how to create function without having to use all the inputs in the script

i have a function with many inputs how can i write this function so i would not have to fill all the inputs? for example now i have this function

 T=Tavg('none',12,[],[])

to avoid using the last 2 inputs i must set them to empty array in the script

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

You have several options:

1. Use empty matrices as you have done. Advantages: Optional arguments can be anywhere. Disadvantages: You still have to pass empty matrices for optional arguments.

function T = Tavg(a,b,c,d)
  if isempty(a)
    a = defaulta;
  end
  %same for b,c,d

usage:

   T = Tavg(a, [], c, []);

2. Use nargin as per James example. Advantages: dead simple. Disadvantages: Only the last(s) argument(s) is(are) optional. You can't have an optional argument in the middle

3. Use the property/value pair that mathworks use for a number of functions like plot. Advantages: Very flexible. Disadvantages: you have to do all the parsing and the user has to refer to the documentation to know the names of the properties.

function T = Tavg(varargin)
   a = defaulta; b = defaultb; ...
   for opt = 1:3:nargin
     switch varargin{opt}
        case 'a'
          a = varargin{opt+1};
        case 'b'
          b = varargin{opt+1};
        ...

usage:

T = Tavg('a', a, 'c', c);

4. Use a class for your function and class property for the optional arguments (like a functor, if you're familiar with C++). Advantages: Very flexible. Automatic tab completion for arguments. Self-documented. Can be reused without having to reenter the arguments. Disadvantages: usage may be too unusual for some people as it's OOP.

classdef Tavg
   properties
     a = defaulta;
     b = defaultb;
     ...
   end

     methods
       function T = Apply(this)
            T = this.a + this.b - this.c * this.d;
       end
     end
  end

usage:

   TAvgfun = Tavg;
   TAvgfun.a = a;
   Tavgfun.c = c;
   T = Tavgfun.Apply(); % or T = Apply(TAvgfun);

Answer 2

[James Tursa]

Use nargin in your function to determine how many inputs are actually being passed in. E.g.

function T = Tavg(a,b,c,d)
if( nargin == 2 )
    c = something; % c wasn't passed in
    d = something; % d wasn't passed in
end
etc.