Known Software and Documentation Problems

This document describes important known software and documentation problems:

Communications Blockset

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Error Rate Calculation Block Cannot Send Data to Workspace
Parameters in RF Satellite Link Demo Should Not Be Tuned
Several Communications Blockset Blocks Are Incompatible with Real-Time Workshop
Several Communications Blockset Demos Are Incompatible with Real-Time Workshop

Error Rate Calculation Block Cannot Send Data to Workspace

In the Error Rate Calculation block, if you set "Output data" to "Workspace" and run the simulation, the block fails to create the workspace variable. As a workaround, set "Output data" to "Port" and attach a Signal to Workspace block (from the DSP Blockset).

Parameters in RF Satellite Link Demo Should Not Be Tuned

Parameters in the RF Satellite Link Demo (rf_satlink), including those accessible using the "RF Link Demo: Settings" block, must not be changed while the simulation is running. This problem will be investigated before the final release of Version 3.0.

Several Communications Blockset Blocks Are Incompatible with Real-Time Workshop

Blocks in the CPM sublibrary of the Digital Baseband sublibrary of the Modulation library are incompatible with Real-Time Workshop. As a result, Real-Time Workshop cannot generate code for models that include these blocks.

Several Communications Blockset Demos Are Incompatible with Real-Time Workshop

Several Communications Blockset demos are incompatible with Real-Time Workshop. As a result, Real-Time Workshop cannot generate code for these demos:

Curve Fitting

Problems with Window Manager fvwm and JVM 1.3

Dialog boxes do not display titles and are sometimes missing text and controls using the fvwm window manager and JVM 1.3.

Database Toolbox

Viewing Results of VQB Query in Array Editor Requires Extra Click

When you run a query in the VQB and double-click the resulting variable in the Data field, the variable opens in the Array Editor. The content should display, but instead metadata displays. This will be fixed in the final release. You can double-click a cell in the Array Editor to display the content of that cell. As an alternative to viewing the results in the Array Editor, type the variable name in the Command Window, which displays the content.

Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Build Process Fails if Command Line Too Long
DSP Blocks and the Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555
ET MPC555 Real-Time Options May Not Fully Take Effect
Optimization Settings Cannot be Changed from 'debug'

Build Process Fails if Command Line Too Long

gmake may fail to build certain models, such as the demo model mpc555rt_ccp.mdl, if the directory name of your MATLAB installation is too long (more than 20 characters). We recommend using an installation directory name of MATLAB6p5 or equivalent.

DSP Blocks and the Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555

When using DSP blocks in your Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555 model you may experience the problems below.

Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555 Real-Time Options May Not Fully Take Effect

When configuring settings, Target specific options and/or Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555 real-time options(1) and (2), the new settings may not fully take effect.

To work around this problem, you must change these settings via the "Launch old simprm dialog..." control.

For example, to set the compiler optimization mode to "debug"

Simulation --> Parameters
Select Target specific options tab.
Press Launch old simprm dialog... button.
Select ET MPC555 real-time options (1) from the drop down.
Select optimize compiler for debug.

Optimization Settings Cannot Be Changed from 'debug'

All compiler settings will be optimized for debug in the Beta 2 Release of the Embedded Target for Motorola MPC555, regardless of what you set for the 'Compiler optimization switches' parameter (in the target-specific Real-Time Workshop options in the Model Explorer).

MATLAB

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Array Editor Print Selection Not Working Correctly
Problems with depfun, depdir, and profile for Graphics Functions
Can't Change to the Top Level Directory of a UNC Path
Command Window Find and Incremental Search Not Working
Editor Datatips Show Values for Base Workspace Variables While Editing Functions
Font Not Found Warning on Linux Platforms
Gray Background Color in Editor
Help and Dependency Reports Will Not Run
Keys Misinterpreted on Linux with XFree86 4.x
Nested quantifiers in regexp can cause inefficient failures
No Immediate Feedback when Cutting From Current Directory Browser
Problem Using Array Editor Edit Menu Items for Selection Within Cell
Save Profiler Results Using This Workaround
Solaris Non-Modal Dialog Boxes Do Not Stay on Top of Parent Dialog Box
Viewlet Playback Demos Do Not Work Using UNC Paths
When M-file Includes input Command, MATLAB Appears to Be Hung
Drag and Drop from Figure Palette on Linux
Plotting Tools Not Working on Macintosh
Using -nojvm Option Prevents Plotting Tools Use
Copy and Paste Figure as Bitmap Problem
Undo Not Working in All Cases
Print -dbitmap Not Working
Cannot Save Figure with Data Tips

Array Editor Print Selection Not Working Correctly

When you select the new Array Editor feature, File -> Print Selection, the printout is incomplete.

