readtable struggling to interpret spreadsheet as numbers

Hi folks,

I'm trying to use the readtable function to interpret a spreadsheet "Alberta.csv". I've tried using detectImportOpts, sadly the variables are arranged in rows and readtable seems to want to detect them as columns.

The next attempt was as follows:

seriesAL = table2dataset(rows2vars(readtable("Alberta.csv", ReadRowNames=1, MissingRule="omitrow")));

or

seriesAL = table2array(rows2vars(readtable("Alberta.csv", ReadRowNames=1, MissingRule="omitrow")));

then if I try to complete an operation:

rgdp_AL = log(0.001 .* seriesAL{:,40})

Matlab tells me I'm using too many input arguments... If I enter:

seriesAL(:,40), I'm failing to get numbers, yet seriesAL{} doesn't want to provide the full column of values!

I'm getting very confused by the way Matlab uses tables, cells, structs, etc... Can anyone help me get numbers?

[Stephen23]

"readtable struggling to interpret spreadsheet as numbers"

Yes. Because whatever tool wrote that CSV file has made several major mistakes:

1. double quoted every field,
2. used the same character for the decimal radix and for the field delimiter.

Ugh!!!!

Double quotes are used to indicate that fields contain text data. So that broken CSV file is saying "these are definitely not numbers, these are text and must be imported literally as text" (there are perfectly valid instances where that may be required, e.g. credit card numbers, social security numbers, telephone numbers, post codes, etc). So that is exactly what MATLAB does.

Perhaps because it uses the same character for both the decimal radix as well as the field delimiter that tool used the double quotes in an attempt to indicate the field extents ... but this actually just adds another layer of confusion on top (rather than actually handling the delimiter-conflict at its source, which is usually trivially handled with e.g. a semi-colon field delimiter when using decimal commas).

As an aside, do not use MS Excel to view CSV files. Use a reliable text-editor if you want to see what they really contain.

"I'm getting very confused by the way Matlab uses tables, cells, structs, etc."

The real cause of your confusion is a broken CSV file. If the file was written using standard CSV practices, then you would have no problems. Which is all a long introduction to my advice that the best place to fix your MATLAB code is to fix that CSV file when it is written.

Question: how is that CSV file written? It is possible that the tool is poorly set up to use the computer locale settings.

[Ezra]

Thanks Stephen23! Believe it or not, I downloaded the file from the website of Statistics Canada, lol. They explain the format here. See the following from that webpage:

• English downloads are in CSV format and use commas as the separator. French downloads are also in CSV format but use semi-colons as the separator. This is by design to accommodate the decimal display standard in French, which uses a comma (,) instead of the period (.) used in English.

This file appears to mix the formats..? I'm not sure why. The download options list "with symbols", "without symbols", neither makes a difference when the .csv is opened in Notepad.

Big thanks again, your comment led me to learn a bunch about how .csv files should be worked with. I'll be opening my .csv's in Notepad in the future.

I wish I could answer regarding how the CSV is written... but I'm not sure.

[Steven Lord]

I've tried using detectImportOpts, sadly the variables are arranged in rows and readtable seems to want to detect them as columns.

That is correct. In a table array in MATLAB, one of the restrictions is that each variable (each column of the array) must be the same data type. Different variables need not contain the same type of data, like this table:

load patients
T = table(LastName, Age);
head(T) % show just the first few rows

      LastName      Age
    ____________    ___

    {'Smith'   }    38 
    {'Johnson' }    43 
    {'Williams'}    38 
    {'Jones'   }    40 
    {'Brown'   }    49 
    {'Davis'   }    46 
    {'Miller'  }    33 
    {'Wilson'  }    40 

where all the entries in the LastName variable are cells and all the entries in the Age variable are numbers. However you can't have a variable containing a piece of text data in one row and a number in the other. MATLAB will convert one of the pieces of data into the type of the other if you try, as in:

T2 = rows2vars(T);
T2(:, 1:6) % show just the first few columns

ans = 2x6 table
    OriginalVariableNames      Var1          Var2            Var3          Var4         Var5   
    _____________________    _________    ___________    ____________    _________    _________

        {'LastName'}         {'Smith'}    {'Johnson'}    {'Williams'}    {'Jones'}    {'Brown'}
        {'Age'     }         {[   38]}    {[     43]}    {[      38]}    {[   40]}    {[   49]}

In this case, the second row of T2 has the numbers that were in the Age variable in T stored in cells because that's what the LastName variable in T contained.

[Ezra]

Thank you Steven, good to know!

[Stephen23]

@Ezra: thanks for the interesting link. Which language did you download? Perhaps try downloading the other one.

"English downloads are in CSV format and use commas as the separator. French downloads are also in CSV format but use semi-colons as the separator. This is by design to accommodate the decimal display standard in French, which uses a comma (,) instead of the period (.) used in English."

Neither of those descriptions matches the format of the file that you uploaded. Very odd.

However if someone used MS Excel to open and save the file then all bets are off: Excel mangles things without warning.

[Ezra]

Okay, I made sure to redownload the files and open them in Notepad without any Excel interactions - same format as the older CSV's!

I've attached the french version: note, it uses semi-colons which matches the description, but not commas for decimal display standard (unless I'm mistaken). Hahaha. What gives? It's a mystery.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

"readtable struggling to interpret spreadsheet as numbers"

Unfortunately due to that broken CSV format we need to import everything as text before converting to numeric:

T = readtable('Alberta.csv', ReadRowNames=true, MissingRule="omitrow");
T = rows2vars(T, VariableNamingRule="preserve")

T = 42x41 table
    OriginalVariableNames    Estimates    Final consumption expenditure    Household final consumption expenditure      Goods       Durable goods    Semi-durable goods    Non-durable goods     Services     Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption e    General governments final consumption expenditure    Gross fixed capital formation    Business gross fixed capital formation    Residential structures    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment    Non-residential structures    Machinery and equipment    Intellectual property products    Non-profit institutions serving households' gross fixed capital    General governments gross fixed capital formation    Investment in inventories    Of which: business investment in inventories     Non-farm        Farm       Exports of goods and services    Exports to other countries    Exports of goods to other countries    Exports of services to other countries    Exports to other provinces    Exports of goods to other provinces    Exports of services to other provinces    Less: imports of goods and services    Imports from other countries    Imports of goods from other countries    Imports of services from other countries    Imports from other provinces    Imports of goods from other provinces    Imports of services from other provinces    Statistical discrepancy    Gross domestic product at market prices    Final domestic demand
    _____________________    _________    _____________________________    _______________________________________    __________    _____________    __________________    _________________    __________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _____________________________    ______________________________________    ______________________    ___________________________________________________    __________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _________________________    ____________________________________________    __________    __________    _____________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    ___________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    _______________________    _______________________________________    _____________________

