. If no Contents.m file is found, the
directory/category display notifies you as follows:
finance\finsupport -(No table of contents file)

To refresh the directory/category list, click the Update button.

2 Choose a particular directory or category, and list functions

available for that directory or category

After you select a directory or category, available functions for that
directory or category display in the Select a function field. Click a
function name to select it.
3 Parse a specified function signature and enter a formula into the

current spreadsheet cell

After you select a function, available function signatures for the specified
function display in the Select a function signature field. Click a function
signature to display the Function Arguments pane.

1-15

Getting Started

Specify cell for function output

(optional)

Double-click function signature

to display Function Arguments pane ...

1-16

Scroll through list of

function input arguments

Enter function arguments

About Functions

By default, the output of the selected function appears in the current

spreadsheet cell using the Excel Link function MATLABFCN. In the following
example, the output displays in the current spreadsheet cell and generates
a MATLAB figure:
=matlabfcn("plot",Sheet1!$B$2:$D$4)

If you specify a target range of cells using the Optional output cell(s)
field in the Function Arguments dialog box, the selected function appears in
the current spreadsheet cell using MATLABSUB, with an additional argument
to indicate where to write the functions output. In the following example,
the target cell is B2 and the input to the rand function comes from A2:
=matlabsub("rand","Sheet1!$B$2",Sheet1!$A$2)
4 Display online help headers for functions

After you select a function signature from the Select a function

signature field, the help header for the specified function signature
appears in the Function Help field.

Create Macros for Excel Link Functions

To create macros that use Excel Link functions, you must first configure Excel
to reference the functions from the Excel Link add-in. Use the following
steps to do this.
1 From the Visual Basic environment, click Insert > Module.
2 When the Module pane opens, click Tools > References.
3 In the References dialog box, select the ExcelLink check box and click OK.

Note In macros, leave a space between the function name and the first
argument; do not use parentheses.

1-17

Getting Started

Example: Using MLGetMatrix in a Macro Subroutine

To use MLGetMatrix in a macro subroutine, enter MatlabRequest on the line
after MLGetMatrix. MatlabRequest initializes internal Excel Link variables
and enables MLGetMatrix to function in a subroutine. For example:
Sub Get_RangeA()
MLGetMatrix "A", "RangeA"
MatlabRequest
End Sub

Note Do not include MatlabRequest in a macro function unless the macro

function is called from a subroutine.

Example: Running Excel Link Functions from the Visual Basic

Editor
In this example, you use VBA code to execute MATLAB commands, send
MATLAB data to Excel, and display the results in an Excel dialog box.
Follow these steps to run this example:
1 Start Excel.
2 Initialize MATLAB by clicking the startmatlab button in the Excel Link

toolbar or by running the matlabinit function.

3 Enable the Excel Link Add-in:

Click Tools > Add-ins.

Select the Excel Link 3.0 for use with MATLAB check box.
Click OK.
4 Enable Excel Link as a Reference in the Excel Visual Basic Editor:

Click Tools > Macro > Visual Basic Editor.

In the Visual Basic Editor window, click Tools > References.

1-18

About Functions

In the References VBAProject dialog box, select the ExcelLink check

box.
Click OK.
5 In the Visual Basic Editor, create a new module. To do this, right-click

the Microsoft Excel Objects folder in the Project VBAProject tree

browser and select Insert > Module from the context menu.
6 Enter the following code into the module window:

Option Base 1
Sub Method1()
MLShowMatlabErrors "yes"
'''To MATLAB:
Dim Vone(2, 2) As Double
Vone(1, 1) = 1
Vone(1, 2) = 2
Vone(2, 1) = 3
Vone(2, 2) = 4

'Input

MLPutMatrix "a", Range("A1:B2")

MLPutVar "b", Vone
MLEvalString ("c = a*b")
MLEvalString ("d = eig(c)")
'''From MATLAB:
Dim Vtwo As Variant
'Output
MLGetVar "c", Vtwo
MsgBox "c is " & Vtwo(1, 1)
MLGetMatrix "b", Range("A7:B8").Address
MatlabRequest
MLGetMatrix "c", "Sheet1!A4:B5"
MatlabRequest
Sheets("Sheet1").Select
Range("A10").Select
MLGetMatrix "d", ActiveCell.Address

1-19

Getting Started

MatlabRequest
End Sub
7 To run the code, press F5 or click Run > Run Sub/UserForm.

The following dialog box appears.

8 Click OK to close the dialog box.

Dates
Default Excel date numbers represent the number of days that have passed
since January 1, 1900; for example, May 15, 1996 is represented as 35200
in Excel.
However, MATLAB date numbers represent the number of days that have
passed since January 1, 0000, so May 15, 1996 is represented as 729160 in
MATLAB. Therefore, the difference in dates between Excel and MATLAB is a
constant, 693960 (729160 minus 35200).
To use date numbers in MATLAB calculations, you must apply the 693960
constant as follows:
Add it to Excel date numbers that are read into MATLAB.
Subtract it from MATLAB date numbers that are read into Excel.

Note If you use the optional Excel 1904 date system, the constant is
695422.

1-20

Dates

Note Dates are stored internally in Excel as numbers and are not affected
by locale.

1-21

Getting Started

Information for International Users

This document uses Excel with an English (United States) Windows
regional setting for illustrative purposes. If you use Excel Link with a
non-English (United States) Windows desktop environment, certain
syntactical elements may not work as illustrated. For example, you may have
to replace the comma (,) delimiter within the Excel Link commands with a
semicolon (;) or other operator.
Please consult your Microsoft Windows documentation to determine which
regional setting differences exist among various international versions.

