How to get the output variable name in the load() in matlab?

I want to load an ascii-file using this syntax:

load('10-May-data.dat').

The returned output variable name should be X10_May_data.

Is there a way to get the variable name in matlab?

If I want to use regular expression to do the translation, how can I do it? For example, put an X before any underscores or digits in filename and replaces any other non alphabetic characters with underscores.

Thanks

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

genvarname(regexprep('10-May-data', '-', '_'))

But you should not be using dynamically generated names as the names of variables.

http://matlab.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#How_can_I_create_variables_A1.2C_A2.2C....2CA10_in_a_loop.3F

[Yang]

regexprep('10-May-data', '[^a-zA-Z0-9]', '_');

Answer 2

[Steven Lord]

The easiest and safest way is to call LOAD with an output argument so you know at the time you write your code what the variable name will be.

 mydata = load('10-May-data.dat');