Additional license data - Undocumented Matlab

Matlab’s license function returns the primary license number/ID used by Matlab, but no information about the various toolboxes that may be installed. The ver function returns a bit more information, listing the version number and installation date of installed toolboxes (even user toolboxes, such as my IB-Matlab toolbox). However, no additional useful information is provided beyond that:

>> license
ans =
123456   % actual number redacted
>> ver
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATLAB Version: 9.1.0.441655 (R2016b)
MATLAB License Number: 123456
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional  Version 6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1)
Java Version: Java 1.7.0_60-b19 with Oracle Corporation Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM mixed mode
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MATLAB                                                Version 9.1         (R2016b)
Curve Fitting Toolbox                                 Version 3.5.4       (R2016b)
Database Toolbox                                      Version 7.0         (R2016b)
Datafeed Toolbox                                      Version 5.4         (R2016b)
Financial Instruments Toolbox                         Version 2.4         (R2016b)
Financial Toolbox                                     Version 5.8         (R2016b)
GUI Layout Toolbox                                    Version 2.2.1       (R2015b)
Global Optimization Toolbox                           Version 3.4.1       (R2016b)
IB-Matlab - Matlab connector to InteractiveBrokers    Version 1.89        Expires: 1-Apr-2018
Image Processing Toolbox                              Version 9.5         (R2016b)
MATLAB Coder                                          Version 3.2         (R2016b)
MATLAB Report Generator                               Version 5.1         (R2016b)
Optimization Toolbox                                  Version 7.5         (R2016b)
Parallel Computing Toolbox                            Version 6.9         (R2016b)
Statistical Graphics Toolbox                          Version 1.2
Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox               Version 11.0        (R2016b)
>> v = ver
v =
  1×16 struct array with fields:
    Name
    Version
    Release
    Date
>> v(1)
ans =
  struct with fields:
       Name: 'Curve Fitting Toolbox'
    Version: '3.5.4'
    Release: '(R2016b)'
       Date: '25-Aug-2016'
>> v(8)
ans =
  struct with fields:
       Name: 'IB-Matlab - Matlab connector to InteractiveBrokers'
    Version: '1.89'
    Release: 'Expires: 1-Apr-2018'
       Date: '02-Feb-2017'

>> license ans = 123456 % actual number redacted >> ver ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MATLAB Version: 9.1.0.441655 (R2016b) MATLAB License Number: 123456 Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Version 6.1 (Build 7601: Service Pack 1) Java Version: Java 1.7.0_60-b19 with Oracle Corporation Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM mixed mode ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- MATLAB Version 9.1 (R2016b) Curve Fitting Toolbox Version 3.5.4 (R2016b) Database Toolbox Version 7.0 (R2016b) Datafeed Toolbox Version 5.4 (R2016b) Financial Instruments Toolbox Version 2.4 (R2016b) Financial Toolbox Version 5.8 (R2016b) GUI Layout Toolbox Version 2.2.1 (R2015b) Global Optimization Toolbox Version 3.4.1 (R2016b) IB-Matlab - Matlab connector to InteractiveBrokers Version 1.89 Expires: 1-Apr-2018 Image Processing Toolbox Version 9.5 (R2016b) MATLAB Coder Version 3.2 (R2016b) MATLAB Report Generator Version 5.1 (R2016b) Optimization Toolbox Version 7.5 (R2016b) Parallel Computing Toolbox Version 6.9 (R2016b) Statistical Graphics Toolbox Version 1.2 Statistics and Machine Learning Toolbox Version 11.0 (R2016b) >> v = ver v = 1×16 struct array with fields: Name Version Release Date >> v(1) ans = struct with fields: Name: 'Curve Fitting Toolbox' Version: '3.5.4' Release: '(R2016b)' Date: '25-Aug-2016' >> v(8) ans = struct with fields: Name: 'IB-Matlab - Matlab connector to InteractiveBrokers' Version: '1.89' Release: 'Expires: 1-Apr-2018' Date: '02-Feb-2017'

It is sometimes useful to know which license number “owns” which product/toolbox, and the expiration date is associated with each of them. Unfortunately, there is no documented way to retrieve this information in Matlab – the only documented way is to go to your account section on the MathWorks website and check there.
Luckily, there is a simpler way that can be used to retrieve additional information, from right inside Matlab, using matlab.internal.licensing.getFeatureInfo:

