Matlab GUI Tutorial - Implementing Simulink

Matlab GUI Tutorial - Integrating Simulink Model into a GUI

30 Nov 2007 Quan Quach 62 comments 1 views

Introduction

This tutorial will show you how to easily interface a Simulink Model with GUIDE using two different methods. In this tutorial, you will learn how to pass parameters to a Simulink model without using the set_param command and without having the Simulink Model open (which is how the Matlab Help does it).

Since Simulink can be used to easily model a variety of systems using an intuitive block diagram format, it would be advantageous to use it in conjunction with GUIs. Interfacing the Simulink Model with GUIDE will makes it easier for end-users to change key parameters and to view simulations without having to deal directly with Simulink.

This tutorial is written for those with some experience creating a Matlab GUI and with some experience using Simulink. If you’re new to creating GUIs in Matlab, you should visit this tutorial first. Basic knowledge of Matlab is highly recommended. Matlab version 2007a is used in writing this tutorial. Both earlier versions and new versions should be compatible as well (as long as it isan’t too outdated). Let’s get started!

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62 Responses to “Matlab GUI Tutorial - Integrating Simulink Model into a GUI”

on 19 Dec 2007 at 4:24 am 1subin

I am new to matlab, mainly I work on simulink. I am using Your GUI tutorial to learn GUIDE. All your tutorials are very good and very much explanatory.
In your .m script you used plot (tout, yout), but I don see these variable anywhere neither in the .m file nor in the model. And when I changed these variables name, they were still working fine. Suppose I have one more output port from Gain1 and want to plot (Gain1 Vs time) along with (Displacement Vs time) , want to show to plots in the GUI how should I proceed, shall I use plot(tout, yout) for(Disp. Vs time) and plot(tout, yout1) for (Gain1 Vs time).
It will be great of help if you can put tutorials on simulink GUI integration, like
1. How to integrate Source/Sink block into GUI,
2. How to give option like run, pause, and stop as in simulink in GUI.
3. How to specify step time as in simulink for a model in GUI.
4. How to integrate simulink menu bar some features with GUI like Configuration parameters.
5. How to see output in simulink scope in GUI etc…

Incorporate more of simulink related tutorial into your web w.r.t GUI, as there are very fewer amount of information available.
on 19 Dec 2007 at 9:14 am 2Quan Quach

subin,

I will try to edit the tutorial to answer these questions. Thank you for the feedback!
on 09 Jan 2008 at 2:03 am 3Chun-Chih

You can use simset command to change the workspace option for the simulink model.

function runSimulinkModel(m,c,k)
options = simset(’SrcWorkspace’,'current’);
sim(’mass_spring’,[],options);
on 09 Jan 2008 at 3:27 am 4Quan Quach

Chun-Chih,

Thanks for the tip!! That is extremely helpful. I have edited the tutorial to reflect this
on 09 Mar 2008 at 3:04 pm 5reha

Hello,

I need a little help in implementing simulink block via GUI. Ive followed every single steps you had put up, however the gui just doesnt work!!!rather depressed with it….i just couldnt make my simulink block work with gui…

Any tips??

Regards, Reha
on 09 Mar 2008 at 3:07 pm 6Quan Quach

Hi reha,

Take a look at the source files and see how it’s implemented, I’m not sure what your specific problem is, so it’s hard for me to help you.

Quan
on 09 Mar 2008 at 5:05 pm 7reha

Heya Quan,

Thanks for the offer. Ive solved the problems now.. Thanks for the tutorial. They were of much help. =D

Thanks,
Reha
on 28 Mar 2008 at 1:21 am 8acss

Hi,

I am now implement the 555 Astable Simulink model circuit in the MATLAB GUI. After read through your tutorial, I manage to run the simulink model from the GUI. However my circuit model in the simulink is running infinitely, so may I know how can I stop the simulation from the GUI? Based on following code.