         {'Alberta'}         {'1981'}              {'74,785'}                            {'49,421'}                   {'23,172'}      {'4,111'}          {'3,068'}            {'17,803'}        {'25,632'}                               {'864'  }                                                  {'25,706'}                                 {'40,943'}                            {'34,948'}                        {'9,953'}                               {'22,704'}                                 {'24,940'}                   {'3,539'}                     {'2,527'}                                           {'127'}                                                    {'6,012'}                               {'186'   }                             {'180'   }                     {'110'   }    {'75'    }             {'47,401'}                      {'15,698'}                        {'14,281'}                               {'1,577'}                           {'32,721'}                        {'22,478'}                               {'9,397' }                              {'46,377'}                          {'14,719'}                          {'11,726'}                                 {'3,154'}                             {'33,093'}                          {'17,968'}                                 {'15,048'}                         {'-1,083'}                         {'121,088'}                       {'119,315'}     
         {'Var2'   }         {'1982'}              {'74,931'}                            {'48,922'}                   {'22,394'}      {'3,565'}          {'2,935'}            {'18,175'}        {'26,074'}                               {'872'  }                                                  {'26,571'}                                 {'36,555'}                            {'29,290'}                        {'7,932'}                               {'19,227'}                                 {'21,172'}                   {'2,983'}                     {'2,158'}                                           {'130'}                                                    {'7,266'}                               {'-2,088'}                             {'-2,046'}                     {'-1,652'}    {'-136'  }             {'45,593'}                      {'16,062'}                        {'14,639'}                               {'1,551'}                           {'30,082'}                        {'20,577'}                               {'8,752' }                              {'40,115'}                          {'11,879'}                          {'9,247' }                                 {'2,922'}                             {'29,738'}                          {'15,679'}                                 {'14,000'}                         {'-1,368'}                         {'118,052'}                       {'114,339'}     
         {'Var3'   }         {'1983'}              {'76,465'}                            {'49,051'}                   {'22,379'}      {'3,689'}          {'2,944'}            {'17,878'}        {'26,236'}                               {'806'  }                                                  {'28,429'}                                 {'29,889'}                            {'23,914'}                        {'6,739'}                               {'15,588'}                                 {'16,329'}                   {'2,645'}                     {'1,724'}                                           {'105'}                                                    {'5,978'}                               {'-865'  }                             {'-841'  }                     {'-448'  }    {'-466'  }             {'46,705'}                      {'15,882'}                        {'14,511'}                               {'1,463'}                           {'31,552'}                        {'21,857'}                               {'8,814' }                              {'40,284'}                          {'11,709'}                          {'9,263' }                                 {'2,638'}                             {'30,143'}                          {'15,763'}                                 {'14,320'}                         {'465'   }                         {'117,421'}                       {'108,311'}     
         {'Var4'   }         {'1984'}              {'77,002'}                            {'49,488'}                   {'22,516'}      {'3,892'}          {'2,952'}            {'17,655'}        {'26,551'}                               {'760'  }                                                  {'28,587'}                                 {'26,476'}                            {'21,596'}                        {'5,201'}                               {'14,191'}                                 {'14,776'}                   {'2,433'}                     {'1,973'}                                           {'95' }                                                    {'4,893'}                               {'-870'  }                             {'-857'  }                     {'-163'  }    {'-1,000'}             {'49,228'}                      {'17,851'}                        {'16,330'}                               {'1,608'}                           {'31,949'}                        {'21,897'}                               {'9,246' }                              {'35,613'}                          {'11,960'}                          {'9,607' }                                 {'2,469'}                             {'24,612'}                          {'12,407'}                                 {'12,155'}                         {'-82'   }                         {'123,180'}                       {'105,083'}     
         {'Var5'   }         {'1985'}              {'80,953'}                            {'52,267'}                   {'23,630'}      {'4,451'}          {'3,083'}            {'17,872'}        {'28,241'}                               {'862'  }                                                  {'29,623'}                                 {'28,530'}                            {'23,269'}                        {'5,454'}                               {'15,102'}                                 {'16,153'}                   {'2,463'}                     {'2,441'}                                           {'93' }                                                    {'5,284'}                               {'274'   }                             {'273'   }                     {'183'   }    {'83'    }             {'53,112'}                      {'21,069'}                        {'19,258'}                               {'1,925'}                           {'32,389'}                        {'21,735'}                               {'9,995' }                              {'38,399'}                          {'12,635'}                          {'10,281'}                                 {'2,408'}                             {'26,875'}                          {'14,312'}                                 {'12,504'}                         {'-433'  }                         {'132,159'}                       {'111,238'}     
         {'Var6'   }         {'1986'}              {'81,194'}                            {'52,806'}                   {'23,652'}      {'4,569'}          {'3,148'}            {'17,551'}        {'28,828'}                               {'866'  }                                                  {'29,185'}                                 {'25,456'}                            {'20,027'}                        {'5,508'}                               {'13,408'}                                 {'14,733'}                   {'2,072'}                     {'1,109'}                                           {'91' }                                                    {'5,425'}                               {'1,771' }                             {'1,732' }                     {'710'   }    {'1,437' }             {'52,010'}                      {'20,873'}                        {'19,029'}                               {'1,980'}                           {'31,441'}                        {'20,644'}                               {'10,202'}                              {'40,001'}                          {'13,147'}                          {'10,445'}                                 {'2,870'}                             {'28,016'}                          {'14,623'}                                 {'13,330'}                         {'525'   }                         {'128,432'}                       {'108,117'}     
         {'Var7'   }         {'1987'}              {'82,988'}                            {'54,011'}                   {'23,665'}      {'4,632'}          {'3,164'}            {'17,420'}        {'30,197'}                               {'778'  }                                                  {'29,966'}                                 {'26,461'}                            {'21,491'}                        {'6,643'}                               {'13,635'}                                 {'13,505'}                   {'2,550'}                     {'1,677'}                                           {'94' }                                                    {'4,956'}                               {'-158'  }                             {'-154'  }                     {'-125'  }    {'-5'    }             {'55,704'}                      {'23,330'}                        {'21,487'}                               {'1,961'}                           {'32,628'}                        {'21,340'}                               {'10,664'}                              {'41,975'}                          {'13,780'}                          {'10,872'}                                 {'3,118'}                             {'29,416'}                          {'14,946'}                                 {'14,404'}                         {'560'   }                         {'130,777'}                       {'110,982'}     
         {'Var8'   }         {'1988'}              {'85,503'}                            {'55,856'}                   {'24,456'}      {'4,961'}          {'3,187'}            {'17,846'}        {'31,253'}                               {'805'  }                                                  {'30,580'}                                 {'30,375'}                            {'25,655'}                        {'7,630'}                               {'16,459'}                                 {'15,293'}                   {'3,409'}                     {'1,966'}                                           {'99' }                                                    {'4,674'}                               {'805'   }                             {'783'   }                     {'708'   }    {'-105'  }             {'61,004'}                      {'27,762'}                        {'25,549'}                               {'2,357'}                           {'33,420'}                        {'21,777'}                               {'10,995'}                              {'45,755'}                          {'15,425'}                          {'12,169'}                                 {'3,492'}                             {'31,583'}                          {'15,892'}                                 {'15,620'}                         {'1,021' }                         {'140,853'}                       {'117,607'}     
         {'Var9'   }         {'1989'}              {'88,840'}                            {'58,133'}                   {'25,113'}      {'5,195'}          {'3,272'}            {'18,142'}        {'32,987'}                               {'962'  }                                                  {'31,413'}                                 {'29,337'}                            {'24,800'}                        {'8,468'}                               {'15,294'}                                 {'14,063'}                   {'3,218'}                     {'1,970'}                                           {'103'}                                                    {'4,482'}                               {'115'   }                             {'115'   }                     {'-65'   }    {'299'   }             {'62,188'}                      {'28,477'}                        {'26,633'}                               {'2,003'}                           {'33,887'}                        {'22,099'}                               {'11,134'}                              {'46,418'}                          {'15,753'}                          {'12,385'}                                 {'3,625'}                             {'31,920'}                          {'15,806'}                                 {'16,044'}                         {'1,053' }                         {'142,912'}                       {'119,885'}     
         {'Var10'  }         {'1990'}              {'91,375'}                            {'59,723'}                   {'25,666'}      {'5,429'}          {'3,325'}            {'18,366'}        {'34,070'}                               {'1,069'}                                                  {'32,271'}                                 {'31,077'}                            {'26,000'}                        {'8,897'}                               {'15,682'}                                 {'14,589'}                   {'3,240'}                     {'2,486'}                                           {'120'}                                                    {'5,015'}                               {'-139'  }                             {'-140'  }                     {'-363'  }    {'469'   }             {'62,612'}                      {'29,543'}                        {'27,632'}                               {'2,078'}                           {'33,235'}                        {'21,065'}                               {'11,447'}                              {'47,336'}                          {'16,462'}                          {'13,002'}                                 {'3,708'}                             {'32,103'}                          {'15,408'}                                 {'16,620'}                         {'494'   }                         {'146,131'}                       {'124,238'}     
         {'Var11'  }         {'1991'}              {'90,491'}                            {'59,054'}                   {'25,215'}      {'5,272'}          {'3,221'}            {'18,237'}        {'33,909'}                               {'1,129'}                                                  {'31,972'}                                 {'28,850'}                            {'24,181'}                        {'7,612'}                               {'14,843'}                                 {'13,694'}                   {'3,110'}                     {'2,451'}                                           {'128'}                                                    {'4,590'}                               {'748'   }                             {'739'   }                     {'351'   }    {'517'   }             {'63,276'}                      {'31,909'}                        {'30,129'}                               {'1,991'}                           {'31,549'}                        {'19,765'}                               {'11,060'}                              {'45,986'}                          {'17,641'}                          {'13,956'}                                 {'3,941'}                             {'29,346'}                          {'13,888'}                                 {'15,383'}                         {'976'   }                         {'146,777'}                       {'121,105'}     
         {'Var12'  }         {'1992'}              {'91,375'}                            {'59,645'}                   {'25,286'}      {'5,211'}          {'3,294'}            {'18,285'}        {'34,489'}                               {'1,204'}                                                  {'32,172'}                                 {'28,383'}                            {'23,834'}                        {'8,816'}                               {'14,068'}                                 {'11,411'}                   {'3,580'}                     {'2,169'}                                           {'151'}                                                    {'4,439'}                               {'-1,527'}                             {'-1,497'}                     {'-859'  }    {'-747'  }             {'68,195'}                      {'37,411'}                        {'35,208'}                               {'2,433'}                           {'31,011'}                        {'19,526'}                               {'10,795'}                              {'46,471'}                          {'18,052'}                          {'14,338'}                                 {'3,959'}                             {'29,400'}                          {'13,394'}                                 {'15,925'}                         {'-152'  }                         {'147,756'}                       {'121,560'}     
         {'Var13'  }         {'1993'}              {'92,701'}                            {'61,392'}                   {'25,977'}      {'5,434'}          {'3,394'}            {'18,636'}        {'35,563'}                               {'1,168'}                                                  {'31,557'}                                 {'31,413'}                            {'27,044'}                        {'8,950'}                               {'16,074'}                                 {'14,204'}                   {'3,627'}                     {'3,087'}                                           {'167'}                                                    {'4,221'}                               {'863'   }                             {'845'   }                     {'-157'  }    {'1,570' }             {'73,583'}                      {'39,899'}                        {'37,704'}                               {'2,461'}                           {'33,932'}                        {'21,832'}                               {'11,437'}                              {'48,308'}                          {'19,640'}                          {'15,642'}                                 {'4,250'}                             {'29,535'}                          {'13,311'}                                 {'16,147'}                         {'-52'   }                         {'159,234'}                       {'125,842'}     
         {'Var14'  }         {'1994'}              {'93,724'}                            {'63,784'}                   {'26,794'}      {'5,688'}          {'3,486'}            {'19,110'}        {'37,195'}                               {'1,126'}                                                  {'29,758'}                                 {'36,162'}                            {'32,180'}                        {'8,872'}                               {'19,729'}                                 {'19,137'}                   {'3,788'}                     {'4,247'}                                           {'151'}                                                    {'3,804'}                               {'-277'  }                             {'-273'  }                     {'-306'  }    {'130'   }             {'78,712'}                      {'43,747'}                        {'41,323'}                               {'2,713'}                           {'35,193'}                        {'23,218'}                               {'11,388'}                              {'50,638'}                          {'19,934'}                          {'15,580'}                                 {'4,706'}                             {'31,756'}                          {'15,477'}                                 {'16,135'}                         {'1,505' }                         {'168,049'}                       {'131,475'}     
         {'Var15'  }         {'1995'}              {'94,882'}                            {'65,202'}                   {'27,159'}      {'5,733'}          {'3,652'}            {'19,197'}        {'38,309'}                               {'1,216'}                                                  {'29,193'}                                 {'36,027'}                            {'32,341'}                        {'7,820'}                               {'20,143'}                                 {'19,100'}                   {'4,038'}                     {'4,691'}                                           {'194'}                                                    {'3,440'}                               {'1,584' }                             {'1,551' }                     {'830'   }    {'854'   }             {'83,092'}                      {'48,227'}                        {'45,564'}                               {'2,983'}                           {'35,030'}                        {'23,043'}                               {'11,392'}                              {'52,769'}                          {'21,138'}                          {'16,667'}                                 {'4,796'}                             {'32,640'}                          {'16,011'}                                 {'16,472'}                         {'1,090' }                         {'173,206'}                       {'132,536'}     
         {'Var16'  }         {'1996'}              {'96,845'}                            {'67,067'}                   {'28,005'}      {'6,114'}          {'3,770'}            {'19,444'}        {'39,320'}                               {'1,425'}                                                  {'28,870'}                                 {'38,041'}                            {'34,239'}                        {'8,976'}                               {'21,127'}                                 {'18,522'}                   {'4,830'}                     {'4,694'}                                           {'185'}                                                    {'3,562'}                               {'-120'  }                             {'-116'  }                     {'-21'   }    {'-137'  }             {'90,697'}                      {'51,695'}                        {'48,572'}                               {'3,443'}                           {'39,244'}                        {'27,627'}                               {'11,185'}                              {'56,783'}                          {'24,874'}                          {'19,915'}                                 {'5,250'}                             {'32,544'}                          {'15,495'}                                 {'16,939'}                         {'342'   }                         {'177,367'}                       {'136,502'}     

