Reading a binary file in parts

I have raw data from a sensor stored in a 1Gb binary file, and I would like to read it sequentially, i.e. in a loop, where the information is being processed simultaneously. In other words, as if the data were being received in real time. Is that possible in Matlab?

Answer 1

[Alexander]

You should use fread.

[Federico]

I have that idea, Paul, but can be used this function, fread, for reading an intermediate part of the file? How?

[Alexander]

Here some code:

% ExampleFread.m

fid = fopen('ABCDE.txt');

in = fread(fid,4); % read 4 byte

char(in)

in = fread(fid,4); % read another 4 byte

char(in)

fclose(fid)

Hope it helps.

[Alexander]

Just some remarks:

If you are not short of memory you can use

in = fread(fid);

Than you have the whole bunch of bits and bytes in your vector "in". After that you can parse the data according your needs.

Second: If you have to deal often with the file directly, get familiar with the low level i/o functions of Matlab (i.e. fseek, frewind, feof, ..., these are similar like the functions in C language), then you can stroll through your file as you want.

[Federico]

Understood. Thanks to both of you!