Changing data from a list to a matrix

I have a list of data, 4 columns representing independent variables and the 5th column representing the value f(w,x,y,z). Data exists for every value of the independent variable in the desired range, through interpolation.

Is there an efficient way to change this data into a 4-dimensional array? I am trying to use it as table data in a 4-D lookup table.

Thanks.

Answer 1

[the cyclist]

Can we make a simplified example, to understand what you mean? Suppose you just have 3 columns of data, and your function is f(x,y).

The "list" (i.e. 2-D array) of data is something like,

list = [1 1  5;
        1 2  7;
        1 3 11;
        2 1 13;
        2 2 17;
        2 3 19];

where the three columns are [x, y, f(x,y)]. Is that right?

And so the output in this case would be a 2-D array of size 2*3, which you get by doing

out = reshape(list(:,end),[3,2])

out = 3×2

5 13 7 17 11 19

If all that is correct, then I think what you want is

out = reshape(list(:,end),[nz,ny,nx,nw])

where the n's are the counts of the number of elements in each dimension.

This solution makes assumptions about the fact that the original list is ordered in a certain way. The solution is more complicated if it is not.

[Eric Wu]

@the cyclist this is very helpful, thanks!