format long G
M = str2double(strrep(T{:,2:end},',','.')) % convert text to numeric

M = 42x40

1.0e+00 * 1981 74.785 49.421 23.172 4.111 3.068 17.803 25.632 864 25.706 40.943 34.948 9.953 22.704 24.94 3.539 2.527 127 6.012 186 180 110 75 47.401 15.698 14.281 1.577 32.721 22.478 9.397 1982 74.931 48.922 22.394 3.565 2.935 18.175 26.074 872 26.571 36.555 29.29 7.932 19.227 21.172 2.983 2.158 130 7.266 -2.088 -2.046 -1.652 -136 45.593 16.062 14.639 1.551 30.082 20.577 8.752 1983 76.465 49.051 22.379 3.689 2.944 17.878 26.236 806 28.429 29.889 23.914 6.739 15.588 16.329 2.645 1.724 105 5.978 -865 -841 -448 -466 46.705 15.882 14.511 1.463 31.552 21.857 8.814 1984 77.002 49.488 22.516 3.892 2.952 17.655 26.551 760 28.587 26.476 21.596 5.201 14.191 14.776 2.433 1.973 95 4.893 -870 -857 -163 -1 49.228 17.851 16.33 1.608 31.949 21.897 9.246 1985 80.953 52.267 23.63 4.451 3.083 17.872 28.241 862 29.623 28.53 23.269 5.454 15.102 16.153 2.463 2.441 93 5.284 274 273 183 83 53.112 21.069 19.258 1.925 32.389 21.735 9.995 1986 81.194 52.806 23.652 4.569 3.148 17.551 28.828 866 29.185 25.456 20.027 5.508 13.408 14.733 2.072 1.109 91 5.425 1.771 1.732 710 1.437 52.01 20.873 19.029 1.98 31.441 20.644 10.202 1987 82.988 54.011 23.665 4.632 3.164 17.42 30.197 778 29.966 26.461 21.491 6.643 13.635 13.505 2.55 1.677 94 4.956 -158 -154 -125 -5 55.704 23.33 21.487 1.961 32.628 21.34 10.664 1988 85.503 55.856 24.456 4.961 3.187 17.846 31.253 805 30.58 30.375 25.655 7.63 16.459 15.293 3.409 1.966 99 4.674 805 783 708 -105 61.004 27.762 25.549 2.357 33.42 21.777 10.995 1989 88.84 58.133 25.113 5.195 3.272 18.142 32.987 962 31.413 29.337 24.8 8.468 15.294 14.063 3.218 1.97 103 4.482 115 115 -65 299 62.188 28.477 26.633 2.003 33.887 22.099 11.134 1990 91.375 59.723 25.666 5.429 3.325 18.366 34.07 1.069 32.271 31.077 26 8.897 15.682 14.589 3.24 2.486 120 5.015 -139 -140 -363 469 62.612 29.543 27.632 2.078 33.235 21.065 11.447

<mw-icon class=""></mw-icon>

<mw-icon class=""></mw-icon>

And there is all of your numeric data. (Avoid using CELL2MAT & STR2NUM for this conversion, use STR2DOUBLE)

You could optionally create a table using the numeric data (which lets you refer to the columns by their names):

T = array2table(M, VariableNames=T.Properties.VariableNames(2:end))

T = 42x40 table
    Estimates    Final consumption expenditure    Household final consumption expenditure    Goods     Durable goods    Semi-durable goods    Non-durable goods    Services    Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption e    General governments final consumption expenditure    Gross fixed capital formation    Business gross fixed capital formation    Residential structures    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment    Non-residential structures    Machinery and equipment    Intellectual property products    Non-profit institutions serving households' gross fixed capital    General governments gross fixed capital formation    Investment in inventories    Of which: business investment in inventories    Non-farm    Farm     Exports of goods and services    Exports to other countries    Exports of goods to other countries    Exports of services to other countries    Exports to other provinces    Exports of goods to other provinces    Exports of services to other provinces    Less: imports of goods and services    Imports from other countries    Imports of goods from other countries    Imports of services from other countries    Imports from other provinces    Imports of goods from other provinces    Imports of services from other provinces    Statistical discrepancy    Gross domestic product at market prices    Final domestic demand
    _________    _____________________________    _______________________________________    ______    _____________    __________________    _________________    ________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _____________________________    ______________________________________    ______________________    ___________________________________________________    __________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _________________________    ____________________________________________    ________    _____    _____________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    ___________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    _______________________    _______________________________________    _____________________

