How to Remove files that don't match string?

I have a list of filenames, and I am trying to remove any files that don't have the string 'Z1P', 'Z2P', or 'Z1G' in them.

The file names are stored in a cell array called Files.

Thanks for any help.

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

The easiest, assuming R2016b or later, is to use contains:

filteredarray = yourcellarray(contains(yourcellarray, 'Z1P') & contains(yourcellarray, 'Z1P') & contains(yourcellarray, 'Z1G'))

[Ibro Tutic]

I am using 2015b, so this won't work for me. Also, I meant or, not and.

[Guillaume]

If it's an or, then

filteredarray = yourcellarray(contains(yourcellarray, {'Z1P', 'Z2P', 'Z1G'}));

In versions < R2016b, the simplest way may be to use regexp:

filteredarray = yourcellarray(~isempty(regexp(yourcellarray, 'Z1P|Z2P|Z1G', 'once')));

[Ibro Tutic]

Would it be possible to do this on a structure?

[Guillaume]

If by structure you mean the structure returned by dir:

filteredstruct = dirstruct(~isempty(regexp({dirstruct.name}, 'Z1P|Z2P|Z1G', 'once')));

Answer 2

[dpb]

If anywhere in the filename, then

UnwantedStrings={'Z1P', 'Z2P', and 'Z1G'};
Files=Files(~ismember(upper(Files),'UnwantedStrings);

If it's an extension or needs must be in the filename and not extension, use fileparts first to separate pieces needed.

[Guillaume]

I don't thing that this is going to work. ismember does not find strings within strings.

If it were to work, the order within ismember would need to change.

[Ibro Tutic]

Not sure if you might have just miss-named that variable, but those are the strings that I want. i.e. if the file has Z1P, keep it or Z2P keep it, etc.

[dpb]

Guillaume -- DOH! you're right. regexpi it is...

Ibro--oh, ok, it doesn't work anyway, but read it as to keep everything but. So, if it worked otherwise, lose the ~.