1-22

2
Solving Problems with
Excel Link
About the Examples (p. 2-2)

How to run these examples online in

Excel Link

Data Regression and Curve Fitting

(p. 2-3)

Builds a mathematical model of a

data set and uses an Excel worksheet
to organize and display the data

Data Interpolation (p. 2-9)

Uses an Excel worksheet to organize

and display input data and the
interpolated output data

Stock Option Pricing Using the

Binomial Model (p. 2-13)

Uses Excel Link, Financial Toolbox,

and the binomial model to price
options

Calculating and Plotting the

Efficient Frontier of Financial
Portfolios (p. 2-16)

Uses Excel Link and Financial

Toolbox to analyze three portfolios,
using rates of return for six time
periods

Bond Cash Flow and Time Mapping

(p. 2-20)

Uses Excel Link and Financial

Toolbox to compute a set of cash flow
amounts and dates, given a portfolio
of five bonds

Solving Problems with Excel Link

About the Examples

The following sections show how Microsoft Excel, Excel Link, and MATLAB
work together to solve real-world problems.
These examples are included with Excel Link. To run them:
1 Start Excel, Excel Link, and MATLAB.
2 Navigate to the directory matlabroot/toolbox/exlink/.
3 Open the file ExliSamp.xls
4 Execute the examples as needed.

Note Examples 1 and 2 use MATLAB functions only. Examples 3, 4, and

5 use functions in Financial Toolbox. Financial Toolbox in turn requires
Statistics Toolbox and Optimization Toolbox.

2-2

Data Regression and Curve Fitting

Data Regression and Curve Fitting

In this section...
Worksheet Version on page 2-3
Macro Version on page 2-6
Regression techniques and curve fitting attempt to find functions that
describe the relationship among variables. In effect, they attempt to build
mathematical models of a data set. MATLAB provides many powerful yet
easy-to-use matrix operators and functions to simplify the task.
This example demonstrates both data regression and curve fitting. It also
executes the same example in a worksheet version and a macro version. The
example uses Excel worksheets to organize and display the data. Excel Link
functions copy the data to MATLAB and execute MATLAB computational
and graphic functions. The macro version also returns output data to an
Excel worksheet.

Worksheet Version
1 Click the Sheet1 tab on the ExliSamp.xls window. The worksheet for

this example appears.

2-3

Solving Problems with Excel Link

The worksheet contains one named range:

contains the data set for this example.

A4:C28 is named DATA and

2 Make E5 the active cell. Press F2; then press Enter to execute the Excel

Link function that copies the sample data set to MATLAB. The data
set contains 25 observations of three variables. There is a strong linear
dependence among the observations; in fact, they are close to being scalar
multiples of each other.
3 Move to cell E8 and press F2; then press Enter. Repeat with cells E9 and

E10. These Excel Link functions tell MATLAB to regress the third column
of data on the other two columns. They create a single vector y containing
the third-column data, and a new three-column matrix A consisting of a
column of ones followed by the rest of the data.
4 Execute the function in cell E13. This function computes the regression

coefficients by using the MATLAB backslash operation to solve the

(overdetermined) system of linear equations, A*beta = y.

2-4

Data Regression and Curve Fitting

5 Execute the function in cell E16. MATLAB matrix-vector multiplication

produces the regressed result (fit).

6 Execute the functions in cells E19, E20, and E21. These functions compare

the original data with fit; sort the data in increasing order and apply
the same permutation to fit; and create a scalar for the number of
observations.
7 Execute the functions in cells E24 and E25. Often it is useful to fit a

polynomial equation to data. To do so, you would ordinarily have to set up

a system of simultaneous linear equations and solve for the coefficients.
The MATLAB polyfit function automates this procedure, in this case for a
fifth-degree polynomial. The polyval function then evaluates the resulting
polynomial at each data point to check the goodness of fit (newfit).
8 Execute the function in cell E28. The MATLAB plot function graphs the

original data (blue circles), the regressed result fit (dashed red line), and
the polynomial result (solid green line); and adds a legend. Data plots.

2-5

Solving Problems with Excel Link

Since the data is closely correlated but not exactly linearly dependent, the
fit curve (dashed line) shows a close, but not an exact, fit. The fifth-degree
polynomial curve, newfit, represents a more accurate mathematical model
for the data.
When you finish this version of the example, close the figure window.

Macro Version
1 Click the Sheet2 tab on ExliSamp.xls. The worksheet for this example

appears.

2 Make cell A4 the active cell, but do not execute it yet.

2-6

Data Regression and Curve Fitting

Cell A4 calls the macro CurveFit, which you can examine from the Visual
Basic environment.

3 While this module is open, click Tools > References. In the References

dialog box, make sure that the excllink.xla check box is selected. If not,
select the check box and click OK.
4 In cell A4 of Sheet2, press F2; then press Enter to execute the CurveFit

macro. The macro executes the same functions as the worksheet example
(in a slightly different order), including plotting the graph. In addition, it
uses the MLGetMatrix function in the CurveFit macro to copy the original
data y (sorted), the corresponding regressed data fit, and the polynomial
data newfit, to the worksheet.

2-7

Solving Problems with Excel Link

When you finish the example, close the figure window.

2-8

Data Interpolation

Data Interpolation
Interpolation is a process for estimating values that lie between known data
points. It is important for applications such as signal and image processing
and data visualization. MATLAB provides a number of interpolation functions
that let you balance the smoothness of data fit with execution speed and
efficient memory use.
This example uses a two-dimensional data-gridding interpolation function
on thermodynamic data, where volume has been measured for time
and temperature values. It finds the volume values underlying the
two-dimensional, time-temperature function for a new set of time and
temperature coordinates.
The example uses an Excel worksheet to organize and display the original
data and the interpolated output data. Excel Link functions copy the data to
and from MATLAB, execute the MATLAB interpolation function, and invoke
MATLAB graphics to display the interpolated data in a three-dimensional
color surface.
1 Click the Sheet3 tab on ExliSamp.xls. The worksheet for this example

appears.

2-9

Solving Problems with Excel Link

The worksheet contains the measured thermodynamic data in cells A5:A29,

B5:B29, and C5:C29. The time and temperature values for interpolation
are in cells E7:E30 and F6:T6, respectively.
2 Make A33 the active cell. Press F2; then press Enter to execute the Excel

Link function that passes the Time, Temp, and Volume labels to MATLAB.
3 Make A34 the active cell. Press F2; then press Enter to execute the Excel

Link function that copies the original time data to MATLAB. Move to

2-10

Data Interpolation

cell A35 and execute the function to copy the original temperature data.
Execute the function in cell A36 to copy the original volume data.
4 Move to cell A39 and press F2; then press Enter to copy the interpolation

time values to MATLAB. Execute the function in cell A40 to copy the
interpolation temperature values.
5 Execute the function in cell A43. griddata is the MATLAB two-dimensional

interpolation function that generates the interpolated volume data using

the inverse distance method.
6 Execute the functions in cells A46 and A47 to transpose the interpolated

volume data and copy it to the Excel worksheet. The data fills cells F7:T30,
which are enclosed in a border.