      1981                  74.785                                49.421                     23.172        4.111              3.068                17.803           25.632                                    864                                                      25.706                                     40.943                                34.948                            9.953                                   22.704                                      24.94                       3.539                         2.527                                               127                                                        6.012                                      186                                    180                           110        75               47.401                          15.698                            14.281                                   1.577                               32.721                            22.478                                    9.397                                  46.377                              14.719                              11.726                                     3.154                                 33.093                              17.968                                     15.048                             -1.083                             121.088                           119.315       
      1982                  74.931                                48.922                     22.394        3.565              2.935                18.175           26.074                                    872                                                      26.571                                     36.555                                 29.29                            7.932                                   19.227                                     21.172                       2.983                         2.158                                               130                                                        7.266                                   -2.088                                 -2.046                        -1.652      -136               45.593                          16.062                            14.639                                   1.551                               30.082                            20.577                                    8.752                                  40.115                              11.879                               9.247                                     2.922                                 29.738                              15.679                                         14                             -1.368                             118.052                           114.339       
      1983                  76.465                                49.051                     22.379        3.689              2.944                17.878           26.236                                    806                                                      28.429                                     29.889                                23.914                            6.739                                   15.588                                     16.329                       2.645                         1.724                                               105                                                        5.978                                     -865                                   -841                          -448      -466               46.705                          15.882                            14.511                                   1.463                               31.552                            21.857                                    8.814                                  40.284                              11.709                               9.263                                     2.638                                 30.143                              15.763                                      14.32                                465                             117.421                           108.311       
      1984                  77.002                                49.488                     22.516        3.892              2.952                17.655           26.551                                    760                                                      28.587                                     26.476                                21.596                            5.201                                   14.191                                     14.776                       2.433                         1.973                                                95                                                        4.893                                     -870                                   -857                          -163        -1               49.228                          17.851                             16.33                                   1.608                               31.949                            21.897                                    9.246                                  35.613                               11.96                               9.607                                     2.469                                 24.612                              12.407                                     12.155                                -82                              123.18                           105.083       
      1985                  80.953                                52.267                      23.63        4.451              3.083                17.872           28.241                                    862                                                      29.623                                      28.53                                23.269                            5.454                                   15.102                                     16.153                       2.463                         2.441                                                93                                                        5.284                                      274                                    273                           183        83               53.112                          21.069                            19.258                                   1.925                               32.389                            21.735                                    9.995                                  38.399                              12.635                              10.281                                     2.408                                 26.875                              14.312                                     12.504                               -433                             132.159                           111.238       
      1986                  81.194                                52.806                     23.652        4.569              3.148                17.551           28.828                                    866                                                      29.185                                     25.456                                20.027                            5.508                                   13.408                                     14.733                       2.072                         1.109                                                91                                                        5.425                                    1.771                                  1.732                           710     1.437                52.01                          20.873                            19.029                                    1.98                               31.441                            20.644                                   10.202                                  40.001                              13.147                              10.445                                      2.87                                 28.016                              14.623                                      13.33                                525                             128.432                           108.117       
      1987                  82.988                                54.011                     23.665        4.632              3.164                 17.42           30.197                                    778                                                      29.966                                     26.461                                21.491                            6.643                                   13.635                                     13.505                        2.55                         1.677                                                94                                                        4.956                                     -158                                   -154                          -125        -5               55.704                           23.33                            21.487                                   1.961                               32.628                             21.34                                   10.664                                  41.975                               13.78                              10.872                                     3.118                                 29.416                              14.946                                     14.404                                560                             130.777                           110.982       
      1988                  85.503                                55.856                     24.456        4.961              3.187                17.846           31.253                                    805                                                       30.58                                     30.375                                25.655                             7.63                                   16.459                                     15.293                       3.409                         1.966                                                99                                                        4.674                                      805                                    783                           708      -105               61.004                          27.762                            25.549                                   2.357                                33.42                            21.777                                   10.995                                  45.755                              15.425                              12.169                                     3.492                                 31.583                              15.892                                      15.62                              1.021                             140.853                           117.607       
      1989                   88.84                                58.133                     25.113        5.195              3.272                18.142           32.987                                    962                                                      31.413                                     29.337                                  24.8                            8.468                                   15.294                                     14.063                       3.218                          1.97                                               103                                                        4.482                                      115                                    115                           -65       299               62.188                          28.477                            26.633                                   2.003                               33.887                            22.099                                   11.134                                  46.418                              15.753                              12.385                                     3.625                                  31.92                              15.806                                     16.044                              1.053                             142.912                           119.885       
      1990                  91.375                                59.723                     25.666        5.429              3.325                18.366            34.07                                  1.069                                                      32.271                                     31.077                                    26                            8.897                                   15.682                                     14.589                        3.24                         2.486                                               120                                                        5.015                                     -139                                   -140                          -363       469               62.612                          29.543                            27.632                                   2.078                               33.235                            21.065                                   11.447                                  47.336                              16.462                              13.002                                     3.708                                 32.103                              15.408                                      16.62                                494                             146.131                           124.238       
      1991                  90.491                                59.054                     25.215        5.272              3.221                18.237           33.909                                  1.129                                                      31.972                                      28.85                                24.181                            7.612                                   14.843                                     13.694                        3.11                         2.451                                               128                                                         4.59                                      748                                    739                           351       517               63.276                          31.909                            30.129                                   1.991                               31.549                            19.765                                    11.06                                  45.986                              17.641                              13.956                                     3.941                                 29.346                              13.888                                     15.383                                976                             146.777                           121.105       
      1992                  91.375                                59.645                     25.286        5.211              3.294                18.285           34.489                                  1.204                                                      32.172                                     28.383                                23.834                            8.816                                   14.068                                     11.411                        3.58                         2.169                                               151                                                        4.439                                   -1.527                                 -1.497                          -859      -747               68.195                          37.411                            35.208                                   2.433                               31.011                            19.526                                   10.795                                  46.471                              18.052                              14.338                                     3.959                                   29.4                              13.394                                     15.925                               -152                             147.756                            121.56       
      1993                  92.701                                61.392                     25.977        5.434              3.394                18.636           35.563                                  1.168                                                      31.557                                     31.413                                27.044                             8.95                                   16.074                                     14.204                       3.627                         3.087                                               167                                                        4.221                                      863                                    845                          -157      1.57               73.583                          39.899                            37.704                                   2.461                               33.932                            21.832                                   11.437                                  48.308                               19.64                              15.642                                      4.25                                 29.535                              13.311                                     16.147                                -52                             159.234                           125.842       
      1994                  93.724                                63.784                     26.794        5.688              3.486                 19.11           37.195                                  1.126                                                      29.758                                     36.162                                 32.18                            8.872                                   19.729                                     19.137                       3.788                         4.247                                               151                                                        3.804                                     -277                                   -273                          -306       130               78.712                          43.747                            41.323                                   2.713                               35.193                            23.218                                   11.388                                  50.638                              19.934                               15.58                                     4.706                                 31.756                              15.477                                     16.135                              1.505                             168.049                           131.475       
      1995                  94.882                                65.202                     27.159        5.733              3.652                19.197           38.309                                  1.216                                                      29.193                                     36.027                                32.341                             7.82                                   20.143                                       19.1                       4.038                         4.691                                               194                                                         3.44                                    1.584                                  1.551                           830       854               83.092                          48.227                            45.564                                   2.983                                35.03                            23.043                                   11.392                                  52.769                              21.138                              16.667                                     4.796                                  32.64                              16.011                                     16.472                               1.09                             173.206                           132.536       
      1996                  96.845                                67.067                     28.005        6.114               3.77                19.444            39.32                                  1.425                                                       28.87                                     38.041                                34.239                            8.976                                   21.127                                     18.522                        4.83                         4.694                                               185                                                        3.562                                     -120                                   -116                           -21      -137               90.697                          51.695                            48.572                                   3.443                               39.244                            27.627                                   11.185                                  56.783                              24.874                              19.915                                      5.25                                 32.544                              15.495                                     16.939                                342                             177.367                           136.502       

