.mat files associated with MS Access short cut

Control Panel > Default Programs > Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program > Select .mat > Change > Matlab.exe

http://www.mathworks.in/support/solutions/en/data/1-VW0R7/

Load configuration settings dynamically using Matlab Eval function

Configuration script file = config.m

% Test function to call configuration setting dynamically

function test (config)

eval (config)
....

% script to call function 'test'
test('config');