MATLAB: How do convert array x to array z

MATLAB

Hi, How do convert array x to array z ?
x = [4 4 8 8 8 5 5 4 8 8 4]
Z = [1 1 2 2 2 3 3 1 2 2 1]
4 -> 1
8 -> 2
5 -> 3

Best Answer

If you want to convert the first value, whatever it may be, to 1, the second to 2, etc:
>> x = [4 4 8 8 8 5 5 4 8 8 4];
>> [~,ia,ic] = unique(x,'first');
>> [~,ia] = sort(ia);
>> z = ia(ic)
z =
1 1 2 2 2 3 3 1 2 2 1