[Ezra]

This worked great! Thank you very much. I really like that you inserted the line rebuilding the table at the end.

[Stephen23]

Steven Lord raised the possibility here that those commas are perhaps intended to be thousands-separators (not mentioned in the user guide!), rather than decimal radix characters. In which case... even more urrrghghghghhhh.

It seems that the main intent of this file format is to drive everyone else up the wall (I am thankfull that none of the tools I work with have the insanity of placing thousands-separators into their numeric data exports. Ugh ugh ugh).

Still, you can use the same approach I showed in my answer, by just removing the commas entirely:

T = readtable('Alberta.csv', ReadRowNames=true, MissingRule="omitrow");
T = rows2vars(T, VariableNamingRule="preserve")

T = 42x41 table
    OriginalVariableNames    Estimates    Final consumption expenditure    Household final consumption expenditure      Goods       Durable goods    Semi-durable goods    Non-durable goods     Services     Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption e    General governments final consumption expenditure    Gross fixed capital formation    Business gross fixed capital formation    Residential structures    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment    Non-residential structures    Machinery and equipment    Intellectual property products    Non-profit institutions serving households' gross fixed capital    General governments gross fixed capital formation    Investment in inventories    Of which: business investment in inventories     Non-farm        Farm       Exports of goods and services    Exports to other countries    Exports of goods to other countries    Exports of services to other countries    Exports to other provinces    Exports of goods to other provinces    Exports of services to other provinces    Less: imports of goods and services    Imports from other countries    Imports of goods from other countries    Imports of services from other countries    Imports from other provinces    Imports of goods from other provinces    Imports of services from other provinces    Statistical discrepancy    Gross domestic product at market prices    Final domestic demand
    _____________________    _________    _____________________________    _______________________________________    __________    _____________    __________________    _________________    __________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _____________________________    ______________________________________    ______________________    ___________________________________________________    __________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _________________________    ____________________________________________    __________    __________    _____________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    ___________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    _______________________    _______________________________________    _____________________

