Common get and set methods for dynamic properties in user defined classes

The matlab documentation shows how to define get and set functions for dynamic properties. Is it possible to defiine get and set methods that are common to several dynamic properties?

Answer 1

[Paras Gupta]

Hi Rajmohan,

I understand that you are want to have common set and get methods for several dynamic properties in a MATLAB class.

You can use the 'addlistener' function along with the 'PostSet' event to define a common set method, and the 'addlistener' function with the 'PostGet' event to define a common get method.

The following example code illustrates how to achieve the same:

classdef Car1 < handle

    % The properties need to be defined as SetObservable and GetObservable
    properties (SetObservable, GetObservable)
        Brand
        Model
    end
    
    methods
        function obj = Car1(brand, model)
            obj.Brand = brand;
            obj.Model = model;
            
            addlistener(obj, 'Brand', 'PostSet', @obj.commonSetMethod);
            addlistener(obj, 'Model', 'PostSet', @obj.commonSetMethod);
            addlistener(obj, 'Brand', 'PostGet', @obj.commonGetMethod);
            addlistener(obj, 'Model', 'PostGet', @obj.commonGetMethod);
        end
        
        function commonSetMethod(obj, ~, ~)
            disp('Common set method called');
        end
        
        function commonGetMethod(obj, ~, ~)
            disp('Common get method called')
        end
    end
end

You can try running the following commands to see that the 'commonSetMethod' and 'commonGetMethod' are being executed for both the properties 'Brand' and 'Model'.

car = Car1('Brand1', 'Model1');
car.Brand = 'Brand2';
car.Model = 'Model2'
disp(car.Brand);
disp(car.Model);

Please refer to the following documentation links for more information on the functions used in the code above:

• SetObservable, GetObservable - https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/property-attributes.html
• addlistener - https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/handle.addlistener.html
• Listen for Changes to Property Values - https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/listening-for-changes-to-property-values.html

Hope this resolves your query.