Cannot read csv with readtable (Unrecognized field name "text")

Hi All,

I'm trying to read some csv data but saw the following error, for which I had absolutely no clue... Could anyone kindly help?

aaa.csv is just a simple dummy dataset I created with excel for the sake of testing.

Error from matlab:

aaa = readtable('G:\My Drive\Project_GDrive\data\aaa.csv');

Error using readtable (line 517)

Unrecognized field name "text".

Many thanks

Min

[Stephen23]

aaa = readtable('aaa.csv')

aaa = 5x4 table
    srgae    regse    esgrse       dgfc   
    _____    _____    ______    __________

       1        2         3     {'sredgr'}
       5       64       353     {'fggd'  }
     242      353        32     {'fgwt'  }
      64       56       465     {'xg'    }
       3      324      4245     {'wwet'  }

Please show us the complete output from this command:

which readtable -all

/MATLAB/toolbox/matlab/iofun/readtable.m
/MATLAB/toolbox/shared/io/general/+matlab/+io/@ImportOptions/ImportOptions.m  % matlab.io.text.DelimitedTextImportOptions method

[Min]

Many thanks @Stephen23!

This is what I was expecting! I tried to read the original csv and saw the same error, then created a dummy simple dataset, but still the same error...

This is what I see from `which readtable -all`

>> which readtable -all
C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2024a\toolbox\matlab\iofun\readtable.m
C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2024a\toolbox\shared\io\general\+matlab\+io\@ImportOptions\ImportOptions.m  % matlab.io.ImportOptions method

Best

Min

[the cyclist]

Hm, that's puzzling. I think one would typically get this error when you attempt to use an option or parameter that is not valid for the version of MATLAB you are using, or some other syntax issue.

But you seem to be using 2024a, and are not using any aditional options. Is

readtable('G:\My Drive\Project_GDrive\data\aaa.csv');

definitely the calling syntax that gives the error, or might you have called it differently?

[Stephen23]

The usual cause of that error is that you have shadowed some text function (e.g. REPLACE):

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/2171809-the-readtable-command-is-not-working-and-returns-this-error-error-using-readtable-line-517-unreco

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/2146974-matlab-2024a-readtable-error

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/2168173-readtable-error-previously-readtable-worked-but-suddenly-one-day-it-started-throwing-an-error

In which case you can fix it by removing/renaming the offending function.

Do you have some third-party toolbox installed or your own functions?

[Min]

@the cyclist: I tried to save the file in different location (e.g. readtable("C:\Users\minuser\Desktop\abc.csv") so that the space in the path is gone), but still the same error...

@Stephen23: It's a fresh installation and the following add-ons are installed. But I don't think I have other third party toolbox installed.

[Stephen23]

Try restoredefaultpath.

[Min]

@Stephen23: like this? But the error seems to be the same as before. There must be something weird going on...

>> restoredefaultpath
>> 
>> 
aaa = readtable("C:\Users\minuser\Desktop\abc.csv")
Error using readtable (line 517)
Unrecognized field name "text".

[Stephen23]

Try specifying the option FileType='text'.

[Min]

still the same error...

>> 
aaa = readtable("C:\Users\sunm25\Desktop\aaa.csv", FileType='text')
Error using readtable (line 517)
Unrecognized field name "text".
 
>> 
aaa = readtable('G:\My Drive\Project_GDrive\MMP9\data\aaa.csv', FileType='text');
Error using readtable (line 517)
Unrecognized field name "text".

[Stephen23]

Contact TMW directly for technical support: https://www.mathworks.com/support/contact_us.html

[Walter Roberson]

I would suggest

dbstop if caught error

and then run the code. It should stop at the place the error actually occurs. It is quite unlikely that it is stopping at

which readtable

/MATLAB/toolbox/matlab/iofun/readtable.m

line 517, as that readtable has no-where near 517 lines.

[Walter Roberson]

Ah, in R2024a, readtable.m line 517 contains a throw() for an exception that was taken in another function. Tracking the problem is a bit more of a nuisance, but

dbstop if caught error

would help

Answer 1

[Sulaymon Eshkabilov]

You mistyped the file name. It is read correctly - see:

D = readtable('aaa.csv');
disp(D)

    srgae    regse    esgrse       dgfc   
    _____    _____    ______    __________

       1        2         3     {'sredgr'}
       5       64       353     {'fggd'  }
     242      353        32     {'fgwt'  }
      64       56       465     {'xg'    }
       3      324      4245     {'wwet'  }

[Min]

I don't think it's to do with misspelling...

>> 
aaa = readtable('G:\My Drive\Project_GDrive\MMP9\data\aaa.csv');
Error using readtable (line 517)
Unrecognized field name "text".
 
>> 
aaa = readtable("C:\Users\minuser\Desktop\aaa.csv");
Error using readtable (line 517)
Unrecognized field name "text".

[Walter Roberson]

@Min

Which MATLAB release are you using? In all recent versions, readtable.m itself is fairly short code, with no-where near 517 lines

I suspect that you have a third-party function with the same name as a Mathworks supplied function.

[Image Analyst]

His error message said he was using r2024a.

[Min]

Thanks both. The issue is solved after a reboot. The reasons I really don't know...

Answer 2

[Min]

many thanks all! After rebooting the error is gone... Probably only god knows why...

[Matteo]

Just to support the the comment - I just had the same problem and I also was able to run the code after rebooting. The dbstop if caught error command also stops at the same place, seems to have to do with some settings from matlab.io missing the 'text' entries. Maybe these settings were modified by something else and a fresh restart ensured that they were not affected?