         {'Alberta'}         {'1981'}              {'74,785'}                            {'49,421'}                   {'23,172'}      {'4,111'}          {'3,068'}            {'17,803'}        {'25,632'}                               {'864'  }                                                  {'25,706'}                                 {'40,943'}                            {'34,948'}                        {'9,953'}                               {'22,704'}                                 {'24,940'}                   {'3,539'}                     {'2,527'}                                           {'127'}                                                    {'6,012'}                               {'186'   }                             {'180'   }                     {'110'   }    {'75'    }             {'47,401'}                      {'15,698'}                        {'14,281'}                               {'1,577'}                           {'32,721'}                        {'22,478'}                               {'9,397' }                              {'46,377'}                          {'14,719'}                          {'11,726'}                                 {'3,154'}                             {'33,093'}                          {'17,968'}                                 {'15,048'}                         {'-1,083'}                         {'121,088'}                       {'119,315'}     
         {'Var2'   }         {'1982'}              {'74,931'}                            {'48,922'}                   {'22,394'}      {'3,565'}          {'2,935'}            {'18,175'}        {'26,074'}                               {'872'  }                                                  {'26,571'}                                 {'36,555'}                            {'29,290'}                        {'7,932'}                               {'19,227'}                                 {'21,172'}                   {'2,983'}                     {'2,158'}                                           {'130'}                                                    {'7,266'}                               {'-2,088'}                             {'-2,046'}                     {'-1,652'}    {'-136'  }             {'45,593'}                      {'16,062'}                        {'14,639'}                               {'1,551'}                           {'30,082'}                        {'20,577'}                               {'8,752' }                              {'40,115'}                          {'11,879'}                          {'9,247' }                                 {'2,922'}                             {'29,738'}                          {'15,679'}                                 {'14,000'}                         {'-1,368'}                         {'118,052'}                       {'114,339'}     
         {'Var3'   }         {'1983'}              {'76,465'}                            {'49,051'}                   {'22,379'}      {'3,689'}          {'2,944'}            {'17,878'}        {'26,236'}                               {'806'  }                                                  {'28,429'}                                 {'29,889'}                            {'23,914'}                        {'6,739'}                               {'15,588'}                                 {'16,329'}                   {'2,645'}                     {'1,724'}                                           {'105'}                                                    {'5,978'}                               {'-865'  }                             {'-841'  }                     {'-448'  }    {'-466'  }             {'46,705'}                      {'15,882'}                        {'14,511'}                               {'1,463'}                           {'31,552'}                        {'21,857'}                               {'8,814' }                              {'40,284'}                          {'11,709'}                          {'9,263' }                                 {'2,638'}                             {'30,143'}                          {'15,763'}                                 {'14,320'}                         {'465'   }                         {'117,421'}                       {'108,311'}     
         {'Var4'   }         {'1984'}              {'77,002'}                            {'49,488'}                   {'22,516'}      {'3,892'}          {'2,952'}            {'17,655'}        {'26,551'}                               {'760'  }                                                  {'28,587'}                                 {'26,476'}                            {'21,596'}                        {'5,201'}                               {'14,191'}                                 {'14,776'}                   {'2,433'}                     {'1,973'}                                           {'95' }                                                    {'4,893'}                               {'-870'  }                             {'-857'  }                     {'-163'  }    {'-1,000'}             {'49,228'}                      {'17,851'}                        {'16,330'}                               {'1,608'}                           {'31,949'}                        {'21,897'}                               {'9,246' }                              {'35,613'}                          {'11,960'}                          {'9,607' }                                 {'2,469'}                             {'24,612'}                          {'12,407'}                                 {'12,155'}                         {'-82'   }                         {'123,180'}                       {'105,083'}     
         {'Var5'   }         {'1985'}              {'80,953'}                            {'52,267'}                   {'23,630'}      {'4,451'}          {'3,083'}            {'17,872'}        {'28,241'}                               {'862'  }                                                  {'29,623'}                                 {'28,530'}                            {'23,269'}                        {'5,454'}                               {'15,102'}                                 {'16,153'}                   {'2,463'}                     {'2,441'}                                           {'93' }                                                    {'5,284'}                               {'274'   }                             {'273'   }                     {'183'   }    {'83'    }             {'53,112'}                      {'21,069'}                        {'19,258'}                               {'1,925'}                           {'32,389'}                        {'21,735'}                               {'9,995' }                              {'38,399'}                          {'12,635'}                          {'10,281'}                                 {'2,408'}                             {'26,875'}                          {'14,312'}                                 {'12,504'}                         {'-433'  }                         {'132,159'}                       {'111,238'}     
         {'Var6'   }         {'1986'}              {'81,194'}                            {'52,806'}                   {'23,652'}      {'4,569'}          {'3,148'}            {'17,551'}        {'28,828'}                               {'866'  }                                                  {'29,185'}                                 {'25,456'}                            {'20,027'}                        {'5,508'}                               {'13,408'}                                 {'14,733'}                   {'2,072'}                     {'1,109'}                                           {'91' }                                                    {'5,425'}                               {'1,771' }                             {'1,732' }                     {'710'   }    {'1,437' }             {'52,010'}                      {'20,873'}                        {'19,029'}                               {'1,980'}                           {'31,441'}                        {'20,644'}                               {'10,202'}                              {'40,001'}                          {'13,147'}                          {'10,445'}                                 {'2,870'}                             {'28,016'}                          {'14,623'}                                 {'13,330'}                         {'525'   }                         {'128,432'}                       {'108,117'}     
         {'Var7'   }         {'1987'}              {'82,988'}                            {'54,011'}                   {'23,665'}      {'4,632'}          {'3,164'}            {'17,420'}        {'30,197'}                               {'778'  }                                                  {'29,966'}                                 {'26,461'}                            {'21,491'}                        {'6,643'}                               {'13,635'}                                 {'13,505'}                   {'2,550'}                     {'1,677'}                                           {'94' }                                                    {'4,956'}                               {'-158'  }                             {'-154'  }                     {'-125'  }    {'-5'    }             {'55,704'}                      {'23,330'}                        {'21,487'}                               {'1,961'}                           {'32,628'}                        {'21,340'}                               {'10,664'}                              {'41,975'}                          {'13,780'}                          {'10,872'}                                 {'3,118'}                             {'29,416'}                          {'14,946'}                                 {'14,404'}                         {'560'   }                         {'130,777'}                       {'110,982'}     
         {'Var8'   }         {'1988'}              {'85,503'}                            {'55,856'}                   {'24,456'}      {'4,961'}          {'3,187'}            {'17,846'}        {'31,253'}                               {'805'  }                                                  {'30,580'}                                 {'30,375'}                            {'25,655'}                        {'7,630'}                               {'16,459'}                                 {'15,293'}                   {'3,409'}                     {'1,966'}                                           {'99' }                                                    {'4,674'}                               {'805'   }                             {'783'   }                     {'708'   }    {'-105'  }             {'61,004'}                      {'27,762'}                        {'25,549'}                               {'2,357'}                           {'33,420'}                        {'21,777'}                               {'10,995'}                              {'45,755'}                          {'15,425'}                          {'12,169'}                                 {'3,492'}                             {'31,583'}                          {'15,892'}                                 {'15,620'}                         {'1,021' }                         {'140,853'}                       {'117,607'}     
