GUI automatically removes elements from variables when selected

Hi Matlab community

I have a strange bug in my Matlab programme. When I open a variable (e.g. double clicking on it in the workspace), and then select an element from that variable by clicking on it once (e.g. one cell of a cell array), after a few seconds Matlab decides to empty that element and replace with '[]'. It is quite annoying when debugging, when the variable being operated on is suddenly corrupted. Does anybody know why Matlab is doing this? It only does it on one computer and one particular install. The version is R2016a running on Windows 10 Enterprise.

Many thanks Chris

Answer 1

[Jan]

This would happen, if a book is touching the backspace key of you laptop keyboard.

I've never seen a case, in which Matlab really act magically. Whenever it looked like it does, there have been a more or less trivial explanation. So try to find out, what you have to do to replicate the bahavior intentionally and check multiple times (prefer the magic number of 7 ;-) ) if this is not what really happens.

Is Matlab running during this happens? Perhaps a timer callback using inputEmu? Open an editor and check, if unexpected keyboard behavior can be observed there also. Does you neighbor use a wireless keyboard from the same manufacturer like yours?

[Jan]

[MOVED from asnwer section - please post comments as comment]

Christopher Brown wrote:

Hi

Thanks for your reply, you have helped me figure it out - just by your pointing out that is must be something like a keyboard - actually it turns out to a program I was running called Caffeine which keeps the computer awake (I am remote desktopping to a computer that has sleep settings i can't alter) - so I just need to remember to pause it while working with Matlab! Thanks so much

Chris

[Jan]

You can use FEX: WinPower to control the sleep mode from inside Matlab.