MATLAB error message "This statement is not inside any function."

Question

I am trying to define a simple function and then call it:

   function p=MyExp(N);
      p=[ 1 ]; % 0th order polynomial. 
      for k=1:N
         pk=1/(factorial(k));
         p=[pk,1];
      end
   end


   poly3=MyExp(3);
   disp (poly3)

MATLAB is returning a message: Error: File: matlab_labIII_3_I.m Line: 10 Column: 1 This statement is not inside any function. (It follows the END that terminates the definition of the function "MyExp".)

This script works well on OCTAVE!

Thanks

What is matlab_labIII_3_I.m and how does it relate to MyExp? — Marcin
– Marcin, Commented Dec 7, 2014 at 22:45

score 10 · Accepted Answer · 2014-12-07 23:19:29Z

10

If you use functions in a Matlab script, you are expected to have all code inside of function(s), of which there can be more than one. Similar products (Octave and Scilab) do not have this restriction.

There's an easy way out with minimal change of code: wrap the non-function code into a function, and invoke that. The main function should appear first in the script.

function MyProgram()
   poly3=MyExp(3);
   disp (poly3)
end 

function p=MyExp(N);
      p=[ 1 ]; % 0th order polynomial. 
      for k=1:N
         pk=1/(factorial(k));
         p=[pk,1];
      end
end

Also, when you use functions, Matlab expects the name of your file to match the name of the function to be called. So, the file should be named MyProgram.m (or whatever your main function is named).

edited Dec 7, 2014 at 23:19

answered Dec 7, 2014 at 23:06

user3717023

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6 Comments

icypy Over a year ago

So you are saying that each defined function needs to live in its own script?

user3717023 Over a year ago

No, you can have two or more functions in the script. I said that as soon as you have a function there, everything must be within some function.

user3717023 Over a year ago

Also, I should have said that the main function is expected to be the first one.

icypy Over a year ago

This is very non intuitive as I come from the Python world, but I have a math assignment in MATLAB. This MATLAB constrain is very disappointing. I like defining functions at the beginning of my script and use them later on, in the same script (as I do in python). Thanks for the fast and informative answer.

user3717023 Over a year ago

I find it nonintuitive and disappointing too. :) Matlab has a long line of development and sticks to some conventions from the 80s. Many users split their task into a bunch of .m files holding one function each...

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