How to import data of the form [variable name]Data[-]

I want to read data and variables from a specially formatted file as MATLAB variables. Preferably into a structure.

I am looking for the best approach for a quick solution. unfortunately I am stuck. Maybe someone can give me a helpful hint.

Data in the file have the strucktur:

[variable name]

data

[-]

[variable name]

x1 y1

x2 y2

x3 y3

[-]

A shortened example file:

Instrument Name

File Format Version

[DateTime]

1643810991

[-]

[GenParams]

[CableID]

[-]

[FiberID]

[-]

[FiberType]

0

[-]

[Settings]

[Wavelength]

1

[-]

[PulseWidth]

7

[-]

[End]

35.000

[-]

[Start]

0.000

[-]

[DataPoints]

0.011 -5.000

0.011 -5.000

0.036 -5.000

0.061 -5.000

[-]

[Rik]

What have you tried so far?

It seems like you should split your text on the [-] lines. How did you try to parse each of those segments to struct fields? It looks to me like some have 2 names or don't have data. How do you want to deal with those?

[Simon Dengler]

I tried to read it as csv and set different kinds of separators. This obviously does not work well.

How do I do that? "How did you try to parse each of those segments to struct fields?" Sounds like a good approach.

[Rik]

Your data is much too mixed to read as a csv. That works best if you have a single array (with or without some fixed number of header lines).

[AndresVar]

Before you spend a long time to make a parser, check if your instrument manufacturer has a way to convert or export the data in another more familiar format. Google, maybe someone already parsed it.

[Simon Dengler]

Of course, I've already looked at the manufacturer, who doesn't provide anything. the company is also far too small and the product far too niche. I will have to tackle the task myself.

I haven't built a praser yet. now I'm looking for information how to do that

[Stephen23]

@Simon Dengler: please upload a sample file by clicking the paperclip button.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

rgx = '\[(\w+)\]\s*([^\[]+)\[\-\]';
str = fileread('test.txt');
tkn = regexp(str,rgx,'tokens');
tkn = vertcat(tkn{:});
tmp = cellfun(@str2num,tkn(:,2),'uni',0);
out = cell2struct(tmp,tkn(:,1),1);
out.DateTime = datetime(out.DateTime,'ConvertFrom','posix')

out = struct with fields:
      DateTime: 02-Feb-2022 14:09:51
       CableID: []
       FiberID: []
     FiberType: 0
    Wavelength: 1
    PulseWidth: 7
           End: 35
         Start: 0
    DataPoints: [4×2 double]

out.DataPoints

ans = 4×2

0.0110 -5.0000 0.0110 -5.0000 0.0360 -5.0000 0.0610 -5.0000

[Simon Dengler]

Thank you very much!! That's perfect, and so wonderfully simple.