A Blackjack GUI in Matlab – Part IV of using Guide

With this post we wrap up our introduction to using guide with a look at the usage of a push button and a drop-down menu in our creation of a blackjack strategy guide GUI. As a look back, or to catch up, you can visit our three previous posts: Part I: Creating the layout using guide; Part II: Setting up a table; and Part III: getting user input from radio buttons and text boxes. Finally, we have also attached all of the necessary code to the end of this post to do as you please.

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Building GUIs in Matlab – Part III Utilizing User Input

In this post we will combine the ideas presented in part I and part II on building a GUI utilizing guide in Matlab. So far we have generated two graphical windows, one of which includes radio buttons, edittable text boxes, a drop-down menu, and a push button, and the second of which has a modifiable strategy table. The object now is to combine the two windows, and allow for proper user control of all of these components.
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Building a GUI in Matlab – Part II Tables

Last week we looked at the usage of guide in building a GUI. We included radio buttons, both editable and static text boxes, a drop-down menu and a push button. This week, we’ll create our second GUI to display a table (uitable). As all the decisions in blackjack hinge on two pieces of information: 1) the face up card of the dealer; and 2) the player cards, a look-up table can provide an optimal method for making a simple informed choice of whether to hit, stand, split or double down.
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Building a GUI in Matlab using Guide – Part I

Users crave the ability to use graphical user interfaces (GUIs) to perform tasks. While command line input can be beneficial and easier to implement (see our previous post on user inputs), error handling and decision making can be more intuitive through a GUI. Over the next several weeks, we’ll demonstrate the wonderful capabilities of Matlab in creating such GUIs. Using the Matlab built-in GUI building tool guide, we will build a functional program that takes in user inputs and displays useful information. In order to make this exercise fun, we’ll be creating a GUI that provides the optimum strategy for decision making in the game of blackjack.

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