         {'Var9'   }         {'1989'}              {'88,840'}                            {'58,133'}                   {'25,113'}      {'5,195'}          {'3,272'}            {'18,142'}        {'32,987'}                               {'962'  }                                                  {'31,413'}                                 {'29,337'}                            {'24,800'}                        {'8,468'}                               {'15,294'}                                 {'14,063'}                   {'3,218'}                     {'1,970'}                                           {'103'}                                                    {'4,482'}                               {'115'   }                             {'115'   }                     {'-65'   }    {'299'   }             {'62,188'}                      {'28,477'}                        {'26,633'}                               {'2,003'}                           {'33,887'}                        {'22,099'}                               {'11,134'}                              {'46,418'}                          {'15,753'}                          {'12,385'}                                 {'3,625'}                             {'31,920'}                          {'15,806'}                                 {'16,044'}                         {'1,053' }                         {'142,912'}                       {'119,885'}     
         {'Var10'  }         {'1990'}              {'91,375'}                            {'59,723'}                   {'25,666'}      {'5,429'}          {'3,325'}            {'18,366'}        {'34,070'}                               {'1,069'}                                                  {'32,271'}                                 {'31,077'}                            {'26,000'}                        {'8,897'}                               {'15,682'}                                 {'14,589'}                   {'3,240'}                     {'2,486'}                                           {'120'}                                                    {'5,015'}                               {'-139'  }                             {'-140'  }                     {'-363'  }    {'469'   }             {'62,612'}                      {'29,543'}                        {'27,632'}                               {'2,078'}                           {'33,235'}                        {'21,065'}                               {'11,447'}                              {'47,336'}                          {'16,462'}                          {'13,002'}                                 {'3,708'}                             {'32,103'}                          {'15,408'}                                 {'16,620'}                         {'494'   }                         {'146,131'}                       {'124,238'}     
         {'Var11'  }         {'1991'}              {'90,491'}                            {'59,054'}                   {'25,215'}      {'5,272'}          {'3,221'}            {'18,237'}        {'33,909'}                               {'1,129'}                                                  {'31,972'}                                 {'28,850'}                            {'24,181'}                        {'7,612'}                               {'14,843'}                                 {'13,694'}                   {'3,110'}                     {'2,451'}                                           {'128'}                                                    {'4,590'}                               {'748'   }                             {'739'   }                     {'351'   }    {'517'   }             {'63,276'}                      {'31,909'}                        {'30,129'}                               {'1,991'}                           {'31,549'}                        {'19,765'}                               {'11,060'}                              {'45,986'}                          {'17,641'}                          {'13,956'}                                 {'3,941'}                             {'29,346'}                          {'13,888'}                                 {'15,383'}                         {'976'   }                         {'146,777'}                       {'121,105'}     
         {'Var12'  }         {'1992'}              {'91,375'}                            {'59,645'}                   {'25,286'}      {'5,211'}          {'3,294'}            {'18,285'}        {'34,489'}                               {'1,204'}                                                  {'32,172'}                                 {'28,383'}                            {'23,834'}                        {'8,816'}                               {'14,068'}                                 {'11,411'}                   {'3,580'}                     {'2,169'}                                           {'151'}                                                    {'4,439'}                               {'-1,527'}                             {'-1,497'}                     {'-859'  }    {'-747'  }             {'68,195'}                      {'37,411'}                        {'35,208'}                               {'2,433'}                           {'31,011'}                        {'19,526'}                               {'10,795'}                              {'46,471'}                          {'18,052'}                          {'14,338'}                                 {'3,959'}                             {'29,400'}                          {'13,394'}                                 {'15,925'}                         {'-152'  }                         {'147,756'}                       {'121,560'}     
         {'Var13'  }         {'1993'}              {'92,701'}                            {'61,392'}                   {'25,977'}      {'5,434'}          {'3,394'}            {'18,636'}        {'35,563'}                               {'1,168'}                                                  {'31,557'}                                 {'31,413'}                            {'27,044'}                        {'8,950'}                               {'16,074'}                                 {'14,204'}                   {'3,627'}                     {'3,087'}                                           {'167'}                                                    {'4,221'}                               {'863'   }                             {'845'   }                     {'-157'  }    {'1,570' }             {'73,583'}                      {'39,899'}                        {'37,704'}                               {'2,461'}                           {'33,932'}                        {'21,832'}                               {'11,437'}                              {'48,308'}                          {'19,640'}                          {'15,642'}                                 {'4,250'}                             {'29,535'}                          {'13,311'}                                 {'16,147'}                         {'-52'   }                         {'159,234'}                       {'125,842'}     
         {'Var14'  }         {'1994'}              {'93,724'}                            {'63,784'}                   {'26,794'}      {'5,688'}          {'3,486'}            {'19,110'}        {'37,195'}                               {'1,126'}                                                  {'29,758'}                                 {'36,162'}                            {'32,180'}                        {'8,872'}                               {'19,729'}                                 {'19,137'}                   {'3,788'}                     {'4,247'}                                           {'151'}                                                    {'3,804'}                               {'-277'  }                             {'-273'  }                     {'-306'  }    {'130'   }             {'78,712'}                      {'43,747'}                        {'41,323'}                               {'2,713'}                           {'35,193'}                        {'23,218'}                               {'11,388'}                              {'50,638'}                          {'19,934'}                          {'15,580'}                                 {'4,706'}                             {'31,756'}                          {'15,477'}                                 {'16,135'}                         {'1,505' }                         {'168,049'}                       {'131,475'}     
         {'Var15'  }         {'1995'}              {'94,882'}                            {'65,202'}                   {'27,159'}      {'5,733'}          {'3,652'}            {'19,197'}        {'38,309'}                               {'1,216'}                                                  {'29,193'}                                 {'36,027'}                            {'32,341'}                        {'7,820'}                               {'20,143'}                                 {'19,100'}                   {'4,038'}                     {'4,691'}                                           {'194'}                                                    {'3,440'}                               {'1,584' }                             {'1,551' }                     {'830'   }    {'854'   }             {'83,092'}                      {'48,227'}                        {'45,564'}                               {'2,983'}                           {'35,030'}                        {'23,043'}                               {'11,392'}                              {'52,769'}                          {'21,138'}                          {'16,667'}                                 {'4,796'}                             {'32,640'}                          {'16,011'}                                 {'16,472'}                         {'1,090' }                         {'173,206'}                       {'132,536'}     
         {'Var16'  }         {'1996'}              {'96,845'}                            {'67,067'}                   {'28,005'}      {'6,114'}          {'3,770'}            {'19,444'}        {'39,320'}                               {'1,425'}                                                  {'28,870'}                                 {'38,041'}                            {'34,239'}                        {'8,976'}                               {'21,127'}                                 {'18,522'}                   {'4,830'}                     {'4,694'}                                           {'185'}                                                    {'3,562'}                               {'-120'  }                             {'-116'  }                     {'-21'   }    {'-137'  }             {'90,697'}                      {'51,695'}                        {'48,572'}                               {'3,443'}                           {'39,244'}                        {'27,627'}                               {'11,185'}                              {'56,783'}                          {'24,874'}                          {'19,915'}                                 {'5,250'}                             {'32,544'}                          {'15,495'}                                 {'16,939'}                         {'342'   }                         {'177,367'}                       {'136,502'}     

