How to get code from a mlapp file using an earlier matlab version

Using Matlab 2018a I wrote an application (using app designer) generating a .mlapp file. Now my license has expired. I have an active copy of 2016b, and tried to open the app with the goal of editing it to run in that version instead. However, it won't open or even give me the underlying code. I tried using the online matlab service, but while the online matlab lets you run the app, it doesn't seem to include any 'app designer' functions. I just want the code, and preferably the UI object tree so that I can re-make my application (attached) without having to redo the whole thing.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Use your favorite unarchiver to unzip the mlapp (it is effectively a .zip under a different name.)

Look inside what is produced to find matlab/document.xml to see the code.

Also look at the appdesigner/appModel.mat file that is there. If you load that file, then you can look at, for example,

code.Callbacks(2).Name
code.Callbacks(2).Code

[Jessica Hiscocks]

Thank you, this is a huge help.

[Chris Portal]

You could also try this File Exchange submission:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/56237-mlapp2classdef