Is there any way to use a function defined in the workspace inside a function defined in a .m file?

I trying of use fmincon and for that I have to create a function with de nonlinear constrains, but when creating the function that contains the nonlinear constraints should I use some functions defined in the workspace, but apparently did not exist within the function workspace (.m file).

I have:

      function [ci,ce] = nonlinears(z)

          ci=cineq(z(1),z(2),z(3),z(4));
          ce=ceq(z(1),z(2),z(3),z(4));
      end

where cineq and ceq are functions defined in the workspace.

I wonder if there is any way to use the functions defined within the worskpace in the function worskpace.

Please help! and thanks in advance!

Answer 1

[Jan]

The "workspace" is the set of locally used variables. To be exact, you cannot "define a function in a workspace". Do you mean, that the functions cineq and ceq are defined inside an M-file?

[Jurgen]

Cineq and ceq are anonymous functions. I want to use them inside the local function "nonlinears".

[Matt J]

Then why make them anonymous functions? If you want to reuse them in multiple places, why not convert cineq and ceq to local functions?

[Jurgen]

Because to get these, I have to use a lot of parameters and variables definided into the workspace. I could define all the parameters and variables within a local function, however, this would imply that some equations are solved for each iteration. This seems to be very inefficient, since it suffices to find the parameters once.

[Matt J]

Well, then why not nest all the functions that share variables inside the common parent function where those shared variables are created.

[Jurgen]

Thanks! that worked!

Answer 2

[Matt J]

Make sure you are aware of and understand the differences between Local Functions, Nested Functions, and Anonymous Functions