% — Executes on button press in stopsimulation_pushbutton.
function stopsimulation_pushbutton_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
% hObject handle to stopsimulation_pushbutton (see GCBO)
% eventdata reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
% handles structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)

set_param(handles.Astable_555_timerIC_voltage_measurement_edit, ‘SimulationCommand’, ’stop’)
set_param(’Astable_555_timerIC_voltage_measurement_edit’, ‘SimulationCommand’, ’stop’)
set(handles.text6, ‘String’, get_param(’Astable_555_timerIC_voltage_measurement_edit’, ‘SimulationStatus’))
set(handles.dynamic_plant_state, ‘String’, ’sim stopped’)
set_param(handles.modelname, ‘SimulationCommand’, ’stop’)
set(handles.dynamic_plant_state, ‘String’, ’sim stopped’)

set(handles.play,’value’,0);
set(handles.play,’enable’,'on’);

Besides that, how can I pop up the simulink model that running by GUI when click the “Simulate” button or another button that specially for this function? Based on following code.

% — Executes on button press in design_pushbutton.
function design_pushbutton_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
% hObject handle to design_pushbutton (see GCBO)
% eventdata reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
% handles structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)

Thank you for your help.
on 01 Apr 2008 at 4:23 am 9apple

Hi, I am creating a GUI to interface my model. I want both display my simulation data and plot them. I use ‘to Workspace’ Simulink block to write simulation data on workspace but I am not able to access these data from the GUI and, as a consequence, to plot them in the GUI.
I have also tried to write simulation data in a .mat file but anyway I am not able to visualize these data. I would like to have my data shown in a sort of table in my GUI.
Can you help me?
on 10 Apr 2008 at 3:49 am 10jack

Hello,

Excellent site and one I keep coming back to for new exercises to master.
I’ve had a look through the tutorials for an example that will return a simulink value to a box in the GUI.

Eg for a simplified value. I want to do 1+1 = 2. So in the GUI I have my two inputs which are sent to simulink to be added. The answer would then be dsiplayed in the GUI.

Is there an example like this so I can see how to pass the simulink answer back to the GUI. I know how to do it with plots so was thinking something similar should be quite easy.

Thanks and keep up the good work.
on 10 Apr 2008 at 7:11 am 11jack

Hello,

Who would have thought the answer would be in the beginners tutorial for a simpler example.

I amalgamated this example with the simulink GUI example for a solution.

I used the simulatebutton option from the simulink-GUI tutorial and sent the data back to my model like that using the setup from the beginners tutorial. Not the tidiest but it works.

Thanks
on 13 May 2008 at 7:07 am 12atilye

I am doing a project on pc based monofilament winder using two stepper motors. And i want to simulate this using matlab simulink. So any body who is volentary to help me please share your idea. Thanks
on 17 Jun 2008 at 12:24 pm 13Umair Ahmed

Thanks for such a nice and easy tutorial thanks it is gonna help me a lot.
on 18 Jun 2008 at 8:30 am 14lgiancotti

You can try using acslx.com software.
on 21 Jun 2008 at 4:42 pm 15romeorobert

perfect !
on 21 Jun 2008 at 6:26 pm 16romeorobert

hello !
I’m trying to implement in a gui a simulink scope, actually there are 4 scopes which i’d like to put on the UI, but I don’t know how.
Is there any possibility to run the finished gui without matlab installed , as a standalone application ??

Thanks alot, Keep UP !!
on 26 Jun 2008 at 5:09 am 17Ashwin

hello,
im trying to create an GUI where i take the output from the scope (saved in the workspace) to plot it in the GUI axes. the problem is that whenever i simulate the model from the GUI(using a push button) , the workspace variables are not getting updated.
can you help me with this??

Ashwin
on 02 Jul 2008 at 12:13 pm 18Joseph

Hi,

This is an excellent website and I’ve already learned so much! However, I have a question. Is it possible to change an embedded matlab function variable (in a simulink model) through a GUI?

