Why do I receive an error: "Invalid text character. Check for unsupported symbol, invisible character, or pasting of non-ASCII characters." from file "system_dependent.m"

Recently I am getting the following error when opening MATLAB or typing command like "ver" or "edit" in the command window:

Error using ver

Error: File: system_dependent.m Line: 1 Column: 24

Invalid text character. Check for unsupported symbol, invisible character, or pasting of non-ASCII characters.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

The file "system_dependent.m"  is a built-in MATLAB function. 

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This error is most likely caused because another "system_dependent" function is shadowing the built-in. This could happen when a folder that contains a "system_dependent.m" file was either added to MATLAB Path or it is the MATLAB Current Folder and thus it takes precedence when the function is called.

Please refer to the MATLAB Function Precedence Order below for more details:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/releases/R2023a/matlab/matlab_prog/function-precedence-order.html

 

To identify if the built-in function has been shadowed and fix the issue, please follow the steps below:

1.  Execute the following command in MATLAB Command Window:

>> which -all system_dependent

If the output contains directory paths, followed by the line:

built-in                                                           % Shadowed

then the built-in "system_dependent.m" function has been shadowed by the files in the preceding directories. 

 

2. Remove the preceding directories from the MATLAB Path or rename the "system_dependent.m" files in those directories.

You can remove the directories by doing the following:

a. On the Home tab in the MATLAB Toolstrip, in the Environment section, click Set Path. The Set Path dialog box opens, listing all folders on the search path.

b. Find and select the directories you want to remove and click the Remove button.

c. Save your changes.

 

3. Restart MATLAB