MATLAB: Create a new matrix from a mapping process

Question

I have mapped a set of numbers to a list of strings for example

KS = {'A','B','C'}; VS = [1:3]; x = containers.Map(KS,VS);

I have a 1 coloumn vector that looks like this

'A' 'B' 'B' 'C' 'A'

I want to create a new matrix which maps the letters to their respective numbers – so this would return 1 2 2 3 1

many thanks

Answer 1

Vin = {'A' 'B' 'B' 'C' 'A'};
return1 = [Vin{:}] - 'A' + 1;

or

KS = {'A','B','C'};
VS = [1:3]; 
Vin = {'A' 'B' 'B' 'C' 'A'};
[~,ii] = ismember(Vin,KS);
out = VS(ii);