MATLAB: How could i shorten the for loop code

simple code

I made a script to print out a diamond, but would like to make my script shorter. Only for loops are allowed. Is there a different logical way that could eliminate some for loops?
Here is the code:
 row=input('enter an odd number: \n');
for i= 1:ceil(row/2);
     for j=1:row-i
       fprintf(' ')
     end
     for k=1:2*i-1
       fprintf('*')
     end
    fprintf('\n') 
end  
for j=ceil(row/2)-1:-1:1
    for q=1:row-j
       fprintf(' ')
     end
    for         k=2*j-1:-1:1
       fprintf('*')
    end
     fprintf('\n') 
end
%this is what it prints:
row= 9     
    *
   ***
  *****
 *******
*********
 *******
  *****
   ***
    *
Also, the index logic could probably be simpler. Thanks!

Best Answer

numRows = 25
numStars = [1:2:numRows,numRows-2:-2:1];
numSpaces = (numRows - numStars) / 2;
If you really want a loop:
for (ii = [numStars;numSpaces])
    spacePrint = repmat(' ',1,ii(2));
    starPrint = repmat('*',1,ii(1));
    fprintf([spacePrint,starPrint,'\n']);
end
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