variable to executable code

Is it possible to change the value of a variable to text and then execute that text as code?

for example, if I have two different functions, function1(t) and function2(t), and I have a variable x that can take on the values {1,2}, would it be possible to do something like

Y = function'num2code(x)'(t)

where 'num2code(x)' (an expression that I'm just making up) is evaluated as a text '1' or '2' and then executed as part of the code in order to call the appropriate function.

In other words I am looking for dynamically generated code. I realize that I could accomplish the same thing with a series of 'if' statements, but in my case it would make the code very verbose and difficult to maintain.

[José-Luis]

You could use eval(). I am afraid that would make your code a nightmare to maintain, though. eval() not only confuses the debugger, but also, parsing strings passed to eval() is a known source of headaches and frustration and causes the name of many mothers to be taken in vain.

The general consensus is that it is a bad idea to do so. A slightly better idea would be to use feval().

Answer 1

[José-Luis]

 doc feval

[Ryan]

thank you!

[José-Luis]

My pleasure. I would still recommend that you avoid using it though. Loops are not always evil.