7 Execute the function in cell A50. MATLAB plots and labels the interpolated

data on a three-dimensional color surface, with the color proportional to the

interpolated volume data.

2-11

Solving Problems with Excel Link

When you finish the example, close the figure window.

2-12

Stock Option Pricing Using the Binomial Model

Stock Option Pricing Using the Binomial Model

Financial Toolbox provides several functions that compute prices, sensitivities,
and profits for portfolios of options or other equity derivatives. This example
uses the binomial model to price an option. The binomial model assumes that
the probability of each possible price over time follows a binomial distribution;
that is, that prices can move to only two values, one up and one down, over
any short time period. Plotting the two values, and then the subsequent two
values each, and then the subsequent two values each, and so on over time, is
known as building a binomial tree.
This example uses the Excel worksheet to organize and display input and
output data. Excel Link functions copy data to a MATLAB matrix, calculate
the prices, and return data to the worksheet.

Note This example requires Financial Toolbox.

1 Click the Sheet4 tab on ExliSamp.xls to open the worksheet for this

example.

2-13

Solving Problems with Excel Link

The worksheet contains three named ranges:

B4:B10 named bindata. Two cells in bindata contain formulas:
B7 contains =5/12
B8 contains =1/12
B15 named asset_tree.
B23 named value_tree.
2 Make D5 the active cell. Press F2; then press Enter to execute the Excel

Link function that copies the asset data to MATLAB.

3 Move to D8 and execute the function that computes the binomial prices,

then execute the functions in D11 and D12 to copy the price data to Excel.
The worksheet looks like this.

2-14

Stock Option Pricing Using the Binomial Model

Read the asset price tree this way: Period 1 shows the up and down prices,
Period 2 shows the up-up, up-down, and down-down prices, Period 3 shows
the up-up-up, up-up, down-down, and down-down-down prices, and so on.
Ignore the zeros. The option value tree gives the associated option value for
each node in the price tree. The option value is zero for prices significantly
above the exercise price. Ignore the zeros that correspond to a zero in the
price tree.
4 Try changing the data in B4:B10 and reexecuting the Excel Link functions.

Note, however, that if you increase the time to maturity (B7) or change the
time increment (B8), you may need to enlarge the output tree areas.
5 When you finish the example, close the figure window.

2-15

Solving Problems with Excel Link

Calculating and Plotting the Efficient Frontier of Financial

Portfolios
MATLAB and Financial Toolbox provide functions that compute and plot
risks, variances, rates of return, and the efficient frontier of portfolios.
Efficient portfolios have the lowest aggregate variance, or risk, for a given
return. Excel and Excel Link let you set up data, execute financial functions
and MATLAB graphics, and display numeric results.
This example analyzes three portfolios, using rates of return for six time
periods. In actual practice, these functions can analyze many portfolios over
many time periods, limited only by the amount of computer memory available.

Note This example requires Financial Toolbox.

1 Click the Sheet5 tab on ExliSamp.xls. The worksheet for this example

appears.

2-16

Calculating and Plotting the Efficient Frontier of Financial Portfolios

2 Make A15 the active cell. Press F2; then press Enter to execute the

Excel Link function that transfers the labels describing the outputs to
be computed by MATLAB.
3 Make A16 the active cell to copy the portfolio return data to MATLAB.
4 Execute the functions in A19 and A20 to compute the Financial Toolbox

efficient frontier function for 20 points along the frontier.

5 Execute the Excel Link functions in A23, A24, and A25 to copy the output

data to Excel.
The worksheet looks like this.

2-17

Solving Problems with Excel Link

The data describes the efficient frontier for these three portfolios: that set
of points representing the highest rate of return (ROR) for a given risk. For
each of the 20 points along the frontier, the weighted investment in each
portfolio (Weights) would achieve that rate of return.
6 Now move to A28 and press F2; then press Enter to execute the Financial

Toolbox function that plots the efficient frontier for the same portfolio data.
The following figure appears in MATLAB.

2-18

Calculating and Plotting the Efficient Frontier of Financial Portfolios

The light blue line shows the efficient frontier. Note the change in slope
above a 6.8% return because the Corporate Bond portfolio no longer
contributes to the efficient frontier.
7 To try running this example using different data, close the figure window

and change the data in cells B4:D9. Then reexecute all the Excel Link
functions. The worksheet then shows the new frontier data, and MATLAB
displays a new efficient frontier graph.
When you finish this example, close the figure window.

2-19

Solving Problems with Excel Link

Bond Cash Flow and Time Mapping

This example illustrates the use of Financial Toolbox and Excel Link to
compute a set of cash flow amounts and dates given a portfolio of five bonds
whose maturity dates and coupon rates are known.
1 Click the Sheet6 tab on ExliSamp.xls. The worksheet for this example

appears.

2 Make A18 the active cell. Press F2, then Enter to execute the Excel Link

function that transfers the column vector Maturity to MATLAB.

2-20

Bond Cash Flow and Time Mapping

3 Make A19 the active cell to transfer the column vector Coupon Rate to

MATLAB.
4 Make A20 the active cell to transfer the settlement date to MATLAB.
5 Execute the functions in cells A23 and A24 to enable Financial Toolbox to

compute cash flow amounts and dates.

6 Now execute the functions in cells A27 through A29 to transform the dates

into string form contained in a cell array.

7 Execute the functions in cells A32 through A34 to transfer the data to Excel.

2-21

Solving Problems with Excel Link

8 Finally, execute the function in cell A37 to display a MATLAB plot of the

cash flows for each portfolio item.

