Released in late 2009, MATLAB R2009b (Version 7.9) was a landmark update that focused heavily on enhancing the user experience and workspace efficiency. It is often remembered for introducing "power user" features like customizable keyboard shortcuts and a redesigned file browser. Key Desktop Enhancements Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts
: This release finally allowed users to bind custom key combinations to actions ranging from simple file operations (open, new, cut) to complex tasks like launching reports or formatting. Redesigned "Current Folder" Browser
: Renamed from the "Current Directory Browser," it introduced a new address bar, a searchable file hierarchy (including subfolders), and a preview pane to view file contents without opening them. In-App File Exchange Released in late 2009, MATLAB R2009b (Version 7
: A new interface allowed users to search and download community-contributed files directly within the MATLAB environment. Technical Improvements Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) : R2009b continued the refinement of the
syntax introduced in earlier 2008/2009 versions, supporting properties, methods, and events similar to other major programming languages. Performance Released in late 2009
: It addressed overhead issues found in R2009a, particularly improving the execution speed of object methods to bring them closer to standard function speeds. Simulink Updates
: New features included a printable Sample Time Legend and improved support for various C/C++ and Fortran compilers. System Requirements (Windows) R2009 in review » MATLAB Community - MathWorks Blogs a searchable file hierarchy (including subfolders)
The professional version included a suite of toolboxes that are still revered:
Many PhD theses from 2010–2015 included MATLAB 2009b code with specific random number generation seeds or toolbox functions that behave differently in modern releases. To replicate results, researchers need the exact ISO.