Read in the the (i,j) values of N number of matrices

I want to read in the (i,j) values of a variable number of matrices.

Q1 = xlsread(FILENAME,1,'A16:C16');

Q2 = xlsread(FILENAME,2,'A16:C16');

Q3 = xlsread(FILENAME,3,'A16:C16');

Q4 = xlsread(FILENAME,4,'A16:C16');

Q5 = xlsread(FILENAME,5,'A16:C16');

for i=1:3
    for j=1:3
        for k=1:N
            
            Qlam(1,k) = Q(i,j);
            
        end
    end
end

I have read in the matrices I want now I need to do calculations for the (i,j) values of each matrix. I want to store them in Qlam to access later in the second for loop. Is there a way to do this with a for loop?

[Stephen23]

Numbering variables is a sign that you are doing something wrong. Repeating basically the same code (i.e. copy and pasting) is a sign that you are doing something wrong.

Trying to access variable names dynamically is one way that beginners force themselves into writing slow, complex, obfuscated, buggy code that is hard to debug. Read this to know why:

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

[Michael Whipple]

Then what's a better to do that? I need a "Q" matrix for each layer of a laminate and thats what is being read in at the beginning. Is there a better way to store them?

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

Just use a cell array, then you can trivially access the matrices using indexing:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/access-data-in-a-cell-array.html

For example:

N = 5;
Q = cell(1,N);
for k = 1:N
    Q{k} = xlsread(FILENAME,k,'A16:C16');
end

[Michael Whipple]

Is there a way to use the Cell with a double? I get an error the doubles can not be converted to a cell.

[Stephen23]

"I get an error the doubles can not be converted to a cell."

Nothing in my answer would obviously cause such an error, so it is likely to be something that you did. But as you did not actually show the code that you used, I will have to rely on my magical crystal ball to look at your computer monitor and see what you tried. Unfotunately my magical crystal ball is at the workshop for repairs, and I might not get it back for a few weeks. In the meantime, you can help by actually showing the code that you tried.

Thank you for your understanding.