# Thoughts on client/matlab window

**URL:** <https://mworks.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-client-matlab-window/603>\
**Category:** Support\
**Created:** [April 11, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-client-matlab-window/603 "2012-04-11T14:09:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cstawarz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/mworks.discourse.group/cstawarz/32/3_2.png) [@cstawarz](https://mworks.discourse.group/u/cstawarz)\
**Post date:** [April 11, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-client-matlab-window/603/1 "2012-04-11T14:09:42Z")

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Chris,

I’ve done a little thinking about my preferred interface for the  
matlab plugin and client.

First, it would be nice if there was a ‘reload experiment’ client  
button that would cause everything to be reset (incl matlab state) but  
all the client windows - python, matlab, variables, etc. would stay in  
the same position and state. (right now we have a labjack plugin bug  
that prevents unloading; we should and will fix that).  
Reason: we want matlab state (and things like the success/failure  
MWorks variables) to be reset between animals, and just loading a  
different var set doesn’t do that.

It would be great if the matlab window could somehow have an option to  
save state across experiment reload. Haven’t thought about this  
deeply but it would be nice to be able to fix bugs in the XML without  
blowing away the record of the current session - which is maintained  
in matlab for me.

The Matlab window, if it’s going to retain an Events list, should have  
a separate one for each experiment. I’m hoping it can just ship every  
event over and efficiency/time reasons won’t prevent that. And it  
should also change the matlab script name based on the experiment  
name.

It would be great if there was a hotkey for saving the variable set.  
And a recent variables menu for loading (in the top menu bar).  
I really would like a way to turn the window animation off - today  
when I was debugging I probably restarted the client 50 times and  
clicking through definitely makes me annoyed at MWorks (the tech who  
has been running animals shares this view). We want users to feel  
happy with MWorks… 🙂

Also it would be nice if the Python bridge window scrolled to the  
bottom on output.

Maybe you should stop by here sometime to see how we use this; it  
might make our use cases clearer.

thanks!!!  
Mark

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cstawarz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/mworks.discourse.group/cstawarz/32/3_2.png) [@cstawarz](https://mworks.discourse.group/u/cstawarz)\
**Post date:** [November 20, 2013, 7:46pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-client-matlab-window/603/2 "2013-11-20T19:46:25Z")

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Hi Mark,

> First, it would be nice if there was a ‘reload experiment’ client button that would cause everything to be reset (incl matlab state) but all the client windows - python, matlab, variables, etc. would stay in the same position and state.

Am I correct to assume that [task definition file](https://mworks.discourse.group/discussions/suggestions/73) support obviates your need for this, or do you see it addressing use cases that TDFs do not?

> It would be great if the matlab window could somehow have an option to save state across experiment reload.

Makes sense – I’ve opened a [ticket](http://mworks.lighthouseapp.com/projects/46537/tickets/16).

> The Matlab window, if it’s going to retain an Events list, should have a separate one for each experiment. I’m hoping it can just ship every event over and efficiency/time reasons won’t prevent that. And it should also change the matlab script name based on the experiment name.

Again, I assume TDFs meet your needs here.

> It would be great if there was a hotkey for saving the variable set.

OK, I’ll tack this on to the [“make client more keyboard friendly”](http://mworks.lighthouseapp.com/projects/23612/tickets/26) to-do item.

> And a recent variables menu for loading (in the top menu bar)

Again, I’m guessing TDFs cover your use case (but correct me if I’m wrong).

> I really would like a way to turn the window animation off

Do you mean the variable set selection panel (meaning this is part of the previous request)?

Thanks,  
Chris

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cstawarz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/mworks.discourse.group/cstawarz/32/3_2.png) [@cstawarz](https://mworks.discourse.group/u/cstawarz)\
**Post date:** [November 21, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-client-matlab-window/603/3 "2013-11-21T14:23:25Z")

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Hi Chris,

I agree with all your points below. TDFs cover all the cases you mention. The window animation stuff I now address by setting Mac OS X defaults. We still get missed frames warnings on window minimization and some popups, but they’re rare enough that I don’t worry about them.

And a “Save variable set” hotkey would be great!

Mark

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cstawarz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex031/user_avatar/mworks.discourse.group/cstawarz/32/3_2.png) [@cstawarz](https://mworks.discourse.group/u/cstawarz)\
**Post date:** [July 19, 2022, 11:21pm UTC](https://mworks.discourse.group/t/thoughts-on-client-matlab-window/603/4 "2022-07-19T23:21:14Z")

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Closed on July 19, 2022, 11:21pm UTC


