path of a mfile not on search path

When an mfile is not on the search path or current path and when user types the name, MATLAB find it and issues a suggestion

>> foo
'foo' is not found in the current folder or on the MATLAB path, but exists in:
    E:\matlab\test

Change the MATLAB current folder or add its folder to the MATLAB path.

Is there anyway to retreive the folder 'E:\matlab\test' programmatically?

[Rik]

I haven't tested this, but if I recall correctly the only folders that are searched are the folders in the drop down menu containing previous current working directory. There may be a way to retrieve that directory list and generate this suggestion yourself. You will probably need some Yair Altman level tricks.

[Stephen23]

" There may be a way to retrieve that directory list..:"

Stored in prefdir, that shouldn't be too hard.

Answer 1

[Rik]

As suggested in a comment here you can use the diary function to capture output to the command window.

[Bruno Luong]

It doesn't work

function bar
try
    foo() % function foo.m NOT in search path
catch
    diary('diarytmp.txt');
    evalin('base','foo()'); % invoke foo in base workspace
    diary('off');
end
end

Then I call

bar()

diarytmp.txt is empty.

EDIT:

dairytmp.txt is flushed with good information (path), when I type

diary off

on command window. Use evalin('base','diary off'); within bar doesn't flush the diary file !

This is weird and too odd and too much contorsion for me to adopt the solution.

Still Rik suggestion of using DIARY answers my question. Better solution is still welcome.

[Rik]

But you do see the text? (I'm on mobile so I can't currently check myself)

[Bruno Luong]

Yes I see the eror message with the path, but I cannot use it since some one has to type

diary off on command window.

(My purpose is to retrieve this path and suggest in the diaglog box to user to confirm if he/she wants add the path to run FOO)

Answer 2

[Jyotsna Talluri]

You can get the folders using 'addpath' function

[Bruno Luong]

My question is how to retreive the PATH name in the fix suggestion provided by MATLAB programatically.

I try try/catch lasterror, lasterr, etc... nothing seems to work. This error message seems to appear only when the mfile is invoked from the base workspace.