I am modelling a vairable orifice and would like to change a variable in a a function while the simulation is running. Any help is greatly appreciated!
on 12 Jul 2008 at 8:31 am 19Svetik

My model Simulink contains Stateflow blocks, when I start the programme GUI it shows an error:
??? Error using ==> sim
Error reported by S-function ’sf_sfun’ in ‘A_1/Ay (I,y)1/ SFunction ‘:
Stateflow Runtime Error (machine): Error evaluating machine workspace data ‘ks’ in MATLAB base workspace.
MATLAB expression ‘ks’ could not be evaluated.

ks variable is announced as ‘parameter’, if it is announced as ‘Constant’ model works, but ks variable value can be changed only in Simulink, and I need to change it in GUI.
Give me some advice.
on 26 Aug 2008 at 1:12 am 20Bilal Majeed

Dear Sir,
Thanks for your release.That was realy helpfull. specialy the tutorials,they helped me alotl. Sir i have a little problem in connecting my simulink block to my GUI. In actual my requirement is to get data from my simulink in real time and plot it in real time on my GUI AXES. like on scope of simulink block. Please help me out.
Thanks in advance

Regards,
Bilal
on 29 Aug 2008 at 5:45 am 21RAMYA

hello sir

i want to implement the block used in the paper”dynamic implementation of MEMS optical switches using simulink”.. am finding difficulty in implementing the block. kindly explain and help me.. its very urgent for my project..
on 04 Sep 2008 at 5:38 am 22Adam

Hi,

Love the tutorials, they have helped me immensely in my project. One problem i can’t solve though is sending the data in real time from simulink to the GUI. My simulink system has a video output that i want to view in a video window from within the GUI. If you have any ideas on this it would help me out immensely.

Thanks
on 18 Sep 2008 at 12:42 pm 23pandhu

hi….

thanks for your tutorials.
would you post tutorial about making GUI for TSP (Travelling Salesman Problem)?
on 25 Sep 2008 at 2:51 am 24damha

hai..
I’m a new user of MATLAB..
can anyone help me to make a connection to other pc..
how to show webcam from the other pc in my pc?
I dont know what to do…
on 06 Oct 2008 at 7:54 pm 25GIOVANNY

hello

I am from Colombia, and have a problem with the funntion sim for begin the simulink,
with the standalone aplication this show an error, ”undifined function sim for param type char”. Please need help.

Thank for you Colaboration.
on 15 Oct 2008 at 2:28 pm 26sergio

Hi, great guide

Seeing that I havent work with simulink for a few years and I recently picked it up again, I wonder if you could help me out.

Im trying to alter some of the simulation blocks on my simulated system via a gui, and im talking about the hole block.
Imagine 3 generic blocks linked together with several predetermined inputs and outputs, what I wanted to do is change the system inside each of these blocks by selecting them from a list in my GUI.

Is this even possible?
on 15 Oct 2008 at 9:06 pm 27Quan Quach

Yes I beleive it is possible, although I haven’t worked with simulink in a long time as well! I’m sure it can be done though. Good luck, and sorry I could not be of more help

on 06 Nov 2008 at 9:01 am 28Khalid

Hi,
I learned how to run simulink from GUI from your posting. I have few comments:

I can run the simulation using following code from gui

 options = simset('SrcWorkspace','current',...
        'Solver',handles.SolverName,...
        'FixedStep',handles.dt,...
        'MaxDataPoints',handles.DataPoints);
[tout,xout,yout]=sim(handles.ModelName,[0 handles.Stop_time],options);

The above code does not allow simulation to be paused.

If I want to pause the simulation, I need to use set_param command as follows:

    set_param(handles.ModelName,...
        'Solver',handles.SolverName,...
        'FixedStep',num2str(handles.dt),...
        'MaxDataPoints',num2str(handles.DataPoints),...
        'StopTime',num2str(handles.Stop_time));
set_param(handles.ModelName, 'SimulationCommand', 'start');

and then associate following code with PAUSE button

set_param(handles.ModelName, 'SimulationCommand', 'pause');

but the above code does not allow the option of ‘SrcWorkspace’ being set to ‘current’.

How should I go about it. I do not want the initialisation parameters to be made available to the MATLAb base workspace.

