Matlab for loop with string letters

Hi everyone,

I have a table (T) that contains data and have extracted column data from it as follows:

data_1_forward = T.foward_wheels + 435;

data_1_backwards = T.backwards_wheels + 435;

data_1_left = T.left_wheels + 435;

I want to put this in a loop since it is repeated code but unsure on how to do this with strings in the index. I also want the loop to output data_1_foward, data_1_backwards... as separate arrays or vectors.

Many thanks

[Stephen23]

"I also want the loop to output data_1_foward, data_1_backwards... as separate arrays or vectors."

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

numvars = width(T);
data_1 = cell(numvars,1);
for K = 1 : numvars
    data_1{K} = T{:,K};
end

Now, data_1 is a cell array with one entry for each variable.

I also want the loop to output data_1_foward, data_1_backwards... as separate arrays or vectors.

We firmly recommend against creating variable names on the fly. http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

You might want to consider

numvars = width(T);
vars = T.Properties.VariableNames;
data_1 = struct();
for K = 1 : numvars
    thisvar = vars{K};
    data_1.(thisvar) = T.(thisvar);
end

This would create a struct named data_1 that has one field for each variable in the table.

See also table2struct