MATLAB: Allow user to name structure

dynamicstructstructuresuser inputvariables

I realize variables should not be named dynamically, but I would like to name structures dynamically. We have large data sets for various vehicles where I think dynamic naming would help for easier storage of the structures as mat files.

For example, lets say we have some data for a dodge vehicle. I would like the user to be able to input 'Dodge' and then the structure would be Dodge.Data1, Dodge.Data2, etc. Then when the structure is saved as a mat file, it is saved as 'Dodge'.

This would allow the user to easily access structures for Dodge, Ford, Chevy, etc. for example.

The other way that I could think of is have a separate field for the specific model within the structure, like Car.model = 'Dodge'. The resulting structure here would be called Car. I feel like this would make it more difficult for a user to quickly locate the .mat file that has the 'Dodge' data in it.

Any ideas?

Best Answer

You can do this.

sname='Dodge';
S.(sname).Data1=...
S.(sname).Data2=...

and then when you want to save to a .mat file you do

save filename.mat -struct S

However, what you are pursuing sounds excessively acrobatic to me. You could just have different .mat files for different cars. Then, if you want to read data for a particular car into a structure, you could just do things like,

   carData=load('Dodge.mat')

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Structure is pointlessly nested within itself when I save it. How to unnest

When you save the struct that you received from load after modifying it, use the '-struct' option in your save call.

>> x = 1:10;
>> y = magic(5);
>> S = struct('x', x, 'y', y);
>> save('mymatfile.mat', '-struct', 'S');
>> whos -file mymatfile.mat
  Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes
  x         1x10               80  double              
  y         5x5               200  double

MATLAB: Save a structure that is within a structure

You can save a structure from within a structure only in the very limited case that the parent structure is a scalar structure array and that all fields within the parent structure are to individually become variables in the mat file. The handles structure is a scalar structure so it meets the first requirement but it is quite unlikely that you want to save all parts of it to become individual variables.

It is likely that you will need to save the content of the substructure to a variable and then save the variable.

Car = handles.Car;
save(FullPath, 'Car')

The one exception I mentioned would look like

save(FullPath, '-struct', 'handles')

Best Answer

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MATLAB: Structure is pointlessly nested within itself when I save it. How to unnest

MATLAB: Save a structure that is within a structure

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