>> all_data = matlab.internal.licensing.getFeatureInfo
all_data =
  23×1 struct array with fields:
    feature
    expdate
    keys
    license_number
    entitlement_id
>> all_data(20)
ans =
  struct with fields:
           feature: 'optimization_toolbox'
           expdate: '31-mar-2018'
              keys: 0
    license_number: '123456'
    entitlement_id: '1409891'
>> all_data(21)
ans =
  struct with fields:
           feature: 'optimization_toolbox'
           expdate: '07-mar-2017'
              keys: 0
    license_number: 'DEMO'
    entitlement_id: '3749959'

As can be seen in this example, I have the Optimization toolbox licensed under my main Matlab license (123456 [actual number redacted]) until 31-mar-2018, and also licensed under a trial (DEMO) license that expires in 3 weeks. As long as a toolbox has any future expiration date, it will continue to function, so in this case I’m covered until March 2018.
We can also request information about a specific toolbox (“feature”):

>> data = matlab.internal.licensing.getFeatureInfo('matlab')
data =
  3×1 struct array with fields:
    feature
    expdate
    keys
    license_number
    entitlement_id
>> data(1)
data =
  struct with fields:
           feature: 'matlab'
           expdate: '31-mar-2018'
              keys: 0
    license_number: '123456'
    entitlement_id: '1409891'

The drawback of this functionality is that it only provides information about MathWorks’ toolbox, not any user-provided toolboxes (such as my IB-Matlab connector, or MathWorks’ own GUI Layout toolbox). Also, some of the toolbox names may be difficult to understand (“gads_toolbox” apparently stands for the Global Optimization Toolbox, for example):

>> {all_data.feature}
ans =
  1×23 cell array
  Columns 1 through 4
    'curve_fitting_toolbox'    'database_toolbox'    'datafeed_toolbox'    'distrib_computing_toolbox'
  Columns 5 through 8
    'distrib_computing_toolbox'    'excel_link'    'fin_instruments_toolbox'    'financial_toolbox'
  Columns 9 through 15
    'gads_toolbox'    'gads_toolbox'    'image_toolbox'    'image_toolbox'    'matlab'    'matlab'    'matlab'
  Columns 16 through 20
    'matlab_coder'    'matlab_coder'    'matlab_report_gen'    'matlab_report_gen'    'optimization_toolbox'
  Columns 21 through 23
    'optimization_toolbox'    'optimization_toolbox'    'statistics_toolbox'

A related undocumented builtin function is matlab.internal.licensing.getLicInfo:

% Information on a single toolbox/product:
>> matlab.internal.licensing.getLicInfo('matlab')
ans =
  struct with fields:
     license_number: {'123456'  'Prerelease'  'T3749959'}
    expiration_date: {'31-mar-2018'  '30-sep-2016'  '07-mar-2017'}
% Information on multiple toolboxes/products:
>> matlab.internal.licensing.getLicInfo({'matlab', 'image_toolbox'})  % cell array of toolbox/feature names
ans =
  1×2 struct array with fields:
    license_number
    expiration_date
% The full case-insensitive names of the toolboxes can also be used:
>> matlab.internal.licensing.getLicInfo({'Matlab', 'Image Processing toolbox'})
ans =
  1×2 struct array with fields:
    license_number
    expiration_date
% And here's how to get the full list (MathWorks products only):
>> v=ver; data=matlab.internal.licensing.getLicInfo({v.Name})
data =
  1×16 struct array with fields:
    license_number
    expiration_date

I have [still] not found any way to associate a user toolbox/product (such as my IB-Matlab) in a way that will report it in a unified manner with the MathWorks products. If anyone finds a way to do this, please do let me know.
p.s. – don’t even think of asking questions or posting comments on this website related to illegal uses or hacks of the Matlab license…

6 Responses

Mikhail February 15, 2017 at 20:45 Reply

Try “ver -support” to get a listing with license numbers for each toolbox.

