Compare two strings from unequal length cell array and assign value

I have a cell array named shortStranglePositions of which I am creating a unique list of strings based on the 6th column of shortStranglePositions, named callSymList. The reason why I am creating a unique list of strings (callSymList) is I have to get market data for each row in shortStranglePositions, and that takes time, and there is no need to ask for the data multiple times.

Where I am stuck is this:

I would like to logically assign the values in the 2nd column of callSymList to the 8th column in shortStranglePositions, based on a string match in the 6th column of shortStranglePositions to the 1st column of callSymList. For example, shortStranglePositions{1,8} should equal 0.6000.

I have tried multiple string compare approaches, but since the cell lengths are unequal, I am struggling to find a solution. Is there a way to do this without looping through each row of shortStranglePositions? If so, how? If not, what is the most efficient way to complete this task?

I should also mention that it will be very common for there to be multiple duplicate strings in the 6th row of shortStranglePositions.

I have included both cell arrays in the attached EXAMPLE.mat

Answer 1

[Voss]

load('EXAMPLE.mat')

[~,idx] = ismember(shortStranglePositions(:,6),callSymList(:,1));

shortStranglePositions(:,8) = callSymList(idx,2)

shortStranglePositions = 4×8 cell array
    {'08:08:20'}    {[4500]}    {[4465]}    {[3.1000]}    {[5.5500]}    {'SPXW  230712C045…'}    {'SPXW  230712P044…'}    {[0.6000]}
    {'08:33:54'}    {[4495]}    {[4465]}    {[3.4500]}    {[6.0500]}    {'SPXW  230712C044…'}    {'SPXW  230712P044…'}    {[0.6000]}
    {'09:15:53'}    {[4485]}    {[4450]}    {[3.0500]}    {[3.0500]}    {'SPXW  230712C044…'}    {'SPXW  230712P044…'}    {[1.4000]}
    {'09:25:02'}    {[4485]}    {[4450]}    {[     3]}    {[3.0500]}    {'SPXW  230712C044…'}    {'SPXW  230712P044…'}    {[1.4000]}