Using a String Variable to Name a Diary File

I would like to be able to create a Log file with a different name whenever I want to. I would like to do this using the current time.

DiaryName = strcat('Paper_',datestr(now,'yyyy_mm-dd_HH:MM:SS')); diary(DiaryName.log)

However, I get an error when this happens:

"Attempt to reference field of non-structure array."

I also tried making the '.log' part of DiaryName:

DiaryName = strcat('Paper_',datestr(now,'yyyy_mm-dd_HH:MM:SS'),'.log') diary(DiaryName)

I tried also diary('DiaryName'), but this created a file called 'DiaryName' instead of giving it the name with the time stamp that I wanted to give it.

Any thoughts on what I can do?

In addition, I have directed Matlab to change paths to the directory where my .m files are (the Main directory). I have created a folder called "Diary" within the Main folder. Is it possible to create a Macros in Matlab to avoid having to specify the whole path for the folder Diary? Specifically, it would be great if I could make a Macro called DiaryPath, and the do diary($DiaryPath\'DiaryName'.log) to save the diary there?

Thanks a lot!

Answer 1

[Jan]

Is it clear, why "DiaryName.log" must fail? The code means, that the field "log" of the struct "DiaryName" is wanted, but DiaryName is a string.

What is the problem with this commands:

DiaryName = strcat('Paper_', datestr(now,'yyyy_mm-dd_HH:MM:SS'), '.log');
diary(DiaryName)

Under Windows the ':' is not allowed in path names.

Instead of a macro let "DiaryPath" be a function, which replies the wanted folder:

function P = DiaryPath
P = 'C:\YourFolder\';

You have tried

diary(DiaryName)

and

diary('DiaryName')

This is pure guessing. Better read the Getting Started chapters of the documentation an rely on educated guessing only.

[Bill Tubbs]

That works. Thanks.

Answer 2

[Seo Woo Park]

diary(strcat('Paper_',datestr(now,'yyyy_mm-dd_HH:MM:SS')))

might be work