Prevent MATLAB from creating empty mfile if it doesn't exist

I would like to turn off the following behavior: When I try to open a mfile that doesn't exist as far as MATLAB knows*, MATLAB creates an empty mfile with that name in the present directory and opens it. Instead, when I try to open a non-existing file I would like MATLAB to return an error with no new file created. What setting do I have to change?

*Example of when this happens: I am editing mfile1 which calls mfile2. I don't realize mfile2 is not on my path. In mfile1's editor I use CNTRL-D to try and open mfile2. Since mfile2 is not on my path, it doesn't open: instead a new blank mfile2.m is created in the current directory and opened in the mfile editor.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

After CTRL+D you click "no" instead of "yes":

If at some point in the past you have checked the box "Do not show this prompt again", then the moral of the story is always remember what you yourself have chosen.

This page explains how to reset that checked box:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/instrument/general-preferences-for-instrument-control.html

Basically you need to check this box in the preferences:

:

[KAE]

I have only had this seat of MATLAB 1 day, but clearly that was long enough to have made a wrong choice! Thanks for the guidance on settings.

Answer 2

[the cyclist]

If you are doing this programmatically, then you can use the exist command to see if the file is there.