Thanks

on 09 Feb 2009 at 1:18 am 29mitra

hi,
i had a question, i wonder if it is possible to put a picture in the GUI page, to show a diagram or a process for example.
tnx
mitra
on 12 Feb 2009 at 1:04 am 30lisa

hi, would u like to explain on how to integrate simulink models that have base workspace and subsystems with GUI?

example, i wan to output the graph of one of the subsystems on the GUI.
on 12 Feb 2009 at 3:17 am 31lisa

hi, i have a simuink model that have more than ten subsystems.when i run the simulink alone, i have to import data call ‘ptp_diazepam’ to workspace to run the simulink.

I want to try output the graph of 1 of the subsystem which has the output “To workspace” block call Cvt_liver (the variable like in the case of your tutorial,i.e displacement)

i follow your code:
```
function intrabutton_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
axes(handles.axes1)
options = simset('SrcWorkspace','base');
sim('genpbpknew',[],options);
plot(tout,Cvt_liver)
xlabel('Time')
ylabel('Concentration')
Title('Drug concentration in liver')
grid on
```
but i got this error:

Error using ==> lisaproj1(’intrabutton_Callback’,gcbo,[],guidata(gcbo))
Error using ==> sim
Unable to open model file ‘genpbpk.mdl’.

hope to hear from you soon! thanks a million
on 15 Feb 2009 at 11:19 pm 32Ranjan

Hi
It was a great tutorial for GUI basics to link to Simulink.
Can you help in one thing though. I want to change my simulink block parameters when the simulation is going on. Is that possible?
If possible how i have to go about it……..

It would be of great help if you can explain this to me…

Thanks for the tutorial again
Ranjan
on 21 Feb 2009 at 12:18 am 33Yen

Hi, I don’t see the parameters ‘tout’ and ‘yout’ in plot(tout, yout); When i run it doesn’t show any graph in GUI, only show the FFT when i run the simulink; can u please help me with it? a little bit confused here. Thank you
on 12 Mar 2009 at 2:58 am 34devanand

Dear Quan,
How can I convert my .mdl file to standalone exe file
on 17 Mar 2009 at 11:25 pm 35samra

hi, this is samra i want matlab gui projects for my project presentation please help me.
on 20 Mar 2009 at 9:45 am 36hashan

Hi ,
I have finished my Matlab GUI and it works as desired. Is it possible make this GUI run as a stand alone application.
Im currently using Matlab 6.0 version. Can u guide me to make this a stand alone application or atleat give me a relavant link for me achieve this objective.

Thx
on 01 Apr 2009 at 4:48 pm 37Raja

hi all

does anyone can tell me how i can run VR Sink Block in my simulink model by a pushbutton .

when i doubleclick VR Sink block in my simulink model it run simulation but i was unable to do the same thing using gui.

regards
on 14 Apr 2009 at 5:29 pm 38Klong

What’s tout and yout, what’s the meaning of this command : plot(tout,yout)?
on 17 Apr 2009 at 9:08 am 39suraj

Is there any possibility to run the finished gui without matlab installed , as a standalone application ??
on 17 Apr 2009 at 9:52 am 40Dan

You will need MATLAB Compiler. Check out the command deploytool.
on 26 Apr 2009 at 8:48 am 41Lina

Hey,

I am making a GUI, that displays video using Simulink model. I have one problem: I need the video to be shown in the same window as buttons are, in the axes. I can’t find the solution. The video always opens in a separate window. Can anyone help me? I need it as fast as possible, thank you!

