How to use variable names/strings in a For cycle
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Hi,
I have the following code:
B1=matrix(:,1)
B2=matrix(:,2)
B3=matrix(:,3)
B4=matrix(:,4)
B5=matrix(:,5)
I would like to replace the 5 lines of code above by a "For" cycle.
However, I get an error when I try to compile the following code:
For i=1:5
"B"+i=i
end
The error is:
Incorrect use of '=' operator. Assign a value to a variable using '=' and compare values for equality using '=='.
How can I define variable names/strings correctly?
I thank you in advance,
Best regards,
1 Comment
Stephen23
on 25 Jan 2022
Edited: Stephen23
on 25 Jan 2022
"How can I define variable names/strings correctly?"
Dynamically naming variables is one way that beginners force themselves into writing slow, complex, inefficient, obfuscated code that is buggy and difficult to debug. Here are some reasons why:
The simple and efficient MATLAB approach is to use indexing. Is there a particular reason why you cannot use indexing?
Here is simpler, much more efficient code that actually works (unlike your code):
for k = 1:5
vec = matrix(:,k);
end
Accepted Answer
KSSV
on 25 Jan 2022
You need not to do that.....it is sheer waste of time and not a good coding practise. You can save the data into a 3D matrix. This is preferred.
B = zeros(2,2,5) ;
B(:,:,1) = rand(2) ;
B(:,:,2) = rand(2) ;
B(:,:,3) = rand(2) ;
B(:,:,4) = rand(2) ;
B(:,:,5) = rand(2) ;
You can access them by using B(:,:,1),..B(:,:,5)
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More Answers (2)
Voss
on 25 Jan 2022
Here is how you can do it:
matrix = magic(5);
for i = 1:5
eval(['B' num2str(i) '=matrix(:,' num2str(i) ');']);
end
whos()
Here is why you shouldn't do it: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval
Here is what you should do instead:
clear variables
matrix = magic(5);
B = cell(1,size(matrix,2));
for i = 1:5
B{i} = matrix(:,i);
end
whos()
celldisp(B)
Or:
clear variables
matrix = magic(5);
B = num2cell(matrix,1);
whos()
celldisp(B)
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