use assignin within a function

I want to create variable names automatically within a function (which are then used within this same function) that has been called by a script. As far as I am aware assign is unable to define variables within the workspace of the function.

Is there any neat solution to get round this? I do have a workaround but it is not very elegant. thanks Oli

Answer 1

[Matt J]

You would use EVAL instead, but it is a bad idea to inexplicitly assign variables, whether by EVAL, ASSIGNIN, LOAD or whatever. Use dynamic fieldnames instead

S.('name1')=val1;
S.('name2')=val2;

etc... See also

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/newsreader/view_thread/244639#628695

and

http://matlab.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#How_can_I_create_variables_A1.2C_A2.2C....2CA10_in_a_loop.3F

Answer 2

[Jan]

This is a very frequently asked question, and the answer is easy: Do not do this. See FAQ: How can I create A1, A2, ... in a loop

Creating variables dynamically creates more problems as it solves. Beside the substantial decrease of the speed, the dugging is the main problem: It is hard to impossible to find out, what the program is doing when you read the code.

[Oliver Warlow]

Thanks, reading some of those other examples shows that using dynamic variables is a much better idea so i'll go forward with that method.

[Jan]

Sorry, I haven't seen Matt J's answer when I typed mine. This is confusing because I hit the reload button directly before answering.

While "dynamic variables" are deprecated due to the explained reasons, "dynamic fieldnames" are efficient and clean.