MATLAB: Finding columns by name in a cell array

Question

Hello all,

Let's say I have a large cell array with similar variable names in the first row (A_F1 , B_F2 , A_F2 , G_F5 …) followed by data.

I want to create a smaller cell array with just the columns where the variable name starts with A_ AND the one column right before each of those variables. Something based on this (thanks Stephen Cobeldick!):

idx = strncmp(QC(1,:),'A_',2); %Find the columns that start with A_

? %Find the columns right before those that start with A_

Q = QC(:,idx); %Produce the new cell array

How would I do that?

Thank you

Answer 1

 idx = strncmp(QC(1,:),'A_',2);
 idx = idx | [idx(2:end),false];
 Q = QC(:,idx);