Reading Data from txt file with a unique FormatSpec

Hello,

I have a text file containing the data in the format - [[0,0,0,0,0,-3,0,0,0,0,0,-1],[0.025,0.025,0.025,0.025,0.025,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1],..N*[ ]... ,[0,0,0,0,0,-3,0,0,0,0,0,-1]]

and I need to read it into a 6 columns matrix.

What is the right function and FormatSpec to use?

I am struggeling with the FormatSpec...

THANKS!!

[Nir Goren]

• Sorry 12 columns - not 6 columns...
• Thanks

Answer 1

[Stephan]

One way:

A = reshape(double(replace(string(readcell('Test.txt')),["[[", "[", "]", "]]"],["", "", "", ""])),[],12)

This uses the attached example file baesd on your question.

Result:

A =

         0         0         0         0    0.0250    0.0250   -1.0000   -1.0000         0         0         0         0
         0         0         0         0    0.0250    0.0250   -1.0000   -1.0000         0         0         0         0
         0   -3.0000         0   -1.0000    0.0250   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000         0   -3.0000         0   -1.0000

[Nir Goren]

Thanks Stephan!

Cool and elegant solution :-)

Do you have an idea how to do the same with functions available in R2016b verison?

Cheers!

Nir

[Stephan]

As far as i can see, it would be needed to replace readcell by another function - all other stuff is available in 2016b - this should work:

A = reshape(double(split(replace(string(fileread('Test.txt')),["[[", "[", "]", "]]"],["", "", "", ""]),",",2)),[],12)

[Nir Goren]

THANKS!

Answer 2

[Stephen23]

Method one: fileread and regexp and str2double:

>> S = fileread('Test.txt');
>> M = reshape(str2double(regexp(S,'[+-]?\d*\.?\d+','match')),12,[]).'
M =
         0         0         0         0         0   -3.0000         0         0         0         0         0   -1.0000
    0.0250    0.0250    0.0250    0.0250    0.0250   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000
         0         0         0         0         0   -3.0000         0         0         0         0         0   -1.0000

Method two: textscan (probably more efficient):

opt = {'Delimiter',',','EndOfLine','[','HeaderLines',2,'CollectOutput',true};
fmt = [repmat('%f',1,12),'],'];
[fid,msg] = fopen('Test.txt','rt');
assert(fid>=3,msg)
C = textscan(fid,fmt,opt{:});
fclose(fid);
M = C{1}

Giving:

M =
         0         0         0         0         0   -3.0000         0         0         0         0         0   -1.0000
    0.0250    0.0250    0.0250    0.0250    0.0250   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000   -1.0000
         0         0         0         0         0   -3.0000         0         0         0         0         0   -1.0000

[Nir Goren]

Thanks Stephen!

Very useful for me :-)