This routine allows one to read MATLAB MAT-files in IDL. I've only tested it on very specific .mat files so far, and not all variable types are supported yet. However, the code is written in such a way that one should be able to easily extend it so that it reads the other objects MATLAB can store in a .mat file. If you'd like me to add something, send me a .mat file and I'll try to make it work.

This routine only reads Level 5 .mat files [1] - it doesn't read HDF-based MATLAB format.

Usage:

PRO load_mat, , , STORE_LEVEL=store_level, $ VERBOSE=verbose, DEBUG=debug

By default, it will create the variables on the $MAIN$ level. To have the routine only create variables in your program's context, use STORE_LEVEL=-1 in your program. See the (undocumented) IDL function ROUTINE_NAMES for more information [2, 3].

[1] http://www.mathworks.com/access/helpdesk/help/pdf_doc/matlab/matfile_format.pdf [2] http://www.physics.wisc.edu/~craigm/idl/down/routine_names.pro [3] http://www.idlcoyote.com/tips/access_main_vars.html