How can I copy the properties of a class object into another in my script in MATLAB 7.12 (R2011a) ?

I use a MATLAB script to set properties of Simulink solver for my model. The script looks as below:

%%Create obj1 config set

obj1 = Simulink.ConfigSet;

obj1.get_param('Solver')

%%Set obj2 equal to obj1

obj2 = obj1;

obj1.get_param('Solver')

%%Set Solver of obj2 to FixedStepDiscrete

obj2.set_param('Solver','FixedStepDiscrete')

%%Display Solver after changing of obj2 solver

disp('After setting obj2 solver to a new one:')

obj2.get_param('Solver')

In the code above, using assignment 'obj2 = obj1', I expect that the properties of obj1 are copied into obj2 and can be changed independently therafter.

But, thats not the case. 'obj2' reflects the properties that it obtained from 'obj1'.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

In the MATLAB scripit, the assignment 'obj2 = obj1', given 'obj1' is a class object is an assignment by reference. This is analogous to assignment prperty in Java or any other object oriented language.

In order to copy the properties of a class object using MATLAB script, you have to use the COPY method to copy the properties of the original object. Hence, change the script as shown below:

%%Create obj1 config set

obj1 = Simulink.ConfigSet;

obj1.get_param('Solver')

%%Set obj2 equal to obj1

obj2 = copy(obj1);

obj1.get_param('Solver')

%%Set Solver of obj2 to FixedStepDiscrete

obj2.set_param('Solver','FixedStepDiscrete')

%%Display Solver after changing of obj2 solver

disp('After setting obj2 solver to a new one:')

obj2.get_param('Solver')

The assignment 'obj2 = copy(obj1)' creates a copy of 'obj1' in 'obj2' which can be changed independently.