Here’s my code:

% — Executes on button press in pushbutton1.
function pushbutton1_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
% hObject handle to pushbutton1 (see GCBO)
% eventdata reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
% handles structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)

open_system(’dalis2′)
set_param(’dalis2/Gain’,'Gain’,'0′);
sim(’dalis2.mdl’);

% — Executes on button press in pushbutton2.
function pushbutton2_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
% hObject handle to pushbutton2 (see GCBO)
% eventdata reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
% handles structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)

open_system(’dalis1′)
set_param(’dalis1/Gain’,'Gain’,'0′);
sim(’dalis1.mdl’);

% — Executes on button press in pushbutton3.
function pushbutton3_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
% hObject handle to pushbutton3 (see GCBO)
% eventdata reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
% handles structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)

%closes Simulink models and GUI
close_system(’dalis2′);
close_system(’dalis1′);
close(handles.figure1);

% — Executes on button press in pushbutton4.
function pushbutton4_Callback(hObject, eventdata, handles)
% hObject handle to pushbutton4 (see GCBO)
% eventdata reserved - to be defined in a future version of MATLAB
% handles structure with handles and user data (see GUIDATA)

set_param(’dalis2/Gain’,'Gain’,'1′);
set_param(’dalis1/Gain’,'Gain’,'2′);
on 03 May 2009 at 11:00 pm 42Isaiah

Hello,
thanks a lot for your guide tutorial. they have been really helpful and easy to understand.
i have succesfully, integrated my simulink model to GUI, but i would like to know-if possible- how to make plots in the GUI continuous(real time).
thanks for your help in advance.
on 05 May 2009 at 8:34 am 43Isaiah

Hi,
im urgently in need of a response to the last comment by me, please help!. thanks
on 17 May 2009 at 12:58 pm 44raman

sir,
i’ve created a simulink model and now i’d like to control it from a GUI. i’ve sucessfully been able to use the set_param command to control simulation.

the problem is that the output of my model is a video and as soon as the simulation starts, it appears in the M-Play video viewer automatically.

I want to embed the video output into the GUI instead. How do i do it??
on 25 May 2009 at 5:08 am 45rakesh

Hello,

Your tutorials have been of a very great help to me!! kudos to u guys!!

I have a small problem…..I am trying to integrate the status of a checkbox in a GUI with that of a block parameter (for ex: my GUI contains a checkbox and depending on whether it is checked or not I would like to monitor the status of “LOG FIXED-POINT DATA AS A FI OBJECT” of SINK BLOCK PARAMETERS BLOCK) but I could not accomplish the task…hope you could help me out!!
on 29 May 2009 at 5:34 am 46Anonymous

Hello,
I’m trying to simulate my simulink model from the GUI I have created. But when I use the command “sim(’sfunctionxyz’)”, as you explain in the tutorial, the model doesn’t run and the command window print:

??? Simulink model ’sfunctionxyz’ was called with an invalid flag.

??? Error while evaluating uicontrol Callback.

do you have an idea of what matters with the command “sim”?
on 29 May 2009 at 5:34 am 47xyz

Hello,
I’m trying to simulate my simulink model from the GUI I have created. But when I use the command “sim(’sfunctionxyz’)”, as you explain in the tutorial, the model doesn’t run and the command window print:

??? Simulink model ’sfunctionxyz’ was called with an invalid flag.

??? Error while evaluating uicontrol Callback.

do you have an idea of what matters with the command “sim”?
on 05 Jun 2009 at 7:06 pm 48Diego

I am working on a computer vision project, and I want to display a video sequence, which is the output from a simulink block, in an GUI axes, and I want it to be real-time. I’ve already tried the commands you explained, without succeding. Do you know whether there’s a different way to do want I want?

When I use the sim command, the command window prints: Memory allocation error, pointing to the line in which the sim command is used. Is there any possible solution?

Thanks in advance
on 23 Jun 2009 at 1:26 pm 49Anonymous

yout is the output created in the massspring.mdl file
on 20 Jul 2009 at 4:32 pm 50Offi

Hey,

thanks for the tutorial!
Is it possible to get a feedback from Simulink on how far the simulation has proceeded. e.g. implement a progressbar like the one used in simulink to show the simulations progress?
The progressbar itself doesn’t seem so much of a problem, but how do i get information back from simulink? Because the model time varies a lot depending on the selected input parameters, it’s not possible to ‘predict’ simulation time.

Any ideas?

