compiler.build.dotNETAssembly

Create .NET assembly for deployment outside MATLAB

Since R2021a

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Syntax

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(Files)

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(Files,Name,Value)

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(ClassMap)

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(ClassMap,Name,Value)

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(opts)

results = compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(___)

Description

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(Files) creates a .NET assembly using the MATLAB^® functions specified by Files.

example

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(Files,Name,Value) creates a .NET assembly with additional options specified using one or more name-value arguments. Options include the class name, output directory, and additional files to include.

example

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(ClassMap) creates a .NET assembly with a class mapping specified using a container.Map object ClassMap.

example

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(ClassMap,Name,Value) creates a .NET assembly using ClassMap and additional options specified using one or more name-value arguments. Options include the assembly name, output directory, and additional files to include.

example

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(opts) creates a .NET assembly with options specified using a compiler.build.DotNetAssemblyOptions object opts. You cannot specify any other options using name-value arguments.

example

results = compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(___) returns build information as a compiler.build.Results object using any of the input argument combinations in previous syntaxes. The build information consists of the build type, paths to the compiled files, and build options.

example

Examples

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Create .NET Assembly Using File

Create a .NET assembly on a Windows^® system using a function file that generates a magic square.

In MATLAB, locate the MATLAB function that you want to deploy as a .NET assembly. For this example, use the file magicsquare.m located in matlabroot\extern\examples\compiler.

appFile = which('magicsquare.m');

Build a .NET assembly using the compiler.build.dotNETAssembly command.

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(appFile);

The build function generates the following files within a folder named magicsquaredotNETAssembly in your current working directory:

GettingStarted.html — HTML file that contains information on integrating your assembly.
includedSupportPackages.txt — Text file that lists all support files included in the assembly.
magicsquare.dll — Dynamic-link library file that can be accessed using the mwArray API.
magicsquare.xml — XML file that contains documentation for the mwArray assembly.
magicsquare_overview.html — HTML file that contains requirements for accessing the component and for generating arguments using the mwArray class hierarchy.
magicsquareNative.dll — Dynamic-link library file that can be accessed using the native API.
magicsquareNative.xml — XML file that contains documentation for the native assembly.
magicsquareVersion.cs — C# file that contains version information.
mccExcludedFiles.log — Log file that contains a list of any toolbox functions that were not included in the application. For information on non-supported functions, see MATLAB Compiler Limitations.
readme.txt — Text file that contains packaging and interface information.
requiredMCRProducts.txt — Text file that contains product IDs of products required by MATLAB Runtime to run the application.
unresolvedSymbols.txt — Text file that contains information on unresolved symbols.

Customize .NET Assembly

Create a .NET assembly on a Windows system and customize it using name-value arguments.

For this example, use the files flames.m and flames.mat located in matlabroot\extern\examples\compiler.

appFile = which('flames.m');
MATFile = which('flames.mat');

Build a .NET assembly using the compiler.build.dotNETAssembly command. Use name-value arguments to specify the assembly name and version, add a MAT file, and enable verbose output.

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(appFile,'AssemblyName','FlamesComp', ...
'AssemblyVersion','2.0', ...
'AdditionalFiles',MATFile, ...
'Verbose','on');

Create .NET Assembly Using Class Map Input

Create a .NET assembly on a Windows system using a class map and multiple function files.

Create a containers.Map object whose keys are class names and whose values are the locations of function files.

cmap = containers.Map;
cmap('Class1') = {'exampleFcn1.m','exampleFcn2.m'};
cmap('Class2') = {'exampleFcn3.m','exampleFcn4.m'};

Build a .NET assembly using the compiler.build.dotNETAssembly command.

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(cmap);

Alternatively, you can specify additional options using name-value arguments when you build the .NET assembly.

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(cmap, ...
'AssemblyName','MyExampleComp', ...
'AssemblyVersion','2.0', ...
'Verbose','on');

Create Multiple Assemblies Using Options Object

Create multiple .NET assemblies on a Windows system using a compiler.build.DotNETAssemblyOptions object.