9 When you finish the example, close the figure window.

2-22

3
Functions By Category
Link Management Functions (p. 3-2)

Working with link management

functions

Data Management Functions (p. 3-3)

Working with data management

functions

Functions By Category

Link Management Functions

3-2

matlabinit

Initialize Excel Link and start

MATLAB process

MLAutoStart

Automatically start MATLAB

process

MLClose

Terminate MATLAB process

MLOpen

Start MATLAB process

MLUseCellArray

Toggle MLPutMatrix to use cell

arrays in MATLAB

Data Management Functions

Data Management Functions

matlabfcn

Evaluate MATLAB command given

Excel data

matlabsub

Evaluate MATLAB command given

Excel data and designate output
location

MLAppendMatrix

Create or append MATLAB matrix

with data from Excel worksheet

MLDeleteMatrix

Delete MATLAB matrix

MLEvalString

Evaluate command in MATLAB

MLGetFigure

Import current MATLAB figure into

Excel spreadsheet

MLGetMatrix

Write contents of MATLAB matrix

in Excel worksheet

MLGetVar

Write contents of MATLAB matrix

in Excel VBA variable

MLMissingDataAsNaN

Set empty cells to NaN or zero

MLPutMatrix

Create or overwrite MATLAB matrix

with data from Excel worksheet

MLPutVar

Create or overwrite MATLAB matrix

with data from Excel VBA variable

MLShowMatlabErrors

Return standard Excel Link errors

or full MATLAB errors using
MLEvalString

MLStartDir

Specify MATLAB current working

directory after startup

MLUseFullDesktop

Specify whether to use full MATLAB

desktop or MATLAB Command
window

3-3

3-4

Functions By Category

4
Functions Alphabetical
List

matlabfcn

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Examples

Evaluate MATLAB command given Excel data

Worksheet:

matlabfcn(command, inputs)

command

MATLAB command to evaluate. The MATLAB

command must be written as "command" (in double
quotation marks).

inputs

Variable length input argument list passed to a

MATLAB command. The argument list may contain
a range of worksheet cells that contain input data.

Passes the command to MATLAB for evaluation given the function input
data. The function returns a single value or string depending upon the
MATLAB output. The result is returned to the calling worksheet cell.
This function is intended for use as an Excel worksheet function.
matlabfcn("sum", B1:B10)

sums the data in the spreadsheet cells B1 through B10 returning the
output to the active worksheet cell or Excel Visual Basic for Applications
(VBA) output variable.
matlabfcn("plot", B1:B10, "x")

plots the data in worksheet cells B1 through B10 using x as the marker
type.

See Also

4-2

matlabsub

matlabinit

Purpose

Initialize Excel Link and start MATLAB process

Syntax

matlabinit

Note To run matlabinit, pull down the Excel Tools menu and click
Macro. In the Macro Name/Reference box, enter matlabinit and
click Run. Alternatively, you could include this function in a macro
subroutine. You cannot run matlabinit as a worksheet cell formula or
in a macro function.

Description

Initializes Excel Link and starts MATLAB process. If Excel Link

has already been initialized and MATLAB is running, subsequent
invocations do nothing. Use matlabinit to start Excel Link and
MATLAB manually when you have set MLAutoStart to no. If
MLAutoStart is set to yes, matlabinit executes automatically.

See Also

MLAutoStart, MLOpen

4-3

matlabsub

Purpose

Syntax

Description

Evaluate MATLAB command given Excel data and designate output

location

Worksheet:

matlabsub(command, edat, inputs)

command

MATLAB command to evaluate. The MATLAB

command must be written as "command" (in
double quotation marks).

edat

Worksheet location where the function writes

the returned date. "edat" (in quotation marks)
directly specifies the location and it must be a cell
address or a range name. edat (without quotation
marks) is an indirect reference: the function
evaluates the contents of edat to get the location.
edat must be a worksheet cell address or range
name.

inputs

Variable length input argument list passed to

MATLAB command. Argument list may contain a
range of worksheet cells that contain input data.

Passes the specified command to MATLAB for evaluation given the

function input data. The function returns a single value or string
depending upon the MATLAB output. This function is intended for use
as an Excel worksheet function.
To return an array of data to the Excel Visual Basic for Applications
(VBA) workspace, see MLEvalString and MLGetVar.

Caution edat must not include the cell that contains the matlabsub
function. In other words, be careful not to overwrite the function itself.
Also make sure there is enough room in the worksheet to write the
matrix contents. If there is insufficient room, the function generates a
fatal error.

4-4

matlabsub

Examples

matlabsub("sum", "A1", B1:B10)

sums the data in worksheet cells B1 through B10, returning the output
to cell A1.

See Also

matlabfcn

4-5

MLAppendMatrix

Purpose
Syntax

Create or append MATLAB matrix with data from Excel worksheet

Worksheet:

MLAppendMatrix(var_name, mdat)

Macro:

MLAppendMatrix var_name, mdat

var_name

Name of MATLAB matrix to which to append

data. "var_name" (in quotation marks) directly
specifies the matrix name. var_name (without
quotation marks) is an indirect reference: the
function evaluates the contents of var_name to
get the matrix name, and var_name must be a
worksheet cell address or range name

mdat

Location of data to append to var_name. mdat

(no quotation marks). Must be a worksheet cell
address or range name.
If this argument is not initially an Excel Range
data type and you call the function from a
worksheet, Excel proceeds by performing the
necessary type coercion. However, if you call
MLAppendMatrix from within a VBA macro, and
mdat is not an Excel Range data type, the call
fails. Excel generates the error message ByRef
Argument Type Mismatch.

Description

4-6

Appends data in mdat to MATLAB matrix var_name. Creates var_name

if it does not exist. The function checks the dimensions of var_name and
mdat to determine how to append mdat to var_name. If the dimensions
allow appending mdat as either new rows or new columns, it appends
mdat to var_name as new rows. The function returns an error if the
dimensions do not match. mdat must contain either numeric data or
string data. Data types cannot be combined within the range specified
in mdat. Empty mdat cells become MATLAB matrix elements containing
zero if the data is numeric and empty strings if the data is a string.

MLAppendMatrix

Examples

B is a 2-by-2 MATLAB matrix.

MLAppendMatrix("B", A1:A2)

appends the data in cell range A1:A2 to the MATLAB matrix B. B is now
a 2-by-3 matrix with the data from A1:A2 in the third column.
A1
A2

B is a 2-by-2 MATLAB matrix. Cell C1 contains the label (string) B, and

new_data is the name of the cell range A1:B2.
MLAppendMatrix(C1, new_data)

appends the data in cell range A1:B2 to B. B is now a 4-by-2 matrix with
the data from A1:B2 in the last two rows.