Thanks!
on 20 Jul 2009 at 5:02 pm 51Offi

Nevermind..just found your other tutorial and read through their comments
on 21 Jul 2009 at 11:19 pm 52Olivia

I have the same problem with my standalone aplication that show an error, ”undifined function sim for param type char”.
Could you help me, please?
Thank you.
on 22 Jul 2009 at 1:48 am 53sunlight

I am finding problems in simulation for wind power quality.
Also how to apply wavelet toolbox for the same.
on 26 Jul 2009 at 8:57 am 54Zane Montgomery

Olivia, if it says ‘undefined function’ that probably means you don’t have simulink installed or the proper toolbox (costs extra $$) from TheMathWorks. I find the same issue with lots of cool statistics functions that I want to use but can’t.
on 27 Jul 2009 at 11:16 am 55noha ahmed

hi,i want your help

i make a project about image proceesing
and iuse simulink with Display block to show threshold value and use GUI with Edit text to show value of Display block in it but u can not do that
so how i take the the value of the display block from simulink to display in edit text which called ‘threshold’ in GUI and this value changed due to the image
thanks alot
please send the solution to my e-mail
on 28 Jul 2009 at 10:57 pm 56Andreas

Hello,

thanks for the tutorial ^_^
I’m having the problem that the simulink model takes ages to simulate if i call it from my GUI. If i start within simulink the simulation is finished after ~2minutes.
I cancelled the simulation from the GUI after 20minutes. Does anyone know how to solve this problem or can give me a reason for it so i might figure out a work-around?

Thanks for your help!

btw sorry to hear about you guys discontinuing the blog, thanks for all your hard work!
on 29 Aug 2009 at 12:06 am 57Muffin

Hello,

Your tutorials are very helpful, thanks a lot! I’m wondering if you could help me with something. I’m trying to run an external executable in my MATLAB GUI. The executable is actually a simple fingerprint scanner GUI. I would like to somehow run this GUI inside the one I created in MATLAB. Is this possible … ? I haven’t been able to find much help on it. Sorry, this isn’t related to Simulink, but hope you are able to help anyway! Thank you in advance

P.S. I know I can use open() to run the executable inside MATLAB, but I specifically want it to run inside the GUI.
on 29 Aug 2009 at 10:41 am 58mad bcoz of matlab

i need help regarding QAM modulation using simulink and parameers are controlled fromGUI………..
can anyone help me to do this task..

on 07 Oct 2009 at 11:13 am 59J. M.

I have the same problem as Olivia, even trying with the tutorial example I get the following output when pushing the simulate button:

??? Undefined function or method 'simset' for input arguments of type 'char'.
 
Error in ==&gt; simulink_gui&gt;simulate_pushbutton_Callback at 154
 
Error in ==&gt; gui_mainfcn at 96
 
Error in ==&gt; simulink_gui at 42
 
Error in ==&gt;
@(hObject,eventdata)simulink_gui('simulate_pushbutton_Callback',hObject,eventdat
a,guidata(hObject))
 
??? Error while evaluating uicontrol Callback

Zane Montgomery, if the application runs in Matlab, this means that simulink and the necessary toolbox are installed. The problem seems to be that we need to specify something else in the deploytool configuration.

Any ideas/ suggestions?

on 12 Oct 2009 at 9:27 am 60Zane Montgomery

Sorry J.M. but I don’t have Simulink access to play around with it.

I recommend bringing your issue to the MathWorks forums where they get much higher traffic for questions: http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/

good luck!
on 02 Nov 2009 at 6:56 am 61J.R.

Thanks for the tutorial! Well done!!

Is there any way to deploy the GUI with the integrated model using the deployment tool. I think i have to change the sim and simset commands? Need some help, pls.
on 16 Nov 2009 at 8:10 am 62Faezeh

Hello and thank you very much for your great tutorials.

My question is that if there is a way to debug a GUI (and a simulink model), like the same way we debug an .m file? I’d like to see what goes on in my workspace.

Regards,
Faezeh

Include MATLAB code in your comment by doing the following:

<pre lang="MATLAB">

%insert code here

</pre>

blinkdagger

Matlab GUI Tutorial - Integrating Simulink Model into a GUI

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