For this example, use the file magicsquare.m located in matlabroot\extern\examples\compiler.

appFile = which('magicsquare.m');

Create a DotNETAssemblyOptions object using appFile. Use name-value arguments to specify a common output directory, generate the assembly archive separately, and enable verbose output.

opts = compiler.build.DotNETAssemblyOptions(appFile, ...
'OutputDir','D:\Documents\MATLAB\work\dotNETBatch', ...
'EmbedArchive','off', ...
'Verbose','on')

opts = 

  DotNETAssemblyOptions with properties:

             AssemblyName: 'example.magicsquare'
                 ClassMap: [1×1 containers.Map]
               DebugBuild: off
           EnableRemoting: off
         FrameworkVersion: '4.0'
    SampleGenerationFiles: {}
        StrongNameKeyFile: ''
          AssemblyVersion: '1.0.0.0'
             EmbedArchive: off
                Interface: 'mwarray'
          AdditionalFiles: {}
      AutoDetectDataFiles: on
    ExternalEncryptionKey: [0×0 struct]
         ObfuscateArchive: off
          SecretsManifest: ''
          SupportPackages: {'autodetect'}
                  Verbose: on
                OutputDir: 'D:\Documents\MATLAB\work\dotNETBatch'

   Class Map Information
         magicsquareClass: {'C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2024b\extern\examples\compiler\magicsquare.m'}

Build the .NET Assembly using the DotNETAssemblyOptions object.

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(opts);

To compile using the function file hello.m with the same options, use dot notation to modify the ClassMap of the existing COMComponentOptions object before running the build function again.

remove(opts.ClassMap, keys(opts.ClassMap));
opts.ClassMap('helloClass') = which('hello.m');
compiler.build.dotNETAssembly(opts);

By modifying the ClassMap argument and recompiling, you can compile multiple components using the same options object.

Get Build Information from .NET Assembly

Create a .NET assembly on a Windows system and save information about the build type, generated files, included support packages, and build options to a compiler.build.Results object.

Compile using the file magicsquare.m.

results = compiler.build.dotNETAssembly('magicsquare.m')

results = 

  Results with properties:

              BuildType: 'dotNETAssembly'
                  Files: {4×1 cell}
IncludedSupportPackages: {}
                Options: [1×1 compiler.build.DotNETAssemblyOptions]

The Files property contains the paths to the following compiled files:

magicsquare.dll
magicsquareNative.dll
magicsquare_overview.dll
GettingStarted.html

Input Arguments

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`Files` — Files implementing MATLAB functions
character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

Files implementing MATLAB functions, specified as a character vector, a string scalar, a string array, or a cell array of character vectors. File paths can be relative to the current working directory or absolute. Files must have one of the following extensions: .m, .p, .mlx, or .mexa64.

Example: ["myfunc1.m","myfunc2.m"]

Data Types: char | string | cell

`ClassMap` — Class map
`containers.Map` object

Class map, specified as a containers.Map object. Map keys are class names and each value is the set of files mapped to the corresponding class. Files must have one of the following extensions: .m, .p, .mlx, or .mexa64.

Example: cmap

`opts` — .NET assembly build options
`compiler.build.DotNetAssemblyOptions` object

.NET assembly build options, specified as a compiler.build.DotNETAssemblyOptions object.

Name-Value Arguments

Specify optional pairs of arguments as Name1=Value1,...,NameN=ValueN, where Name is the argument name and Value is the corresponding value. Name-value arguments must appear after other arguments, but the order of the pairs does not matter.

Before R2021a, use commas to separate each name and value, and enclose Name in quotes.

Example: 'Verbose','on'

`AdditionalFiles` — Additional files
character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

Additional files and folders to include in the .NET assembly, specified as a character vector, a string scalar, a string array, or a cell array of character vectors. Paths can be relative to the current working directory or absolute.

Example: 'AdditionalFiles',["myvars.mat","data.txt"]

Data Types: char | string | cell

`AssemblyName` — Name of .NET assembly
character vector | string scalar

Name of the .NET assembly, specified as a character vector or a string scalar. Specify 'AssemblyName' as a namespace, which is a period-separated list, such as companyname.groupname.component. The name of the generated library is set to the last entry of the period-separated list. The name must begin with a letter and contain only alphabetic characters and periods.

