Reading in a text file to an array without matlab functions

I have a text file containing data in this format. There are four coloumn with over 400 lines and varying datatypes

col1 col2 col3 col4

int string dec string

int string dec string

int string dec string

How would I go about reading this into an array without using matlab functions such as textscan. I assume it would be some kind of loop, but I'm really not sure

Thank you

[dpb]

Why? Homework? What is end purpose/object?

[Barry Smith]

Homework, then mathematical functions(mean, median, mode ect) will be done to each column

[dpb]

What is actual text of the question as posed, then?

And we typically don't solve HW problems directly but will answer specific questions on syntax or other areas once have seen the effort put in first.

Answer 1

[Cris LaPierre]

You must have been given some direction as to how to do this. There is no way to read it in without using at least some MATLAB functions. Look up the functions you can use in the documentation to learn how to do this. A good starting place might be the low-level file I/O page.