Can I nest the function pptpop() in appdesigner and compile it?

Hi All

I want my compiled app, write outputs , images to powerpoint, and I used the pptpop function in my app that I am gonna compile, but it gives :

Error: Functionality not supported with figures created with the uifigure function. For more information, see Graphics Support in App Designer.

[farzad]

It seems that it's the

 image = printPlot

function that gives error

[farzad]

what is the difference between

printPlot

and plot ?

[farzad]

If I change it to

img = plot('plot1');

I get

Error: Invalid first data argument.

[farzad]

anyone there?

[farzad]

should I do something like this , to add the population slide.mlx file path to my code ?

properties (Access = private)
    
oldpath = addpath('./icons')

end

[Ameer Hamza]

Which line gives this error?

Error: Functionality not supported with figures created with the uifigure function. For more information, see Graphics Support in App Designer.

[farzad]

It seems that it's the

image = printPlot

function that gives error

let me complete, there are 4 places in the code, the first one is line 67 that has

img = printPlot('plot1');

there are 4 lines like this in the function pptpop()

[Ameer Hamza]

How is printPlot defined. This does not seems to be a MATLAB function.

[farzad]

I attached you the mfile. do you have this file in your matlab documentation directory. you can find printPlot in it. I don't know how it works. if you run pptpop() in workspace, it works. but if you run the printPlot alone, matlab does not know it

[Ameer Hamza]

I don't have this file installed with my MATLAB. But if I run your file. It works without error.

[farzad]

Yes, but did you nest the function into an app and run it ?

and what do you mean by working ? does it create the powerpoint file ? Because if it runs it means you don't need MATLAB report generator to create that. you should also have this file I belive. cause it calls an .mlx file that if it did not exist in your documentation directory, it would have buged with error

[Ameer Hamza]

Yes, I can run this in the app, and it generates a PowerPoint file (attached). However, It needs to open separate figures to run the function. It does not draw the graphs on the uifigure of the app designer.

[farzad]

I don't want it draw the graphs on th uifigure, I just wanted the powerpoint file be created. so : how come it's working from the app for you and not for mine ? how do you do that ?

[Ameer Hamza]

I just put the line

pptpop()

in the startupFcn of the uifigure. Whenever I open the app, it runs the function and creates a ppt file in the same folder.

Note: I am using R2020a on macOS and haven't compiled the app.

[farzad]

I don't think that this is a version issue. I hope not, so you get the completed powerpoint file, not just the file. I mean, the images are printed inside the ppt file ?

It will be very disappointing why on mine it's not working

[farzad]

so why is it giving me this error. I think it'salso irrelevant to matlab report generator toolbox

[farzad]

I moved the pptpop to a new button, this time the figure pops up and the empty powerpoint is created but still I havethe error

Error using print (line 80)
Functionality not supported with figures created with the uifigure function. For more information, see Graphics Support in App Designer.

Error in pptpop>printPlot (line 183)
print(imgtype, imgname);

Error in pptpop (line 67)
img = printPlot('plot1');

[Ameer Hamza]

farzad, See the attached file. If these seem like the PowerPoint file, you want?

[farzad]

yes thats the one

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

R2020a and later:

change line 183,

print(imgtype, imgname);

to

exportgraphics(gcf, imgname)

[farzad]

will that work also after compiling the app?

what does

exportgraphics

do?

and what about line 67 ?

Error in pptpop (line 67)
img = printPlot('plot1');

[Walter Roberson]

I believe it will work after compiling.

Leave line 67 as-is. You are modifying what printPlot() does.

exportgraphics is a replacement for print() and saveas()

[farzad]

so no home remedy for R2019b ?

and what is the root cause that printPlot works in 2019b from workspace, and expotgrphics works from app in version 2020a ?

[Walter Roberson]

No, in R2019b there is no known way to get a copy of uifigure() as an image -- other than possibly invoking a system-level screen capture function some-how, such as an ActiveX control.

[farzad]

Dear Walter, this question of mine is suffering from lack of views, I got a problem :

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/524693-strange-error-while-writing-to-powerpoint-file-createinputstream-failed

[Walter Roberson]

I do not have Report Generator; also I am executing on Mac, which cannot talk to PowerPoint .

[farzad]

The Mac news are very sad. at least I had put the .m file script so someone could have tried that on their PC