Example: 'AssemblyName','mathworks.dotnet.mymagic'

Data Types: char | string

`AssemblyVersion` — Assembly version
`'1.0.0.0'` (default) | character vector | string scalar

Assembly version, specified as a character vector or a string scalar. This option is only used with the MWArray API.

For information on versioning using MATLAB Compiler SDK™, see Versioning.

Example: 'AssemblyVersion','4.0'

Data Types: char | string

`AutoDetectDataFiles` — Flag to automatically include data files
`'on'` (default) | on/off logical value

Flag to automatically include data files, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

If you set this property to 'on', then data files that you provide as inputs to certain functions (such as load and fopen) are automatically included in the .NET assembly.
If you set this property to 'off', then you must add data files to the assembly using the AdditionalFiles option.

Example: 'AutoDetectDataFiles','off'

Data Types: logical

`ClassName` — Name of .NET class
character vector | string scalar

Name of the .NET class, specified as a character vector or a string scalar. You cannot specify this option if you use a ClassMap input. Class names must meet the .NET class name requirements.

The default value is the name of the first file listed in the Files argument appended with Class.

Example: 'ClassName','magicsquareClass'

Data Types: char | string

`DebugBuild` — Flag to enable debug symbols
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

Flag to enable debug symbols, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

If you set this property to 'on', then debugging symbol information is included in the compiled artifact. This option also causes mbuild to pass appropriate debugging flags to the system compiler. The debug option lets you back trace up to the point where you can identify if the failure occurred in the initialization of MATLAB Runtime, the function call, or the termination routine. This option does not let you debug your MATLAB files with an external debugger.
If you set this property to 'off', then debug symbols are not included. This is the default option.

Example: 'DebugBuild','on'

Data Types: logical

`EmbedArchive` — Flag to embed deployable archive
`'on'` (default) | on/off logical value

Flag to embed the deployable archive, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

If you set this property to 'on', then the function embeds the deployable archive in the .NET assembly.
If you set this property to 'off', then the function generates the deployable archive as a separate file.

This option is only used with the MWArray API.

Example: 'EmbedArchive','off'

Data Types: logical

`EnableRemoting` — Flag to control remoting type
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

Flag to control the remoting type of the assembly, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

If you set this property to 'on', then the function builds a remotable assembly.
If you set this property to 'off', then the function builds an assembly that is not remotable.

Example: 'EnableRemoting','on'

Data Types: logical

`ExternalEncryptionKey` — Paths to encryption key and loader files
scalar struct

Since R2024b

Paths to the external AES encryption key and MEX key loader files, specified as a scalar struct with exactly two row char vector or string scalar fields named EncryptionKeyFile and RuntimeKeyLoaderFile, respectively. Both struct fields are required. File paths can be relative to the current working directory or absolute.

For example, specify the encryption key as encrypt.key and loader file as loader.mexw64 using struct keyValueStruct.

keyValueStruct.EncryptionKeyFile='encrypt.key'; keyValueStruct.RuntimeKeyLoaderFile='loader.mexw64'

The encryption key file must be in one of the following supported formats:

Binary 256-bit AES key, with a 32 byte file size
Hex encoded AES key, with a 64 byte file size

The MEX file loader retrieves the decryption key at runtime and must be an interface with the following arguments:

prhs[0] — Input, char array specified as the static value 'get'
prhs[1] — Input, char array specified as the CTF component UUID
plhs[0] — Output, 32 byte UINT8 numeric array or 64 byte hex encoded char array, depending on the key format

Avoid sharing the same key across multiple CTFs.

Example: 'ExternalEncryptionKey',keyValueStruct

Data Types: struct

`FrameworkVersion` — .NET Framework or .NET 5.0 or later
`'4.0'` (default) | character vector | string scalar

Specify '4.0' to target any version of the .NET Framework from 4.6.2 upwards, regardless of minor version increments. To target the cross-platform .NET 5.0 or later, specify '5.0'.

Example: 'FrameworkVersion','5.0'

Data Types: char | string

`Interface` — Data API
`'mwarray'` | `'matlab-data'` | character vector | string scalar

Data API used for handling data exchange between a .NET application and deployed MATLAB code.

mwarray — MWArray API. This API works with .NET Framework. This is the default interface on Windows.
matlab-data — MATLAB Data API for .NET. This API requires .NET 5.0 or higher. This is the default interface on macOS.

