Make matlab use a function from a certain toolbox

I want to use a function ('dist' for quaternions) from an installed toolbox. Matlab obviously uses another function with the same name and throws an error 'Unable to use a value of type 'quaternion' as an index.'

How do I include a certain toolbox and make matlab use this specific function from that toolbox? Or does anybody has any idea why the function 'dist' is not working with two quaternions?

[Mariella Dreißig]

the toolbox I want to use is called Sensor Fusion and Tracking Toolbox

[Rik]

This thread might help solve your issue, although it should already sort this out automatically. What does which dist -all return?

[Mariella Dreißig]

dist is a variable.

C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2019a\toolbox\shared\rotations\rotationslib\+matlabshared\+rotations\+internal\@quaternionBase\dist.m % Shadowed quaternion method

the second one should be the right function, but cd-ing into the folder does not solve the problem

Answer 1

[Rik]

You have assigned something to a variable named dist. That will shadow all functions. The solution is not to use dist as a variable name. See this page for a description of the name precedence.

[Mariella Dreißig]

oh man I was wondering about that but I didn't see this because in the current script I don't have a 'dist' variable, it was loaded into the workspace from an external script.

Thanks a lot!

[Stephen23]

"...it was loaded into the workspace from an external script."

The curse of scripts.

This is one of the reasons why experienced users prefer (and recommend) using functions.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

If dist is a variable then the problem is not with MATLAB using the "wrong" function.

The best way to solve this problem is to rename your variable so it is not the same as the name of any function you need to call.

The second best way is to drop in a small function that you can pass your arguments into and which calls the function dist. Since it would be in a different workspace, it would not "see" the variable dist to have a problem with (unless you were to for some reason name a function parameter dist, and the cure for that problem is Don't Do That.)

[Mariella Dreißig]

I feel stupid now, I didn't see that it was loaded into the workspace from an external script.. thank you!