MATLAB: Setting variable names from a character array

Question

hi,

I have a character array, for example:

vars = ['X';'Y']

I want to assign the name of an element in vars to a double array, such as:

for i=1:2
  char(vars(i,:)) = rand(10,1)
end

Unfortunately this does not work as I am obviously attempting to equate a character array to a double array of different length. Instead of course what I was attempting to do is name a double array from a predefined list.

Please help!

thx

Answer 1

Do not do this. Creating variables dynamically a is common and frequent source of errors. In addition is is slow. See:

• http://matlab.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#Why_is_it_advised_to_avoid_using_the_.22eval.22_function.3F
• http://www.mathworks.co.uk/support/tech-notes/1100/1103.html

Use either an array, cell array or struct:

vars = {'X', 'Y'};
S = [];
for i = 1:2
  S.(vars{i}) = rand(10,1);
end

Or:

C = {};
for i = 1:2
  C{i} = rand(10,1);
end