Problems with depfun, depdir, and profile for Graphics Functions

This problem, introduced in Version 6.5, still exists in Beta 2. When you run the depfun function for a file that uses graphics functions, such as legend, MATLAB might crash. You might also experience the problem when you run depdir or profile.

Can't Change to the Top Level Directory of a UNC Path

For Windows platforms, you cannot use cd or any directory tool in the MATLAB desktop (including the Current Directory browser and Set Path dialog box) to access the top level of a UNC (Universal Naming Convention) path.

Command Window Find and Incremental Search Not Working

In Beta 2, the Edit -> Find and Incremental Search features are not working in the Command Window.

Editor Datatips Show Values for Base Workspace Variables While Editing Functions

While editing an M-file function in the Editor, if you hover over a variable that also exists in the base workspace, the datatip displays the value of the base workspace variable, not the value of the variable in the funtion M-file. To avoid confusion, select File -> Preferences -> Display, and for General Display Options, clear the check mark for Enable datatips in edit mode.

Font Not Found Warning on Linux Platforms

For some Linux configurations, on MATLAB startup, several warnings of the form:

Font specified in font.properties not found ...

might appear in the Command Window. This happens because the JVM cannot find required fonts. It does not affect MATLAB performance. To resolve the problem, update your Linux system to include XFree 4.x.

Gray Background Color in Editor

For some UNIX platforms, the background color in the Editor/Debugger is gray. By default, MATLAB uses system colors, which for some windows managers, is gray. To change the color, select File -> Preferences -> Colors and clear the check box for Use system colors. Then select a new Background color from the palette.

Help and Dependency Reports Will Not Run

In the Current Directory browser, if you run the Help Report or the Dependency Report and select the option to Show subfunctions, the reports will not be generated if any of the files in the directory produce a runtime error.

Keys Misinterpreted on Linux with XFree86 4.x

On Linux platforms with XFree86 4.x, when Num Lock is on, keys you type might be interpreted as hot keys instead of normal characters. This is because the keystrokes arrive in MATLAB with the META flag set. If you encounter this problem, turn off Num Lock.

Nested quantifiers in regexp can cause inefficient failures

If a regular expression contains a parenthesized subexpression which is quantified, and the inner expression is quantified as well, for example '(.+)+'; it can take the parser a long time to determine that a match can not be made. The computational complexity of this problem is exponential with the number of characters in the string that must be tested. In most practical applications, it is not difficult to rewrite the inner expression to be more specific such that each backup doesn't introduce a new set of matches for the outer loop.

No Immediate Feedback when Cutting From Current Directory Browser

If you cut a file from the Current Directory browser, and then paste the file into a file system browser outside of MATLAB, such as Windows Explorer, the file remains in its original folder; the cut is effectively a copy. Use Delete in the Current Directory browser to remove the file from its original location.

Problem Using Array Editor Edit Menu Items for Selection Within Cell

You cannot use the Array Editor Cut and Copy items in the Edit menu when you select a portion of the contents in a cell. They act on the entire cell. Instead use Ctrl+V or Ctrl+C, or the context menu items.

Save Profiler Results Using This Workaround

In MATLAB 7.0, you cannot save Profiler results for later use by using the Profiler graphical interface. But you can issue the following function to save the results to a file. After profiling, run profinfo = profile('info') save profile_results profinfo Later, reload the results from the file by running load profile_results profview(0,profinfo).

Solaris Non-Modal Dialog Boxes Do Not Stay on Top of Parent Dialog Box

On Solaris platforms, non-modal dialog boxes do not stay on top of the parent window. This is especially problematic when the non-modal dialog is completely within the MATLAB desktop area and you then click on the desktop or minimize MATLAB; it is difficult to find the non-modal dialog again. To avoid that situation, keep non-modal dialogs at least partially outside of the MATLAB desktop area.

Viewlet Playback Demos Do Not Work Using UNC Paths

Viewlet playback demos do not work with Universal Naming Convention (UNC) paths on Windows or Linux platforms for certain Internet browser versions, such as Internet Explorer 5.5 or Netscape 6.2. To make the viewlets play in the browser, map a drive to the specified path for MATLAB (for example, using Windows Explorer).