Yair Altman February 15, 2017 at 20:52 Reply

@Mikhail – yes, but (alas) without expiration dates…

Collin February 16, 2017 at 04:39 Reply

This may get you what you want

function out = getInstalled()
    % Problem with the support_packages implementor
    knowGoodTypes = {'toolbox','app','product','zip'};
    out = {};
    k = 1;
 
    % Get implementors
    jImplementors = com.mathworks.addons_common.AddonManagerFactory.getImplementors();
    pause(0.5);
 
    iter = jImplementors.listIterator;
    while iter.hasNext
        jImp = iter.next;
        type = char(jImp.getAddonTypeServiced);
        if ismember(type, knowGoodTypes)
            try
                jInstalledList = jImp.getInstalled;
                lenInstalled = length(jInstalledList);
                for itr = 1 : lenInstalled
                    jInstalled = jInstalledList(itr);
                    itype = char(jInstalled.getInstalledAddOnsMetadataToBeSentToManager.getDisplayType);
                    iname = char(jInstalled.getName);
                    iver =  char(jInstalled.getVersion);
                    idate = char(jInstalled.getInstalledDate.toString);
                    out{k,1} = [itype,' : ',iname,' ', iver,' ', idate];
                    k = k+1;
                end
            catch
            end
        end
    end
 
end

Brad Stiritz February 17, 2017 at 05:17 Reply

Hi Yair,

I noticed “Statistical Graphics Toolbox” in your version listing. What is that, if I may ask, please? I couldn’t find any info on my own. Thanks in advance.

Yair Altman February 17, 2017 at 09:41 Reply

@Brad – This is the graphics package which is part of the Lightspeed toolbox by Tom Minka.

Andrew February 6, 2018 at 19:00 Reply

Is there any way to return a floating toolbox license without closing the Matlab session? Its not uncommon for me to find that somewhere in my code base I accessed an obscure toolbox which another user now wants to use. At present the only way to that I know of to release the license is to stop what I am doing and shut down Matlab.

Yair Altman (4 days 15 hours ago): Yes, the report is still available. You can get it here.
Luis Santiago (4 days 16 hours ago): Hi Yair. Your articles are excellent and, even now, they are still applicable. Is the uitable report still available? I’d really like getting it.
Adam D Danz (11 days 12 hours ago): Opps…. I was using the wrong syntax: MarkedClean is an EventName and I was accidentally treating it as a PropertyName. Also, ignore the “MarkedDirty” reference...
Adam D Danz (11 days 14 hours ago): Yair, thanks for your unmatched contributions to exploring Matlab under the hood. I noticed that listeners responding to MarkedClean in geoaxes throw an error even though...
Adee Ran (11 days 19 hours ago): Yair, once again, I find the answer to the issue that annoy me is in your site since long ago. Both the highlighting control and focus control (using uicontrol() ) are simple,...
Yair Altman (28 days 10 hours ago): @Tucker – AFAIK markedClean still works even in the very latest release. In recent years MathWorks added a few documented hooks for trapping axes updates etc., but the...
Tucker Downs (29 days 2 hours ago): Hi Yair, Is “markedClean” still your recommendation for wanting to redraw graphics primitive like objects? I’m working on trying to make some native-like...
Yair Altman (48 days 14 hours ago): It is not clear from your comment what command you’re trying to use. You basically have 4 alternatives: To use the builtin saveas function To use the builtin...
Alvaro (48 days 15 hours ago): Hello all, First of all let me thank you for your posts they were very helpful. I implemented a code to show contour labels with scientific notation in latex format...
Yair Altman (53 days 20 hours ago): Perhaps the uihtml function can help you (R2019b or newer). In any case, uifiures use a radically different underlying technology than Java-based figures, so everything...
Neelakanda Bharathiraja (53 days 20 hours ago): Hi Yair, Please let us know how to create the same integrated browser control with uifigure.
matt (63 days 6 hours ago): There is no Edge in quiver, so this workaround will not help.
matt (63 days 6 hours ago): I very much wanted this to work with Quiver, and it does as long as the number of points is not too big. Using 2018a, I get the warnings/errors above even if placed in a single call to...
matse (68 days 15 hours ago): Is there a possibility to rotate the controllib.widget.Slider? So to have it vertical? Thanks!
Yair Altman (73 days 17 hours ago): Perhaps it’s because the table is empty, I don’t know. In any case, I think you can ignore this error, I don’t think that it affects the functionality.

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