See Also

A1

B1

A2

B2

MLPutMatrix

4-7

MLAutoStart

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Examples

Automatically start MATLAB process

Worksheet:

MLAutoStart("yes")
MLAutoStart("no")

Macro:

MLAutoStart "yes"
MLAutoStart "no"

"yes"

Automatically start Excel Link and MATLAB every

time Excel starts (default).

"no"

Cancel automatic startup of Excel Link and MATLAB.

If Excel Link and MATLAB are running, it does not
stop them.

Sets automatic startup of Excel Link and MATLAB. When Excel Link
is installed, the default is yes. A change of state takes effect the next
time Excel is started.
MLAutoStart("no")

cancels automatic startup of Excel Link and MATLAB. The next time
Excel starts, Excel Link and MATLAB will not start.

See Also

4-8

matlabinit, MLClose, MLOpen

MLClose

Purpose
Syntax

Terminate MATLAB process

Worksheet:

MLClose()

Macro:

MLClose

Description

Terminates the MATLAB process, deletes all variables from the

MATLAB workspace, and tells Excel that MATLAB is no longer
running. If no MATLAB process is running, nothing happens.

See Also

MLOpen

4-9

MLDeleteMatrix

Purpose
Syntax

Description
Example

Delete MATLAB matrix

Worksheet:

MLDeleteMatrix(var_name)

Macro:

MLDeleteMatrix var_name

var_name

Name of MATLAB matrix to delete. "var_name"

(in quotation marks) directly specifies the matrix
name. var_name (without quotation marks) is
an indirect reference: the function evaluates the
contents of var_name to determine the matrix name,
and var_name must be a worksheet cell address or
range name.

Deletes the named matrix from the MATLAB workspace.

MLDeleteMatrix("A")

deletes matrix A from the MATLAB workspace.

4-10

MLEvalString

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Examples

Evaluate command in MATLAB

Worksheet:

MLEvalString(command)

Macro:

MLEvalString command

command

MATLAB command to evaluate. "command" (in

quotation marks) directly specifies the command.
command (without quotation marks) is an indirect
reference: the function evaluates the contents of
command to get the command, and command must be
a worksheet cell address or range name.

Passes a command string to MATLAB for evaluation. The specified

action alters only the MATLAB workspace. Nothing is done in the Excel
workspace.
MLEvalString("b = b/2;plot(b)")

divides the MATLAB variable b by 2 and plots it. Only the MATLAB
variable b is modified. To update data in the Excel worksheet, use
MLGetMatrix.

See Also

MLGetMatrix

4-11

MLGetFigure

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Import current MATLAB figure into Excel spreadsheet

Worksheet:

MLGetFigure(width,height)

Macro:

MLGetFigure width, height

width

Specify the width in normalized units of the

MATLAB figure when imported into Excel.

height

Specify the height in normalized units of the

MATLAB figure when imported into Excel.

Import the current MATLAB figure into Excel where the left-top corner
of the figure is the current spreadsheet cell.
If worksheet calculation mode is automatic, MLGetFigure executes
when you enter the formula in a cell. If worksheet calculation mode
is manual, enter the MLGetFigure function in a cell, then press F9 to
execute it. However, pressing F9 in this situation may also reexecute
other worksheet functions and generate unpredictable results.
If you use MLGetFigure in a macro subroutine, enter MatlabRequest
on the line after the MLGetFigure. MatlabRequest initializes internal
Excel Link variables and enables MLGetFigure to function in a
subroutine. Do not include MatlabRequest in a macro function unless
the function is called from a subroutine.

Examples

MLGetFigure(.50,.25)

imports the current MATLAB figure into Excel. The width of the figure
is half that of the original MATLAB figure and the height is quarter of
the original figure.

See Also

4-12

MLGetMatrix, MLGetVar

MLGetMatrix

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Write contents of MATLAB matrix in Excel worksheet

Worksheet:

MLGetMatrix(var_name, edat)

Macro:

MLGetMatrix var_name, edat

var_name

Name of MATLAB matrix to access."var_name" (in

quotation marks) directly specifies the matrix name.
var_name (without quotation marks) is an indirect
reference: the function evaluates the contents of
var_name to get the matrix name, and var_name
must be a worksheet cell address or range name.
var_name cannot be the MATLAB variable ans.

edat

Worksheet location where the function writes the

contents of var_name. "edat" (in quotation marks)
directly specifies the location and it must be a cell
address or a range name. edat (without quotation
marks) is an indirect reference: the function
evaluates the contents of edat to get the location,
and edat must be a worksheet cell address or range
name.

Writes the contents of MATLAB matrix var_name in the Excel

worksheet, beginning in the upper left cell specified by edat. If data
already exists in the specified worksheet cells, it is overwritten. If the
dimensions of the MATLAB matrix are larger than those of the specified
cells, the data will overflow into additional rows and columns.

Caution
edat must not include the cell that contains the MLGetMatrix function.

In other words, be careful not to overwrite the function itself. Also make
sure there is enough room in the worksheet to write the matrix contents.
If there is insufficient room, the function generates a fatal error.

4-13

MLGetMatrix

If edat is an explicit cell address and you later insert or delete rows
or columns, or move or copy the function to another cell, edit edat
to correct the address. Excel Link does not automatically adjust cell
addresses in MLGetMatrix.
If worksheet calculation mode is automatic, MLGetMatrix executes
when you enter the formula in a cell. If worksheet calculation mode is
manual, enter the MLGetMatrix function in a cell, then press F9 to
execute it. However, pressing F9 in this situation may also reexecute
other worksheet functions and generate unpredictable results.
If you use MLGetMatrix in a macro subroutine, enter MatlabRequest
on the line after the MLGetMatrix. MatlabRequest initializes internal
Excel Link variables and enables MLGetMatrix to function in a
subroutine. Do not include MatlabRequest in a macro function unless
the function is called from a subroutine.

