Installation guide

Toolbox Path Caching in MATLAB

In this section...

“About Toolbox Path Caching” o n page 1-17

“Using the Cache File Upon Startup” on page 1-17

“Updating the Cache and C ache File” on page 1-17

“Additional Diagnostics with Toolbox Path Caching” on page 1-20

About Toolbox Path Caching

For performance reasons, MATLAB caches too lbox dire cto r y info rmation

across sessions. The caching features are mostly transparent to you. However,

if MATLAB d oe s not see the latest versions of your M-files or if you receive

warnings about the toolbox path cache, you might need to update the cache.

UsingtheCacheFileUponStartup

Upon startup, MATLAB gets information from a cache file to build the toolbox

directory cache. Because of the cache file, startup is faster, especially if you

run MATLAB from a network server or if you have many toolbox directories.

When you end a session, MATLAB updates the cache file.

MATLAB does not use the cache file at startup if you clear the Enable

toolbox path cache check box in File > Preferences > General.Instead,

it creates the cache by reading from the operating system directories, which

is slower than using the cache file.

Updating the Cache and Cache File

How the Toolbox Path Cache Works

MATLAB caches (essentially, stores in a known files list) the names and

locations of files in

matlabroot/toolbox directories. These directories are

for MathWorks supplied files that should not change except for product

installations and updates. Caching those directories provides better

performance during a session because MATLAB does not actively monitor

those directories.

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