converting from dataset (statistics toolbox) to cell array

[ade77]

I have a varibale A, of dataset class (250 by 1), the contents are all string. I need to convert that into a cell array of (250 by 1), unfortunately there seems to be no built in function for this.

I tried cellstr in the documentation under dataset, but error.

Any hint.

[Peter Perkins]

On 7/1/2010 9:40 AM, ade77 wrote:
> I have a varibale A, of dataset class (250 by 1), the contents are all
> string. I need to convert that into a cell array of (250 by 1),
> unfortunately there seems to be no built in function for this.

You might have one of two things:

1) a dataset with a variable that's a char matrix
2) a dataset with a variable that's already a cellstr

In either case, if all you want to do is get one variable out and
convert it to a cell array of strings, you can just use the dataset's
dot subscripting to pick out the variable and convert it if necessary.

Case 1:
>> ds = dataset(['abc';'def';'ghi'])
ds =
Var1
abc
def
ghi
>> s = cellstr(ds.Var1)
s =
'abc'
'def'
'ghi'
In this case, it might make more sense to just convert it in place:
>> ds.Var1 = cellstr(ds.Var1)
ds =
Var1
'abc'
'def'
'ghi'
>> summary(ds)
Var1: [3x1 cell string]

Case 2:
>> ds = dataset({'abc';'def';'ghi'})
ds =
Var1
'abc'
'def'
'ghi'
>> s = ds.Var1
s =
'abc'
'def'
'ghi'
In this case, there's really no need to take it out of the array,
because you can refer to ds.Var1, and that _is_ a cell array of strings.

There is cellstr method for dataset that should do this for you:

>> cellstr(ds)
ans =
'abc'
'def'
'ghi'

So the fact that you said

> I tried cellstr in the documentation under dataset, but error.

makes me wonder what else is in that array.

[ade77]

Peter Perkins <Peter....@MathRemoveThisWorks.com> wrote in message <i0i8mo$9ho$1...@fred.mathworks.com>...

Deep appreciation Perkins