Examples

MLGetMatrix("bonds", "Sheet2!C10")

writes the contents of the MATLAB matrix bonds starting in cell C10 of
Sheet2. If bonds is a 4-by-3 matrix, data fills cells C10..E13.
MLGetMatrix(B12, B13)

accesses the MATLAB matrix named as a string in worksheet cell B12

and writes the contents of the matrix in the worksheet starting at the
location named as a string in worksheet cell B13.
Sub Get_RangeA()
MLGetMatrix "A", "RangeA"
MatlabRequest
End Sub

writes the contents of MATLAB matrix A in the worksheet starting

at the cell named RangeA.
In addition, when using the MLGetMatrix function in an Excel macro,
you can use a range object returned by the VBA Cells function to

4-14

MLGetMatrix

specify where to place the data. To do this using the range objects
Address property:
Sub Get_Variable()
MLGetMatrix "X", Cells(3, 2).Address
MatlabRequest
End Sub

See Also

MLAppendMatrix, MLPutMatrix

4-15

MLGetVar

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Examples

Write contents of MATLAB matrix in Excel VBA variable

MLGetVar ML_var_name, VBA_var_name

ML_var_name

Name of MATLAB matrix to access.

"ML_var_name" (in quotation marks) directly
specifies the matrix name. ML_var_name
(without quotation marks) is an indirect
reference: the function evaluates the contents
of ML_var_name to get the matrix name,
and ML_var_name must be a VBA variable
containing the matrix name as a string.
var_name cannot be the MATLAB variable ans.

VBA_var_name

Name of VBA variable where the function

writes the contents of ML_var_name. Use
VBA_var_name without quotation marks.

Writes the contents of MATLAB matrix ML_var_name in the

Excel Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) variable VBA_var_name.
Creates VBA_var_name if it does not exist. Replaces existing data in
VBA_var_name.
Sub Fetch()
MLGetVar "J", DataJ
End Sub

writes the contents of MATLAB matrix J in the VBA variable named

DataJ.

See Also

4-16

MLPutVar

MLMissingDataAsNaN

Purpose
Syntax

Set empty cells to NaN or zero

Worksheet:

MLMissingDataAsNaN("yes")
MLMissingDataAsNaN("no") (Default)

Macro:

MLMissingDataAsNaN "yes"
MLMissingDataAsNaN "no" (Default)

Description

"yes"

Sets empty cells to use NaNs.

"no"

Sets empty cells to use 0s. (Default)

Sets empty cells to NaN or zero. When Excel Link is installed, the
default is "no" which means that empty cells are handled as 0s. If the
value of MLUseCellArray is changed to "yes", the change remains in
effect the next time Excel is started.

Note A string in an Excel range always forces cell array output and
empty cells as NaNs.

Examples

To cancel the use of NaNs for empty cells, enter

MLMissingDataAsNaN('no")

See Also

MLPutMatrix

4-17

MLOpen

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Start MATLAB process

Worksheet:

MLOpen()

Macro:

MLOpen

Starts MATLAB process. If a MATLAB process has already been

started, subsequent calls to MLOpen do nothing. Use MLOpen to restart
MATLAB after you have stopped it with MLClose in a given Excel
session.

Note We recommend using matlabinit rather than MLOpen, since

matlabinit starts MATLAB and initializes Excel Link.

Examples

MLOpen()

starts the MATLAB process.

See Also

4-18

matlabinit, MLClose

MLPutMatrix

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Create or overwrite MATLAB matrix with data from Excel worksheet

Worksheet:

MLPutMatrix(var_name, mdat)

Macro:

MLPutMatrix var_name, mdat

var_name

Name of MATLAB matrix to create or overwrite.

"var_name" (in quotation marks) directly specifies the
matrix name. var_name (without quotation marks)
is an indirect reference: the function evaluates the
contents of var_name to get the matrix name, and
var_name must be a worksheet cell address or range
name.

mdat

Location of data to copy into var_name. mdat (no

quotation marks). Must be a worksheet cell address
or range name.

Creates or overwrites matrix var_name in MATLAB workspace with

specified data in mdat. Creates var_name if it does not exist. If
var_name already exists, this function replaces the contents with mdat.
Empty numeric data cells within the range of mdat become numeric
zeros within the MATLAB matrix identified by var_name.
If any element of mdat contains string data, mdat is exported as a
MATLAB cell array. Empty string elements within the range of mdat
become NaNs within the MATLAB cell array.
To use MLPutMatrix in a subroutine, you must indicate the source of the
worksheet data using the Excel macro Range. For example:
Sub test()
MLPutMatrix "a", Range("A1:A3")
End Sub

If you have a named range in your worksheet, you can use the name
instead of actually specifying the range. For example:

4-19

MLPutMatrix

Sub test()
MLPutMatrix "a", Range("temp")
End Sub

where temp is a named range in your worksheet.

Examples

MLPutMatrix("A", A1:C3)

Creates or overwrites matrix A in the MATLAB workspace with the

data in the worksheet range A1:C3.

See Also

4-20

MLAppendMatrix, MLGetMatrix

MLPutVar

Purpose
Syntax

Description

Create or overwrite MATLAB matrix with data from Excel VBA variable

MLPutVar ML_var_name, VBA_var_name

ML_var_name

Name of MATLAB matrix to create or overwrite.

"ML_var_name" (in quotation marks) directly
specifies the matrix name. ML_var_name (without
quotation marks) is an indirect reference: the
function evaluates the contents of ML_var_name
to get the matrix name, and ML_var_name must
be a VBA variable containing the matrix name
as a string.

VBA_var_name

Name of VBA variable whose contents are written

to ML_var_name. Use VBA_var_name without
quotation marks.

Creates or overwrites matrix ML_var_name in MATLAB workspace with

data in VBA_var_name. Creates ML_var_name if it does not exist. If
ML_var_name already exists, this function replaces the contents with
data from VBA_var_name. Use MLPutVar only in a macro subroutine, not
in a macro function or in a subroutine called by a function.
Empty numeric data cells within VBA_var_name become numeric zeros
within the MATLAB matrix identified by ML_var_name.
If any element of VBA_var_name contains string data, VBA_var_name
is exported as a MATLAB cell array. Empty string elements within
VBA_var_name become NaNs within the MATLAB cell array.

Examples

Sub Put()
MLPutVar "K", DataK
End Sub

creates or overwrites MATLAB matrix K with the data in the Excel

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) variable DataK.