MathWorks^® recommends using the MATLAB Data API for .NET.

Example: 'Interface','matlab-data'

Data Types: char | string

`ObfuscateArchive` — Flag to obfuscate deployable archive
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

Flag to obfuscate the deployable archive, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

If you set this property to 'on', then folder structures and file names in the deployable archive are obfuscated from the end user, and user code and data contained in MATLAB files are placed into a user package within the archive. Additionally, all .m files are converted to P-files before packaging. This option is equivalent to using mcc with -j and -s specified.
If you set this property to 'off', then the deployable archive is not obfuscated. This is the default behavior.

Example: 'ObfuscateArchive','on'

Data Types: logical

`OutputDir` — Path to output directory
character vector | string scalar

Path to the output directory where the build files are saved, specified as a character vector or a string scalar. The path can be relative to the current working directory or absolute.

The default name of the build folder is the assembly name appended with dotNETAssembly.

Example: 'OutputDir','D:\Documents\MATLAB\work\mymagicdotNETAssembly'

Data Types: char | string

`SampleGenerationFiles` — MATLAB sample files
character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

MATLAB sample files used to generate sample .NET driver files for functions included within the assembly, specified as a character vector, a string scalar, a string array, or a cell array of character vectors. Paths can be relative to the current working directory or absolute. Files must have a .m extension. For more information and limitations, see Sample Driver File Creation.

Example: 'SampleGenerationFiles',["sample1.m","sample2.m"]

Data Types: char | string | cell

`SecretsManifest` — Path to JSON manifest file
character vector | string scalar

Since R2024b

Path to a secret manifest JSON file that specifies the secret keys to be embedded in the deployable archive, specified as a character vector or a string scalar. The path can be relative to the current working directory or absolute.

If your MATLAB code calls the getSecret, getSecretMetadata, or isSecret function, you must specify the secret keys to embed in the deployable archive in a JSON secret manifest file. If your code calls getSecret and you do not specify the SecretsManifest option, MATLAB Compiler™ issues a warning and generates a template JSON file in the output folder named <component_name>_secrets_manifest.json. Modify this file by specifying the secret key names in the Embedded field.

The setSecret function is not deployable. To embed secret keys in a deployable archive, you must call setSecret in MATLAB before you build the archive.

For more information on deployment using secrets, see Handle Sensitive Information in Deployed Applications.

Example: 'SecretsManifest','D:\Documents\MATLAB\work\mycomponent\mycomponent_secrets_manifest.json'

Data Types: char | string

`StrongNameKeyFile` — Path to encryption key
character vector | string scalar

Path to the encryption key file used to sign the shared assembly, specified as a character vector or a string scalar. If the value is empty, the function creates a private assembly. The file path can be relative to the current working directory or absolute.

Example: 'StrongNameKeyFile','sgKey.snk'

Data Types: char | string

`SupportPackages` — Support packages
`'autodetect'` (default) | `'none'` | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

Support packages to include, specified as one of the following options:

'autodetect' (default) — The dependency analysis process detects and includes the required support packages automatically.
'none' — No support packages are included. Using this option can cause runtime errors.
A string scalar, character vector, or cell array of character vectors — Only the specified support packages are included. To list installed support packages or those used by a specific file, see compiler.codetools.deployableSupportPackages.

Example: 'SupportPackages',{'Deep Learning Toolbox Converter for TensorFlow Models','Deep Learning Toolbox Model for Places365-GoogLeNet Network'}

Data Types: char | string | cell

`Verbose` — Flag to control build verbosity
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

Flag to control build verbosity, specified as 'on' or 'off', or as numeric or logical 1 (true) or 0 (false). A value of 'on' is equivalent to true, and 'off' is equivalent to false. Thus, you can use the value of this property as a logical value. The value is stored as an on/off logical value of type matlab.lang.OnOffSwitchState.

If you set this property to 'on', then the MATLAB command window displays progress information indicating compiler output during the build process.
If you set this property to 'off', then the command window does not display progress information.

