calllib error when using refpropm in Matlab 2021a

Like title says, I get the following error

Error using calllib

Parameter can not be converted to a character vector

Error in refpropm (line 262)

[nc path hmix href ierr errTxt] =

calllib(libName,'SETUPdll',numComponents,path,hmix,href,0,32*ones(255,1),10000,255,3,255);

when I prompt a command like

refpropm('T','P',101.325,'Q',0,'WATER')

I am using MINI-REFPROP which I downloaded from https://trc.nist.gov/refprop/MINIREF/MINIREF.HTM

I followed the guides found at these sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTn-IUXTGc4

https://trc.nist.gov/refprop/LINKING/Linking.htm#MatLabApplications

https://github.com/usnistgov/REFPROP-wrappers/tree/master/wrappers/MATLAB/legacy

I downloaded the various files (both .m and .dll) as well as REFPROP.h

I edited the refprop.m file to point to my MINI-REFPROP install path (which is the default C:\Program Files\MINI-REFPROP\)

I also installed the compiler 'MinGW64 Compiler (C)' and tested it like indicated in the help page, and I edited the rp_proto64.m file, since I previously got the error "Too many input arguments." so I added the (a) to the code

function [methodinfo,structs,enuminfo,ThunkLibName]=rp_proto64(a)

Can anyone help to fix me this error?

[Walter Roberson]

refpropm is no longer supported; https://github.com/usnistgov/REFPROP-wrappers/tree/master/wrappers/MATLAB

[Federico]

Thanks Walter for the reply!

So basically, if I want to use matlab with refprop I have to use the pyton interface? Is not possible to use older versions of matlab and refprop as a workaround? Because I have zero experience with python and at the moment it would be problematic to learn a new language.

Thanks

[Walter Roberson]

Sorry, I do not know.

refprop has been problematic for several years. I have tried to assist other people in the past, but there were problems about supported MATLAB release and supported operating system, and supported compilers.

[Federico]

No problem,

I will try to find something more and try to fix this.

I think we can close the question.

Thanks!

Answer 1

[Federico]

Just for posterity,

I fixed in this way:

Installing REFPROP10,

following this tutorial

https://github.com/usnistgov/REFPROP-wrappers/tree/master/wrappers/MATLAB/legacy

but using this code for refpropm

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/usnistgov/REFPROP-wrappers/master/wrappers/MATLAB/legacy/refpropm.m

which has to be copy pasted into the refpropm that you dowload from the above tutorial.

Others passages indicated in the github tutorial are to be followed, but please note that all the files that you need to download have to be placed into the REFPROP folder, and then you need to add that folder to MATLAB using "Set Path" button under "ENVIRONMENT" section.

Hopefully this will help someone too!

[Luuk ten Damme]

Hi Frederico,

I tried to install the package and run the example of the tutorial. However, I get a bunch of errors, as indicated in the attached image. I have two possible causes:

1. I obtained the REFPRP64.dll file from https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1gST9ScDUH1rX-zMbs2bwhtNGXuaKnbnR. However, this might not match with the REFPROP installed.

2. I obtained the MINIREF.EXE from https://trc.nist.gov/refprop/MINIREF/MINIREF.HTM and saved the directory as C:\Program Files (x86)\REFPROP.

Do you know how to solve the bunch of errors attached to this message or know a solution for possible issues 1 and/or 2?

Thanks in advance!

[Chiara]

Have you solved this??