4-21

MLPutVar

See Also

4-22

MLGetVar

MLShowMatlabErrors

Purpose

Return standard Excel Link errors or full MATLAB errors using

MLEvalString

Syntax

Worksheet:

MLShowMatlabErrors("yes")
MLShowMatlabErrors("no") (Default)

Macro:

MLShowMatlabErrors "yes"
MLShowMatlabErrors "no" (Default)

Description
Examples

"yes"

Displays the full MATLAB error string in Excel

upon MLEvalString failure.

"no"

Displays the standard Excel Link errors in Excel

upon MLEvalString failure.

Sets the error display mode of Excel Link when executing MATLAB
commands using MLEvalString.
MLShowMatlabErrors("no")

will cause MLEvalString failures to show standard Excel Link errors

such as #COMMAND!.
MLShowMatlabErrors("yes")

Will cause MLEvalString failures to show MATLAB error strings, for

example:
???

See Also

Undefined function or variable 'foo'

MLEvalString

4-23

MLStartDir

Purpose
Syntax

Specify MATLAB current working directory after startup

Worksheet:

MLStartDir(path)

Macro:

MLStartDir path

path

Specify the current MATLAB working directory

after startup.

Description

Sets the working directory for MATLAB after startup. Note this
function does not work like the standard Windows Start In setting in
that it will not automatically run any startup.m or matlabrc.m found
in the directory specified.

Examples

To set the MATLAB working directory to d:\work after startup, run:

MLStartDir ( d:\work )

If your directory path includes a space, embed the path in single

quotation marks within double quotation marks. For example, to set
the MATLAB working directory to d:\my work, run:
MLStartDir ( 'd:\my work' )

See Also

4-24

MLAutoStart

MLUseCellArray

Purpose
Syntax

Toggle MLPutMatrix to use cell arrays in MATLAB

Worksheet:

MLUseCellArray("yes")
MLUseCellArray ("no")

Macro:

MLUseCellArray "yes"
MLUseCellArray "no"

"yes"

Automatically uses cell arrays for transfer of data

structures.

"no"

Do not automatically use cell arrays for transfer of

data (default).

Description

Using MLUseCellArray forces MLPutMatrix to use cell arrays for

transfer of data (for example, dates). When Excel Link is installed, the
default is "no". If the value of MLUseCellArray is changed to "yes", the
change remains in effect the next time Excel is started.

Examples

To cancel automatic use of cell arrays for easy transfer of data, enter
MLUseCellArray("no")

See Also

MLPutMatrix

4-25

MLUseFullDesktop

Purpose

Syntax

Specify whether to use full MATLAB desktop or MATLAB Command

window

Worksheet:

MLUseFullDesktop("yes")
MLUseFullDesktop("no")

Macro:

MLUseFullDesktop "yes"
MLUseFullDesktop "no"

Description
Examples

"yes"

Start MATLAB with the full desktop.

"no"

Start MATLAB with the Command window only.

Sets MATLAB to start with the full desktop or Command window only.
When Excel Link is installed, the default is "yes".
MLUseFullDesktop("no")

will cause MATLAB to start with the command window only.

See Also

4-26

matlabinit, MLClose, MLOpen

A
Error Messages and
Troubleshooting
This appendix covers the following topics:
Excel Cell Error Messages (p. A-2)

Error messages displayed in a

worksheet cell

Error Messages (p. A-6)

Excel error messages and their

meanings

Audible Error Signals (p. A-10)

Audible error signals while passing

data to MATLAB

Data Errors (p. A-11)

Undesirable data characteristics

Error Messages and Troubleshooting

Excel Cell Error Messages

Excel may display one of these error messages in a worksheet cell.
In the following table of Excel cell error messages, the first column contains
the message provided by Excel. The error messages all begin with the number
sign #. Most end with an exclamation point ! or with a question mark ?.
Excel Cell Error Messages
Excel Cell
Error Message

A-2

Meaning

Solution

#COLS>#MAXCOLS!

Your MATLAB variable exceeds

the Excel limit of #MAXCOLS!
columns.

This is a limitation in Excel. Try

the computation with a variable
containing fewer columns.

#COMMAND!

MATLAB does not recognize the

command in an MLEvalString
function. The command may be
misspelled.

Verify the spelling of the MATLAB

command. Correct typing errors.

#DIMENSION!

You used MLAppendMatrix and

the dimensions of the appended
data do not match the dimensions
of the matrix you want to append.

Verify the matrix dimensions and

the appended data dimensions,
and correct the argument. See
MLAppendMatrix in Chapter 4,
Functions Alphabetical List.

#INVALIDNAME!

You entered an illegal variable

name.

Make sure to use legal MATLAB

variable names. MATLAB
variable names must start with a
letter followed by up to 30 letters,
digits, or underscores.

#INVALIDTYPE!

You have specified an illegal

MATLAB data type with
MLGetVar or MLGetMatrix.

For a list of supported MATLAB

data types, see Data Types
in the MATLAB Programming
documentation.

#MATLAB?

You used an Excel Link function

and MATLAB is not running.

Start Excel Link and MATLAB.

See Starting and Stopping Excel
Link on page 1-8.

Excel Cell Error Messages

Excel Cell Error Messages (Continued)

Excel Cell
Error Message

Meaning

Solution

#NAME?

Excel doesnt recognize

the function name. The
excllink.xla add-in is not
loaded, or the function name may
be misspelled.

Be sure the excllink.xla add-in

is loaded. See Configuring Excel
Link on page 1-5. Check the
spelling of the function name.
Correct typing errors.

#NONEXIST!

You referenced a nonexistent

matrix in an MLGetMatrix or
MLDeleteMatrix function. The
matrix name may be misspelled.

Verify the spelling of the MATLAB

matrix. Use the MATLAB whos
command to display existing
matrices. Correct typing errors.

#ROWS>#MAXROWS!

Your MATLAB variable exceeds

the Excel limit of #MAXROWS!
rows.

This is a limitation in Excel. Try

the computation with a variable
containing fewer rows.

#SYNTAX?

You entered an Excel Link

function with incorrect syntax;
for example, the double quotation
marks (") may be missing, or
you used single quotation marks
() instead of double quotation
marks.

