Figure Properties - SERC

loadobj
2loadobj
Purpose User-defined extension of the load function for user objects
Syntax b = loadobj(a)
Description b = loadobj(a) extends the load function for user objects. When an object is
loaded from a MAT-file, the load function calls the loadobj method for the
object’s class if it is defined. The loadobj method must have the calling
sequence shown; the input argument a is the object as loaded from the
MAT-file, and the output argument b is the object that the load function will
load into the workspace.
2-1362
These steps describe how an object is loaded from a MAT-file into the
workspace:
1 The load function detects the object a in the MAT-file.
2 The load function looks in the current workspace for an object of the same
class as the object a. If there isn’t an object of the same class in the
workspace, load calls the default constructor, registering an object of that
class in the workspace. The default constructor is the constructor function
called with no input arguments.
3 The load function checks to see if the structure of the object a matches the
structure of the object registered in the workspace. If the objects match, a is
loaded. If the objects don’t match, load converts a to a structure variable.
4 The load function calls the loadobj method for the object’s class if it is
defined. load passes the object a to the loadobj method as an input
argument. Note that the format of the object a is dependent on the results of
step 3 (object or structure). The output argument of loadobj, b, is loaded
into the workspace in place of the object a.
Remarks loadobj can be overloaded only for user objects. load will not call loadobj for
built-in data types (such as double).
loadobj is invoked separately for each object in the MAT-file. The load
function recursively descends cell arrays and structures, applying the loadobj
method to each object encountered.
A child object does not inherit the loadobj method of its parent class. To
implement loadobj for any class, including a class that inherits from a parent,
you must define a loadobj method within that class directory.