MATLAB: Use variables for DataRange option in detectImportOptions

Question

So,

I'm reading an xlsx file with

covidData = detectImportOptions('COVID19.xlsx');

now, I would like to use

covidData.DataRange = 'firstIndex:lastIndex';

to access the data I need. Problem is that my range is saved into variables and, I don't think that .DataRange took actual variable as a range but it works only if I use actual number as

covidData.DataRange = '1:2';

Is there a way to bypass it?

Answer 1

Just found out the solution.

Easy way is to concatenate strings with

strcat(firstIndex_s,':',lastIndex_s);