MATLAB: How to load many variables form base environment

code smellevalinload

Dear reader,
Here is a toy example. Inside a user-defined function, I currently use the following syntax:
a = evalin('base', 'a');
b = evalin('base', 'b');
c = evalin('base', 'c');
which allows me to load 3 matlab variables, called a,b,c from base environment into the current function's workspace. In reality I have many more variables, not only 3. Therefore, I am looking for a more elegant way to write this code.
A solution would be to write a new matlab function (I'll call it loadVarsFromBaseEnv.m) which should permit me to call it as follows:
loadVarsFromBaseEnv a b c
However, I have no idea how to write the code of loadVarsFromBaseEnv.m
Any help, suggestion are highly appreciated.

Best Answer

"goal is not to write nice matlab code, but instead structure it in the most convenient way" &nbsp How come you believe there is conflict between "nice" and "convenient"? Whatever these words mean in this context.
Here is an "elegant" code that meets your original requirements. Example of use:
    a = 1;
    b = magic(3);
    c = dir;
    JustGetTheWorkDone a b c
prints
      Name           Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes
      a              1x1                 8  double              
      b              3x3                72  double              
      c             89x1             57407  struct              
      varargin       1x3               342  cell
where
    function    JustGetTheWorkDone( varargin )
        loadVarsFromBaseEnv( varargin{:} )
        whos
    end
and
    function    loadVarsFromBaseEnv( varargin )
        try
            for jj = 1 : length( varargin )
                val = evalin( 'base', varargin{jj} );  
                assignin( 'caller', varargin{jj}, val ) 
            end
        catch
            fprintf( 2, 'loadVarsFromBaseEnv: Something went wrong\n' ) %#ok<PRTCAL>
        end
    end
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