When M-file Includes input Command, MATLAB Appears to Be Hung

When you run an M-file that contains an input function, MATLAB waits for the user to enter data. However, if the Command Window is hidden behind another window, such as a Figure window, the user might not realize MATLAB is waiting and it appears MATLAB is hung. Bring the Command Window forward and provide input to continue.

Drag and Drop from Figure Palette on Linux

The ability to drag and drop workspace variables from the Figure Palette into an axes, and thereby generate a plot is not enabled on Linux systems.

Plotting Tools Not Working on Macintosh

The plotting tools not supported on the Macintosh platform. This means the Figure Palette, Plot Browser, and Property Editor do not work these platforms. To use the MATLAB 6 Property Editor, see the propedit command.

Using -nojvm Option Prevents Plotting Tools Use

If you use the -nojvn option when starting MATLAB, the plotting tools are not available.

Copy and Paste Figure as Bitmap Problem

If you set your MS-Windows copy options to use a bitmap format, you cannot copy and paste MATLAB figures. As a work around, use a vector format.

Undo Not Working in All Cases

The feature (Undo item on the Edit menu) does not always work correctly when using to undo operations performed with the plotting tools.

Print -dbitmap Not Working

The -dbitmap option to the print command is not working in Beta 2. See the print reference page for other print options.

Cannot Save Figure with Data Tips

You cannot create a .fig file using hgsave if the figure contains data tips.

Real-Time Workshop

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Building Subsystem with Continuous Inherited Sample Time Does Not Honor Step Size
Closing a Model During Code Generation Causes Segmentation Violation
For Iterator Block Produces Uncompilable Code
Included Files Documentation Error
Look-Up Table 2-D Does Not Support Changing Number of Repeated Zeros/Points
Redefining Doubles as Floats with "-DREAL_T=float" Option Is Not Reliable

Building Subsystem with Continuous Inherited Sample Time Does Not Honor Step Size

In Version 5.x, when Building a Subsystem (right-click command) that has continuous sample time and inherited sample time, any Step Size set by the user in the Simulation Parameter Solver dialog will fail to be honored. Instead, the default step size (stop time / 50) is used. This problem does not occur when building the entire model.

Closing a Model During Code Generation Causes Segmentation Violation

If you attempt to close a model during while Real-Time Workshop is generating code or the code is beig compiled, unpredictable things may happen, up to and including segmentation violations. We plan on addressing this issue in a future release, but when using the current release and all prior releases, please do not close a model while a build is in process.

For Iterator Block Produces Uncompilable Code

The For iterator block produces uncompilable code when expression folding is on. Expression folding removes all code that would be in the output function and hence the system is completely empty.

Included Files Documentation Error

Page 9 of the shipped version of Real-Time Workshop 5.0 Release Notes indicates that in generated code, model_private.h is sub- included by model.h. This is incorrect; model.h does not include model_private.h.

The section "Application Modules for Application Components" on page 7- 33 of the Program Architecture chapter of the Real-Time Workshop documentation also incorrectly states that model_private.h is sub-included by model.h.

On page 2-9 of “Getting Started with Real-Time Workshop” the section “Building an Application: Summary of Files Created by the Build Procedure” also incorrectly states that model.h includes model_private.h. The diagram of file inclusions in Figure 2- 12 on page 2-50 is correct, however.

Look-Up Table 2-D Does Not Support Changing Number of Repeated Zeros/Points

When code is generated for the Look-Up Table 2-D or Look-Up Table 1-D block for floating-point parameters with binary search, extrapolation, and linear interpolation selected, the number and position of repeated zeros is generated explicitly into the generated code. If the breakpoint parameters are then tuned in the real-time code during execution and the number or position of repeated zeros changes, the generated code will in most cases get an incorrect answer when the input for that breakpoint set is near zero.

The workaround is to avoid this problem, do not change the number or position of reapated zeros in breakpoint parameters for the Look-Up Table 1-D and Look-Up Table 2-D blocks.

Redefining Doubles as Floats with "-DREAL_T=float" Option Is Not Reliable

Under Compiler Options on page 9-45 of the Real-Time Workshop Users Guide for Version 5, the following tip is given: "If you do not require double precision for your application, define real_T as float in your template make file, or you can simply specify -DREAL_T=float after make_rtw in the Make command field."

This documentation is not correct. Various circumstances (such as the presence of literal constants) can cause this strategy to fail to remove all doubles from the generated code. The only reliable way to be sure that doubles are absent is to formally propagate single-precision signals in the Simulink model.

