why won't imshow display an image?

In following a demonstration I typed

>> I=imread('pout.tif');
>> imshow(I)

To which MATLAB (my version is R2014a) responded:

Attempt to call constructor image with incorrect letter case.
Error in basicImageDisplay (line 24)
    hh = image(cdata, ...
Error in imshow (line 266)
  hh = basicImageDisplay(fig_handle,ax_handle,...

I have tried nothing and it still won't work! Does anyone know how I can appease MATLAB?

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

Run this code:

% Check that user has the Image Processing Toolbox installed.
hasIPT = license('test', 'image_toolbox');
if ~hasIPT
  % User does not have the toolbox installed.
  message = sprintf('Sorry, but you do not seem to have the Image Processing Toolbox.\nDo you want to try to continue anyway?');
  reply = questdlg(message, 'Toolbox missing', 'Yes', 'No', 'Yes');
  if strcmpi(reply, 'No')
    % User said No, so exit.
    return;
  end
end

See if it tells you that you don't have the Image Processing Toolbox. I believe imshow() wasn't added to base MATLAB until after the version you have.

[N/A]

Ok I ran that code (in the editor) to which MATLAB returns:

>> ihmo %which is what I named it

Warning: Function image has the same name as a MATLAB builtin. We suggest you rename the function to avoid a potential name conflict.

Ok... I may have done something wrong there, but I still found the concept of me-not-having-the-toolbox a logical explanation. So I've downloaded a trial version of the toolbox and set the path name so MATLAB could find it. Yet it still can't successfully execute my earlier code.

Furthermore, just as a test, before I got the new toolbox I asked MATLAB >>help imshow

and it did indeed give an extensive description of the function leading me to believe it recognizes imshow as an old friend.

...then again I am quite the beginner and so I'm starting to suspect I have overlooked something more

[Image Analyst]

Yes you did something wrong. My code does not even call the function "image()". Anyway, that is just a warning and the code should still run, or produce an actual error message.

What does this say:

>> which -all image

You may have your own function called image.m. If you do, you should rename it because it's trying to use that instead of the built-in function.

Otherwise, you should call technical support. They are always willing to help you get a trial toolbox to work.