How do you retrieve the selected text in MATLAB?

Question

MATLAB has several selection-sensitive capabilities. For example, if you select some text and press F9, it evaluates your selection. (Unless you\'ve remapped your keyboard

Answer 1

Thanks to @Yair Altman's undocumented Matlab, I was able to figure out the java commands to make this work.

Put this in a shortcut (or a function that is called by the shortcut):

%# find the text area in the command window
jDesktop = com.mathworks.mde.desk.MLDesktop.getInstance;
try
  cmdWin = jDesktop.getClient('Command Window');
  jTextArea = cmdWin.getComponent(0).getViewport.getComponent(0);
catch
  commandwindow;
  jTextArea = jDesktop.getMainFrame.getFocusOwner;
end

%# read the current selection
jTxt = jTextArea.getSelectedText;

%# turn into Matlab text
currentSelection = jTxt.toCharArray'; %'

%# display
disp(currentSelection)