MATLAB: Problems with the name when listing files if no extension is specified

dirfiles extensionname

I'm trying to list files in a folder using dir. Everything is alright when the files have an extension and I can specify it (i.e. A=dir('*.xlsx')).

I have however a problem when I do not specify the extension (dir('*.*') or dir(nameofthefolder) or simply dir): then the field 'name' of each file listed in A is a dot (i.e. A(1).name = '.').

I am listing files that apparently do not have an extension and it is required to read their name, so I need to be able to list them correctly without giving the extension.

Best Answer

FileList = dir('*.*');
FileList([FileList.isdir]) = [];  % Remove all directories including . and ..

Now your file list contains files only and the current folder . and the parent folder .. are excluded also.

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MATLAB: Is there any way to list all folders ONLY in the level directly below a selected directory

John, simply use dir():

% Get a list of all files and folders in this folder.
files = dir('C:\Users\John\Documents\MATLAB\work')
% Get a logical vector that tells which is a directory.
dirFlags = [files.isdir]
% Extract only those that are directories.
subFolders = files(dirFlags)
% Print folder names to command window.
for k = 1 : length(subFolders)
  fprintf('Sub folder #%d = %s\n', k, subFolders(k).name);
end

MATLAB: How to find the length of a directory

The error is most likely to the fact there is variable called dir (or, less likely, length) in your workspace. Try this

which dir
which length

To reproduce the error:

clear dir
dir('*.*')
dir = 1:4 ;
dir('*.*')

which gives the error " ??? Index exceeds matrix dimensions. ". The reason is that the last line is looking for the 42nd element of the vector dir, which has only four elements. (the ascii code of '*' is 42).

Best Answer

Related Solutions

MATLAB: Is there any way to list all folders ONLY in the level directly below a selected directory

MATLAB: How to find the length of a directory

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