Adding dummy zeroes in a matrix

I have several arrays of different lengths that need to combined into a single matrix of order n * n where n is the length of the longest array and dummy zeroes have to be added in those shorter arrays.For example,A=[1 2 3],B=[1 2 3 4] I want to combine A and B in a single matrix C =[1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4] .Note that a dummy zero has been added after 3 to make C a square.How do I achieve that?

[Matt Tearle]

Do you want the result to be an n-by-n matrix, or a 1-by-n*n vector? Your example shows C as a vector, but you say "square". Also, if you mean C = [1 2 3 0;1 2 3 4], that's 2-by-4, not 4-by-4. So, would you actually want C = [1 2 3 0;1 2 3 4;0 0 0 0;0 0 0 0]?

And, finally, how do you have the vectors? Do you have a whole pile of vectors "A", "B", "C", ... "Q" already? Or will they be generated (eg in a loop)? Is there any pattern to the names, or do you have to manually reference them?

[Anand Anand]

Yeah ,you are right.It need not be a square matrix.I already have the pile of vectors and as such they are not named .I am refering to them as A,B,C and so on.As such,they are just numerous rows of numbers in a notepad

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

n = max([numels(A), numels(B)]);
C = zeros(n,2);
C(1:numels(A),1) = A;
C(1:numels(B),2) = B;

[Anand Anand]

Thanks Walter