How to assign strings and numbers to elements of the same matrix?
54 views (last 30 days)
Show older comments
I want to write the word "average" in the 5 element, first row on my matrix and I want to write numbers 1 to 3 into the second to fourth elements. But I am using wrong syntax:
ResultMtx(2:5,1) = [1; 2; 3; "average"];
How can I write this correctly? Thank you.
0 Comments
Accepted Answer
Walter Roberson
on 9 Sep 2021
[1; 2; 3; "average"]
The first part of that, the 1; 2; 3, is establishing a numeric array -- in particular a double precision array.
The last part of that, the "average", is a string() scalar.
MATLAB cannot store string() scalars inside a numeric array. MATLAB numeric arrays do not store the datatype of each element separately: numeric arrays only store a single datatype that applies to the entire array.
You can create a cell array,
ResultMatx = num2cell(ResultMatx);
ResultMatx(2:5,1) = {1; 2; 3; "average"};
cell arrays can have a different datatype for each element. But you might not like the formatting for displaying them.
3 Comments
Walter Roberson
on 9 Sep 2021
I recommend you use cell arrays, and use writecell(), provided that your MATLAB is new enough to have writecell()
data = randi(9, 6, 1)
datacell = num2cell(data);
datacell{end-1,1} = "average";
datacell{end,1} = mean(cell2mat(datacell(1:end-2,:)))
Walter Roberson
on 9 Sep 2021
You could also use a numeric array and put NaN values, and then later ask to writecell into that particular location in the existing table. This is not efficient, as it requires a separate writecell() for each text written into an otherwise numeric column (though adjacent items could be merged into one call.)
More Answers (1)
Steven Lord
on 9 Sep 2021
Do you need your data stored with mixed-type columns or would mixed-type rows work? If the latter, consider a table array.
ResultTbl = table(1, 2, 3, "average")
scores = ResultTbl{1, 1:3}
assessment = ResultTbl.Var4
2 Comments
Walter Roberson
on 9 Sep 2021
If I understand correctly, user is looking to store the results into Excel, not unlike the way it is common for people to have spreadsheets that say things like
Jan 5
Feb 2
Mar -4
Apr 7
total ====
10
Hassan Bahy
on 20 Nov 2021
mr Walter Roberson could you help me to create a table consist of multi rows with two column the first column from data type string & second column is numbers, could you help me sir,please
See Also
Categories
Find more on Data Type Conversion in Help Center and File Exchange
Community Treasure Hunt
Find the treasures in MATLAB Central and discover how the community can help you!
Start Hunting!