Real-Time Workshop Embedded Coder

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Make Compilation Failure with Some ERT Template Makefiles
Open MPT Dialog Interferes with Configuration Parameters Dialog

Make Compilation Failure with Some ERT Template Makefiles

The build process can fail during the make compilation phase when all of the following conditions are true: (1) The selected system target file is ert.tlc; (2) the selected template make file is not one of the following: ert_unix.tmf, ert_vc.tmf or ert_lcc.tmf; (3) the "TLC options" edit field of the RTW General options page on the Configuration Parameters window is not empty.

There are two possible temporary workarounds. One is to delete all options from the the "TLC options" edit field. Alternatively, edit matlabroot/rtw/c/ert/ert.tlc and change the 1 to 0 in the following line:

%assign GenUtilsSrcInSharedLocation = 1

This problem will be fixed in the final release.

Open MPT Dialog Interferes with Configuration Parameters Dialog

After clicking the MPT block on a model, if you select Configuration Parameters on the Simulation menu, the Configuration Parameters dialog box does not open. And, then the model will not close. For Beta 2, here is the workaround:
  1. With the model open, select Model Explorer on the Tools menu (or type daexplr on the MATLAB command line). The Model Explorer dialog box appears.
  2. In the Model Hierarchy (left) pane, select the model. The tab selections that are on the Configuration Parameters dialog box are now accessible as items in the middle pane of the Model Explorer dialog box.
  3. Make the desired selections.
This is planned to be fixed after Beta 2.

Signal Processing Toolbox

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

FVTool Figure Not Refreshed on LINUX
FVTool Frequency Range Error after Changing Frequency Units
Incorrect Units When Converting Between PS and PSD Plots
Using zerophase with Odd Number of Points Causes an Error

FVTool Figure Not Refreshed on LINUX

On Linux systems, turning the FVTool grid off or on causes the x-axis and y-axis labels to disappear. The labels also disappear when switching from one response to another. To redraw the labels, resize the GUI.

FVTool Frequency Range Error after Changing Frequency Units

If you use set on an FVTool object to change the frequency units and then use get to obtain the frequency range, an error occurs.

Incorrect Units When Converting Between PS and PSD Plots

When converting from a power spectral density (PSD) to a power spectrum (PS) or vice versa, the plot units do not change to the appropriate units for the converted plot. The units remain the same as the units of the original data.

Using zerophase with Odd Number of Points Causes an Error

Using the zerophase function with an odd number of points causes the function to error.

Simulink

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Cannot Break Library Links in a Configurable Subsystem
Changing a Subsystem I/O Port Number Can Corrupt a Model
Deadzone Block Outputs Different Result in Simulation and Code Generation
Disabling the Link to a Linked Subsystem While the Library is Being Edited
Extract Bits Block Incorrectly Handles Boolean Inputs
Help ->Blocksets Submenu Sometimes Fails to Appear
N-D Lookup Table Block Does Incomplete Error Checking
Repeating Sequence Block's Output Differs Slightly from Windows to Linux
S-Function Builder Causes MATLAB to Hang If mex Is Not Set Up Correctly
Saturation block output different result on different platform if input is Nan
Zero Sample Time Limitation on Discretizing Models in the S Domain

Cannot Break Library Links in a Configurable Subsystem

Simulink does not allow you to break library links in a configurable subsystem because Simulink needs the links to reconfigure the subsystem when you choose a new configuration. Breaking links would be useful only if you never intended to reconfigure the subsystem in which case you could simply replace the configurable subsystem with a nonconfigurable subsystem that implements the permanent configuration.

Changing a Subsystem I/O Port Number Can Corrupt a Model

Changing the number of an input or output port number in a subsystem can cause an extra port to be added to the subsystem block in the parent system.

To fix the problem:

  1. Copy the contents of the subsystem to the clipboard.
  2. Delete the old subsystem block.
  3. Create a new subsystem block in its place.
  4. Copy the contents from the clipboard to the subsystem.
  5. Reconnect the subsystem.

Deadzone Block Outputs Different Result in Simulation and Code Generation

In simulation, the Deadzone block outputs NaN when input is NaN while it outputs 0 in Real-Time Workshop code generation. This bug is planned to be fixed in a future release.

Disabling the Link to a Linked Subsystem While the Library is Being Edited

If the link to a subsystem is disabled while the library subsystem is open and being edited, then the subsystem does not contain the latest contents from the source. This can lead to synchronization problems.

Extract Bits Block Incorrectly Handles Boolean Inputs

The new Extract Bits block outputs unsigned integers of various signal widths and values (0 or 1) when the input is Boolean, depending on the settings of the block's parameters.

