readlines function returns an empty string array

I have a file with the extension "dataset", that follows the template shown below. When I have the following code:

lines = readlines("myfile.dataset","EmptyLineRule","skip")

I get an output of:

lines =

0×1 empty string array

Any ideas?

Template for dataset:

<Database Name>
<Image X Axis/Width> <Image Y Axis/Height>
<Count>
+1 <Path to Image 1>
+1 <Path to Image 2...>

[Image Analyst]

No, because you forgot to attach the actual file with the paperclip icon.

If you have any more questions, then attach "myfile.dataset" with the paperclip icon after you read this:

TUTORIAL: How to ask a question (on Answers) and get a fast answer

[Liam]

I've had to attach this as a .txt file as a result of the upload validation (.dataset prohibited)

[Karim]

Hmm evrything seems to work? You can try to zip the original file and upload the zip.

% read in the text file provided by the OP
lines = readlines("https://nl.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/uploaded_files/1190428/face_train.txt","EmptyLineRule","skip");

% write the text into a .database file
writelines(lines,"myfile.dataset")

% now try to read the .dataset file
lines = readlines("myfile.dataset","EmptyLineRule","skip")

lines = 13×1 string array
    "MyDataset"
    "20 30"
    "10"
    "+1 images/face/1.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/2.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/3.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/4.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/5.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/6.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/7.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/8.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/9.jpg"
    "+1 images/face/10.jpg"

[Liam]

I'm such a muppet.. Took me ages to realise I was referencing the wrong version (an empty version).. Sorry guys

Thanks for your help tho!

Answer 1

[Jan]

My first idea concerns the relative path:

lines = readlines("myfile.dataset", "EmptyLineRule", "skip")

Is the current folder really what you expect it to be? Check this:

D = dir(fullfile(cd, "myfile.dataset"))

Is this file empty? If so, specify the correct path instead:

folder = "C:\Your\Folder";
file   = fullfile(folder, "myfile.dataset");
lines  = readlines(file, "EmptyLineRule", "skip")