Add current date when I save a file as a comment

Hi all,

I would like to know if there is a way to add a comment line with the current date when I save a file (inside the file).

For example lets say I have a function called abc.m. After I do some changes and save the file I would like to automatically add sth like (probably on the second line after the name of the function):

function abc() %Last edited 3/1/2015 <-(current date)

Similarly, is there a way to track the changes in my code (sth similar to the track changes of word)?

Thank you in advance, Elric

[Chad Greene]

I think you could create a function called savetime(filename) that reads the text of any input filename, then use regexp to find instances of some string like Lastupdate:. At the index of last occurrence of LastUpdate: in filename, insert datestr(now) and then insert a new LastUpdate:, then re-save the .m file with the inserted information.

So for example, savetime('abc.m') would read this function:

function abc()
% abc is a great function.
% 
% Update Log:
% LastUpdate: 02-Jan-2015 16:22:04
% LastUpdate:

and then save it as

function abc()
% abc is a great function.
% 
% Update Log:
% LastUpdate: 02-Jan-2015 16:22:04
% LastUpdate: 03-Jan-2015 12:15:02
% LastUpdate:

Similarly, you could print the whole contents of the previous version somewhere, perhaps at the end of abc.m or in a change log file of its own.

[Elric]

Hi Chad,

Thanks for you reply. Although what you suggest will work is not very convenient when you work on a very large project with lots of functions and files.

Just hope that this will be included in the future if not already.

[Pablo Israel Morales Guzmán]

7 years later, I also want to do exactly this. Did you find any way?

Answer 1

[dpb]

Within Matlab on it's own automagically, not that I'm aware of. You can use external version control systems w/ Matlab that have the facility.

I've never looked into what abilities there are to customize the builtin editor; for coding "in anger" I use an external editor instead. A search of the help didn't find much useful documentation.

[Elric]

Hi dpb,

Any suggestions for the external editor that you mentiond?

Best,

Elric

[dpb]

I'm still using the old Brief editor which actually must run in a real DOS window so I can't recommend it to anybody else...I've customized it so much over the years and have gotten so used to it I just don't want to change, particularly since I've now retired from coding "in anger" so no longer have to worry about compatibility with clients' newer systems. So, I can't really be of any direct help there, sorry.