Help ->Blocksets Submenu Sometimes Fails to Appear

The Blocksets submenu sometimes fails to appear when selected from the model window's Help menu. If this happens, click anywhere in the model window and then select "Blocksets" from the Help menu.

N-D Lookup Table Block Does Incomplete Error Checking

Current error checking of the block fails to report error on one mode that is not supported, that is, you can set the interpolation method to be 'none-flat' and at the same time set extrapolation method to be 'linear' or 'spline'. These modes should cause updating the diagram to error out, but did not (it is a bug). You can only know something is wrong when you see the code generation failure.

Repeating Sequence Block's Output Differs Slightly from Windows to Linux

The Repeating Sequence block generates different numbers on Windows than on Linux. The differences are slight: on the order of 1e-16. However, the differences can be significant when simulation results depend on comparing the generated sequence, e.g., to zero. A workaround is to quantize the output of the Repeating Sequence block so that values near 0 become zero. For example, you could put a Dead Zone block with zone [0...1e-15] between the Repeating Sequence block and the block performing the comparison.

S-Function Builder Causes MATLAB to Hang If mex Is Not Set Up Correctly

The S-function Builder block causes MATLAB to hang if the compiler options file is not set up correctly. To avoid this problem, type the following at MATLAB command prompt to configure the compiler options file:

mex -setup

Saturation block output different result on different platform if input is Nan

This is a known problem. Will be fixed in later release. On linux, output is Nan, but on NT output is lower limit if input is Nan.

Zero Sample Time Limitation on Discretizing Models in the S Domain

When discretizing a model in the S domain, you cannot specify a sample time of 0 if the model contains a Transfer Function, State Space, or Zero Pole block. If you do specify a sample time of 0, MATLAB generates an error.

Simulink Accelerator

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Real-Time Workshop Required for Some Models
Accelerated Simulation Result Differs from Normal Mode Simulation

Real-Time Workshop Required for Some Models

For Beta 2, for some models, to use the Simulink Accelerator, you must have Real-Time Workshop installed.

Accelerated Simulation Result Differs from Normal Mode Simulation

If the model parameter "Parameters Inline" is deselected ("off"), the accelerated simulation result for enable subsystem blocks can differ from the normal mode simulation.

Simulink Control Designer

Click on a problem area listed below for details.

Adding Linearization I/Os to a Model While Outside Linearization Task in the GUI Does Not Add Points to the Analysis I/Os Table
Computing Operating Conditions via Simulation Not Supported at Command Line
Features Not Yet Available
Simulink Control Designer GUI Does Not React to Changes in a Simulink Model

Adding Linearization I/Os to a Model While Outside Linearization Task in the GUI Does Not Add Points to the Analysis I/Os Table

Using the right-click menus from signal lines in the model to add or remove linearization points, adds the points to the model but does not add entries to the Analysis I/Os table if the active panel in the Simulink Tools Manager GUI is outside the Linearization Task node.

Computing Operating Conditions via Simulation Not Supported at Command Line

Command line functions for extracting operating conditions from a simulation of the model at designated times are not yet implemented.

Features Not Yet Available

  • The ability to cut, copy, and paste nodes within a project is not yet enabled.
  • The ability to import a set of operating conditions into the Simulink Tools Manger is not yet enabled. The final version of this product will allow you to import operating conditions from the MATLAB workspace, another open Simulink Tools Manager project, or a MAT-file.
  • The ability to rename a set of operating conditions in the Simulink Tools Manager is not yet enabled.
  • The ability to rename a linearization result in the Simulink Tools Manager is not yet enabled.
  • The ability to save and open Simulink Tools Manager projects is not yet enabled.
  • Simulink Control Designer GUI Does Not React to Changes in a Simulink Model

    When adding blocks to the model diagram after opening the Simulink Tools Manager GUI, any new states, inputs, or outputs in the blocks will not be included in the GUI’s operating conditions tables. To work around this problem, close and then relaunch the Simulink Tools Manager GUI.

    Virtual Reality Toolbox

    Internal viewer might not be able to display large scaled worlds

    Due to a limitation in the internal viewer, scenes that have large scaled worlds might not be displayed correctly.

    The workaround is to edit your virtual world through the V-Realm Builder or a text editor. Increase the visibilityLimit field of the NavigationInfo node to a number that is greater than the longest distance in the virtual world. For example

    NavigationInfo
    {
      ...
      visibilityLimit 1e7
      ...
    }