Example: 'Verbose','on'

Data Types: logical

Output Arguments

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`results` — Build results
`compiler.build.Results` object

Build results, returned as a compiler.build.Results object. The Results object consists of:

The build type, which is 'dotNETAssembly'
Paths to the following compiled files:
- AssemblyName.dll
- AssemblyNameNative.dll
- AssemblyName_overview.dll
- GettingStarted.html
A list of included support packages
Build options, specified as a DotNETAssemblyOptions object

Limitations

In R2023a: In addition to Windows, this function is supported on Linux^® and macOS operating systems.

Version History

Introduced in R2021a

compiler.build.dotNETAssembly

Syntax

Description

Examples

Create .NET Assembly Using File

Customize .NET Assembly

Create .NET Assembly Using Class Map Input

Create Multiple Assemblies Using Options Object

Get Build Information from .NET Assembly

Input Arguments

Files — Files implementing MATLAB functions character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

ClassMap — Class map containers.Map object

opts — .NET assembly build options compiler.build.DotNetAssemblyOptions object

Name-Value Arguments

AdditionalFiles — Additional files character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

AssemblyName — Name of .NET assembly character vector | string scalar

AssemblyVersion — Assembly version '1.0.0.0' (default) | character vector | string scalar

AutoDetectDataFiles — Flag to automatically include data files 'on' (default) | on/off logical value

ClassName — Name of .NET class character vector | string scalar

DebugBuild — Flag to enable debug symbols 'off' (default) | on/off logical value

EmbedArchive — Flag to embed deployable archive 'on' (default) | on/off logical value

EnableRemoting — Flag to control remoting type 'off' (default) | on/off logical value

ExternalEncryptionKey — Paths to encryption key and loader files scalar struct

FrameworkVersion — .NET Framework or .NET 5.0 or later '4.0' (default) | character vector | string scalar

Interface — Data API 'mwarray' | 'matlab-data' | character vector | string scalar

ObfuscateArchive — Flag to obfuscate deployable archive 'off' (default) | on/off logical value

OutputDir — Path to output directory character vector | string scalar

SampleGenerationFiles — MATLAB sample files character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

SecretsManifest — Path to JSON manifest file character vector | string scalar

StrongNameKeyFile — Path to encryption key character vector | string scalar

SupportPackages — Support packages 'autodetect' (default) | 'none' | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

Verbose — Flag to control build verbosity 'off' (default) | on/off logical value

Output Arguments

results — Build results compiler.build.Results object

Limitations

Version History

See Also

WeChat

`Files` — Files implementing MATLAB functions
character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

`ClassMap` — Class map
`containers.Map` object

`opts` — .NET assembly build options
`compiler.build.DotNetAssemblyOptions` object

`AdditionalFiles` — Additional files
character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

`AssemblyName` — Name of .NET assembly
character vector | string scalar

`AssemblyVersion` — Assembly version
`'1.0.0.0'` (default) | character vector | string scalar

`AutoDetectDataFiles` — Flag to automatically include data files
`'on'` (default) | on/off logical value

`ClassName` — Name of .NET class
character vector | string scalar

`DebugBuild` — Flag to enable debug symbols
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

`EmbedArchive` — Flag to embed deployable archive
`'on'` (default) | on/off logical value

`EnableRemoting` — Flag to control remoting type
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

`ExternalEncryptionKey` — Paths to encryption key and loader files
scalar struct

`FrameworkVersion` — .NET Framework or .NET 5.0 or later
`'4.0'` (default) | character vector | string scalar

`Interface` — Data API
`'mwarray'` | `'matlab-data'` | character vector | string scalar

`ObfuscateArchive` — Flag to obfuscate deployable archive
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

`OutputDir` — Path to output directory
character vector | string scalar

`SampleGenerationFiles` — MATLAB sample files
character vector | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

`SecretsManifest` — Path to JSON manifest file
character vector | string scalar

`StrongNameKeyFile` — Path to encryption key
character vector | string scalar

`SupportPackages` — Support packages
`'autodetect'` (default) | `'none'` | string scalar | cell array of character vectors | string array

`Verbose` — Flag to control build verbosity
`'off'` (default) | on/off logical value

`results` — Build results
`compiler.build.Results` object