How to distribute each column of a cell array into a individual cells of another array without for loops?

Dear Matlab users,

I am looking for a way without using for loops and deal (if possible) to distribute each column of a cell array containing characters into individual separate nested cells of another cell array. This should give me a final cell array with two levels, each representing a different identifier of the data (the top level = the set, the second level has a different cell for each data input).

I have managed to do this using for loops but wanted to know of if anyone has/can think of a neater/more efficient way of doing this or is this already the most appropriate way of approaching this problem?

Instead to improve this do I need to use different data structures (structures or tables) and change the approach completely?

Below is a minimal working example of my code which achieves what I want.

Hoping to improve my matlab skills :)

Thanks,

Samuele

% Inputs 
numOperators = 5;
commonSets = {'set1';'set2';'set3'};
% Each column corrisponds to a common set, ie label 1, 2, 3 in column 1
% belong to set 1
commonSetLabels ={'Label_1','Label_1','Label_1';... 
                  'Label_2','Label_2','Label_2';... 
                  'Label_3','Label_3','Label_3'};

% Following the same logic there is an array containing the x coordinates
% of each label
xCoords = [1,1,1;
           2,2,2;
           3,3,3];

numLabels = size(commonSetLabels,1);
% Preallocation
interoperatorMarkers = cell(size(commonSets,1),1);
% Loop through each operator
for ii = 1:numOperators
    
    % -------------------------------------- %
    % Is it possible to achieve this without looping
    
    % Loop through each common set 
    for jj=1:size(commonSets,1)
        [interoperatorMarkers{jj,1}{:,1}{1:numLabels,ii}] = deal(commonSetLabels{:,jj});
        interoperatorMarkers{jj,1}{:,2}(1:numLabels,ii) = xCoords(:,jj);
    end
    
    % -------------------------------------- %
    
end
% Top level representing each common set
interoperatorMarkers

interoperatorMarkers = 3×1 cell array
    {1×2 cell}
    {1×2 cell}
    {1×2 cell}

% Second level containing the different data, ie the labels in one and the
% x coordinates in the other
interoperatorMarkers{1,1}

ans = 1×2 cell array
    {3×5 cell}    {3×5 double}

[Stephen23]

Simplfiy the data design!

For example, rather than nesting three 1x2 cell arrays inside a 3x1 cell array, it would be simpler to use a single 2x3 (or 3x2) cell array. And then ditto for the nested 3x5 cell arrays: perhaps all you need is one single 2x3x3x5 cell array... an affirmative answer to your question is much more likely, if you get rid of as much superfluous nesting as possible.

But currently your data design, with multiply nested cell arrays, is too complex.

[dpb]

Agree with @Stephen23 completely -- I'd say your Q? of "do I need to use different data structures (structures or tables) and change the approach completely?" is the right question to ask and that the answer is definitely "YES!"

It's not clear just what your overall data content is without more digging into the explanation to try to figure out just what is really intended here, but I'd venture a table could hold it all quite nicely; you just create a grouping variable for each identifier needed instead where you're building nested levels.

[Samuele Gould]

Thank you both for the answers. I think the most straight forward method given where the data is coming from and what I need to do with it later (which would take a lengthier explanation) is to simplify the design of the cells into ones with more dimension. In the future I definitly think more about how I can use tables in this sort of scenario thanks for the suggestion.