# matfile_open

Opens a Matlab binary MAT-file.

## Calling Sequence

    fd = matfile_open(filename[, mode[, version]])

## Arguments

filename

  String: the path of the file. Must contain only ANSI character.

mode

  String: file access type (`"r"` by default).

  - "r": opens the file for reading.

  - "w": creates an empty file or opens it for writing.

version

  Scalar string: file version format (`"5"` by default).

  - "5": Matlab 5 file.

  - "7.3": Matlab 7.3 file.

fd

  Real: file descriptor (-1 if opening failed).

## Description

Opens a Matlab binary MAT-file for reading or writing data.

If `mode` is set to `w`, the content of `filename` will be reseted.

## Examples

    A = rand(10, 10);
    B = sprand(100, 100, 0.1);
    savematfile("test_matfile.mat", "A", "B", "-v6");
    clear();
    fd = matfile_open("test_matfile.mat");
    matfile_listvar(fd)
    matfile_close(fd);

    //fd = matfile_open("test_matfile.mat", "w"); // Empty test_matfile.mat

    //fd = matfile_open("test_matfile.mat", "w", "7.3"); // Empty test_matfile.mat as a Matlab 7.3 file

## See Also

- matfile_close
- matfile_varreadnext
- matfile_varwrite
- matfile_listvar

## Bibliography

This function uses MATIO library ( `http://sourceforge.net/projects/matio/` ).

## History

5.5.0
Support for Matlab 7.3 files.