matlab-export-session-script - SKILL.md Agent Skill

name: matlab-export-session-script description: "Export conversation MATLAB code to a clean, runnable .m script. Use when asked to save or export session work. TRIGGER: user asks to save, export, or generate a script from the current session's MATLAB code. Also when asked for a reproducible script or clean version of what was run." license: MathWorks BSD-3-Clause metadata: author: MathWorks version: "1.0"

Exporting a Session to a MATLAB Script

Extracts all MATLAB code executed during the current conversation, assembles it into a well-documented, runnable .m script, and saves it to the working directory.

Quick Reference

Step	Action
1. Scan	Walk assistant messages chronologically; extract each executed MATLAB code block
2. Deduplicate	Keep only the final successful version of repeated blocks
3. Order	Arrange into logical workflow order (setup, model, config, analysis, visualization)
4. Format	Add `%%` section headers, consolidate parameters at top
5. Save	Write to `Results/<descriptive_name>.m` under the working directory

When to Use

User says "export this session as a script"
User says "create a script from what we did"
User says "save the MATLAB code from this conversation"
At the end of any MATLAB workflow session when deliverables are requested

When NOT to Use

Writing new MATLAB code from scratch — just write the code directly
Exporting non-MATLAB content (Python, shell scripts, etc.)
Creating Live Scripts (.mlx) — this skill produces plain .m files only

Extraction Rules

Include

All MATLAB code that produced meaningful results (analysis, design, visualization)
Variable assignments, function calls, plotting commands
addpath calls needed for utility functions used during the session

Exclude

Shell commands: PowerShell, Bash, OS commands, sbm wrappers
MCP tool call metadata and framework boilerplate
Exploratory one-liners that were debugging dead ends
Agent-only fprintf statements used to relay info back (keep user-facing ones)
'Visible','off' on figures -- the exported script is for interactive use

Deduplicate

When the same block was run multiple times (e.g., to fix an error), keep only the final successful version. Do not include intermediate failed attempts or parameter corrections -- use the values that worked.

Script Assembly

1. Scan the Conversation

Walk through all assistant messages chronologically. For each MATLAB code block that was executed (via MCP, -batch, or similar), extract the MATLAB portion and note:

What it accomplished (this becomes the section comment)
Whether it succeeded or was superseded by a later version
Its logical position in the workflow

2. Order Logically

Arrange extracted code into a natural workflow order, which may differ from execution order:

Setup (paths, parameters, imports)
Data loading / model creation
Configuration
Analysis / computation
Visualization / results

3. Format as Sections

%% <Title> -- <One-line summary>
% <Multi-line description of what this script does.>
% <Key context: what design, what board, what analysis, etc.>
%
% Required toolboxes: <list only what was actually used>

%% Step 1: <Description>
% <Why this step matters>
<code>

%% Step 2: <Description>
<code>

Formatting Conventions

%% section breaks for each logical step (creates foldable sections in MATLAB Editor)
One comment line before each section explaining intent
Consolidate parameters into the setup section rather than scattering through the script
Preserve variable names exactly as used in the session
Escape underscores in title() / xlabel() TeX strings: \_ not _

Output

File Naming

Derive from the session's primary task. Use lowercase with underscores:

openrex_core_rail_dc_analysis.m
hairpin_filter_design_2p4ghz.m
via_crosstalk_sweep.m

File Location

Save to Results/ under the working directory. Create the folder if it doesn't exist.

After Saving

Tell the user:

The file name and path
How many sections / lines the script contains
That it is ready to run in MATLAB with the required toolboxes

Common Patterns

One script per session -- consolidate all related work into a single script, even if it spans multiple design iterations. Multiple scripts are only warranted for unrelated workflows in the same session.
Parameters at the top -- gather all user-configurable values (freq, substrate, dimensions) into the setup section so the user can modify them without hunting through the script.
Suppress figures in batch -- if the script may be run non-interactively, wrap plotting in if ~exist('BATCH_MODE', 'var') guards. But default to showing figures for interactive use.
Path management -- if the script uses files (Touchstone, board files), place file paths in variables at the top of the setup section. Use fullfile() for cross-platform paths. Never hard-code absolute paths.

Batch mode header -- for scripts that may be run via matlab -batch, add at the top:

%% Configuration
BATCH_MODE = exist('BATCH_MODE', 'var') || ~usejava('desktop');
if ~BATCH_MODE, close all; clc; end

Results directory -- save outputs to a Results/ subfolder:

resultsDir = fullfile(pwd, 'Results');
if ~exist(resultsDir, 'dir'), mkdir(resultsDir); end

Pitfalls

Do not include shell commands. Only MATLAB code belongs in the exported script. PowerShell, Bash, and sbm wrapper invocations must be stripped. If a shell step is essential (e.g., downloading a file), replace it with a comment noting the prerequisite.
Do not keep failed iterations. When a code block was re-run after fixing an error, only the final successful version should appear. Including intermediate failures makes the script unrunnable.
Do not scatter parameters. Hard-coded values buried inside analysis or plotting sections are difficult to find and modify. Always hoist user-configurable parameters (freq, substrate, dimensions, file paths) into the setup section at the top.
Do not hard-code absolute paths. Paths like C:\Users\viyer\... break on other machines. Use fullfile() and relative paths, or place path variables in the setup section.
Do not leave 'Visible','off' on figures. Agent sessions suppress figure windows for non-interactive execution, but exported scripts are meant for interactive use. Remove 'Visible','off' arguments from figure() calls.
Escape underscores in TeX strings. MATLAB interprets _ as a subscript in title(), xlabel(), ylabel(), and legend() calls by default. Use \_ or set 'Interpreter','none'.