Verify and correct the function

syntax. See Chapter 4, Functions
Alphabetical List for function
syntax.

#VALUE!

An argument is missing from a

function, or a function argument
is the wrong type.

Supply the correct number of

function arguments, of the correct
type.

#VALUE!

A macro subroutine uses

MLGetMatrix followed by
MatlabRequest, which is correct
standard usage. A macro function
calls that subroutine, and you
execute that function from a
worksheet cell. The function
works correctly, but this message
appears in the cell.

Since the function works

correctly, you may ignore the
message. Or, in this special case,
remove MatlabRequest from the
subroutine.

A-3

Error Messages and Troubleshooting

Note When you open an Excel worksheet that contains Excel Link functions,
Excel tries to execute the functions from the bottom up and right to left, thus
possibly generating cell error messages (#COMMAND!, #NONEXIST!, etc.). Such
behavior is usual for Excel. Simply ignore the messages, close any MATLAB
figure windows, and reexecute the cell functions one at a time in the correct
order by pressing F2, then Enter.

A-4

Error Messages and Troubleshooting

Error Messages
Excel may display one of these error message boxes.
The first column of this table shows the error messages. The first three are
from Excel, and the last one is from the license manager.
The second column 2 indicates the type of error that caused the message
box to appear.
The third column proposes a solution for the error.
Excel Error Message Boxes
Excel Error Message Box

A-6

Meaning

Solution

You entered a formula

incorrectly. Common errors
include a space between the
function name and the left
parenthesis; or missing, extra,
or mismatched parentheses.

Check entry and correct typing

errors.

You tried to execute a

macro and the location of
excllink.xla is incorrect.

Click OK. The References

window opens. Remove
the check from MISSING:
excllink.xla. Find
excllink.xla in its correct
location, select its check box
in the References window, and
click OK.

You used MLGetMatrix and the

matrix is larger than the space
available in the worksheet.
This error destabilizes Excel
Link and changes worksheet
calculation mode to manual.

Click OK. Reset worksheet

calculation mode to automatic
and save your worksheet (if
desired). Close Excel and
MATLAB. Restart Excel, Excel
Link, and MATLAB.

Error Messages

Excel Error Message Boxes (Continued)

Excel Error Message Box

Meaning

Solution

The license passcode that you

entered was invalid.

Check that you entered the

license passcode properly. If
you used a proper passcode
and you are still unable to
start Excel Link, contact your
MathWorks representative.

This message appears when

an attempt to connect to Excel
from Database Toolbox fails.

Make sure that the Excel

spreadsheet referenced by the
data source exists, then retry
the connection.

A-7

Error Messages and Troubleshooting

Excel Error Message Boxes

Excel Error Message Box

Meaning

Solution

If more than one version

of MATLAB is installed
on your desktop, when
you attempt to start the
MATLAB automation
server from Microsoft
Excel, you receive this
error.

To correct this error, perform the

following:
1 Shut down all instances of MATLAB

and Microsoft Excel.

2 Open a Command Prompt window,

and using cd, change to the

bin\win32 subdirectory of your
MATLAB 7.0 installation directory.
3 Type the command

.\matlab /regserver
4 When MATLAB starts, close it.

Using /regserver fixes the registry

entries.
5 Start Microsoft Excel. Excel Link

should now load properly.

6 Verify that Excel Link is working by

entering the following command from

the MATLAB Command Window:
a = 3.14159
7 In the open instance of Microsoft

Excel, enter the following formula

in cell A1:
=mlgetmatrix("a","a1")
8 The value 3.14159 appears in cell A1.

A-8

Error Messages and Troubleshooting

Audible Error Signals

Audible error signals while passing data to MATLAB with MLPutMatrix
or MLAppendMatrix usually mean you have insufficient computer memory
to carry out the operation. Close other applications or clear unnecessary
variables from the MATLAB workspace and try again. If the error signal
reoccurs, you probably have insufficient physical memory in your computer
for this operation.

A-10

Data Errors

Data Errors
In this section...
Matrix Data Errors on page A-11
Errors When Opening Saved Worksheets on page A-11

Matrix Data Errors

Data in the MATLAB or Excel workspaces may produce the following errors.
Data Errors
Data Error

Cause

Solution

MATLAB matrix cells

contain zeros (0).

Corresponding Excel worksheet

cells are empty.

Excel worksheet cells must

contain only numeric or string
data.

MATLAB matrix is a
1-by-1 zero matrix.

You used quotation marks

around the data-location
argument in MLPutMatrix or
MLAppendMatrix.

Correct the syntax to remove

quotation marks.

MATLAB matrix is
empty ([ ]).

You referenced a nonexistent

VBA variable in MLPutVar.

Correct the macro; you may

have typed the variable name
incorrectly.

VBA matrix is empty.

You referenced a nonexistent

MATLAB variable in MLGetVar.

Correct the macro; you may

have typed the variable name
incorrectly.

Errors When Opening Saved Worksheets

This section describes errors that you may encounter when opening saved
worksheets.
When you open an Excel worksheet that contains Excel Link functions,
Excel tries to execute the functions from the bottom up and right to left,
thus possibly generating cell error messages (#COMMAND!, #NONEXIST!, etc.).

A-11

Error Messages and Troubleshooting

Such behavior is usual for Excel. Simply ignore the messages, close any
MATLAB figure windows, and reexecute the cell functions one at a time in
the correct order by pressing F2, and then Enter.
If you save an Excel worksheet containing Excel Link functions and later
open it under a different computer environment where the excllink.xla
add-in is in a different location, Excel may display a message box.

To address this issue, do the following:

a Click No.
b Select Edit > Links.
c In the Links dialog box, click Change Source.
d In the Change Links dialog box, find and select excllink.xla under
matlabroot/toolbox/exlink and click OK.
Excel executes each function as it changes its link. You may see
MATLAB figure windows and hear error beeps as the links change and
functions execute; ignore them.
e Back in the Links dialog box, click OK. The worksheet now correctly
connects to the Excel Link add-in.
Or, instead of using the Links menu, you can manually edit the link
location in each affected worksheet cell to show the correct location of
excllink.xla.

A-12