format long G
M = str2double(strrep(T{:,2:end},',','')) % convert text to numeric

M = 42x40

1981 74785 49421 23172 4111 3068 17803 25632 864 25706 40943 34948 9953 22704 24940 3539 2527 127 6012 186 180 110 75 47401 15698 14281 1577 32721 22478 9397 1982 74931 48922 22394 3565 2935 18175 26074 872 26571 36555 29290 7932 19227 21172 2983 2158 130 7266 -2088 -2046 -1652 -136 45593 16062 14639 1551 30082 20577 8752 1983 76465 49051 22379 3689 2944 17878 26236 806 28429 29889 23914 6739 15588 16329 2645 1724 105 5978 -865 -841 -448 -466 46705 15882 14511 1463 31552 21857 8814 1984 77002 49488 22516 3892 2952 17655 26551 760 28587 26476 21596 5201 14191 14776 2433 1973 95 4893 -870 -857 -163 -1000 49228 17851 16330 1608 31949 21897 9246 1985 80953 52267 23630 4451 3083 17872 28241 862 29623 28530 23269 5454 15102 16153 2463 2441 93 5284 274 273 183 83 53112 21069 19258 1925 32389 21735 9995 1986 81194 52806 23652 4569 3148 17551 28828 866 29185 25456 20027 5508 13408 14733 2072 1109 91 5425 1771 1732 710 1437 52010 20873 19029 1980 31441 20644 10202 1987 82988 54011 23665 4632 3164 17420 30197 778 29966 26461 21491 6643 13635 13505 2550 1677 94 4956 -158 -154 -125 -5 55704 23330 21487 1961 32628 21340 10664 1988 85503 55856 24456 4961 3187 17846 31253 805 30580 30375 25655 7630 16459 15293 3409 1966 99 4674 805 783 708 -105 61004 27762 25549 2357 33420 21777 10995 1989 88840 58133 25113 5195 3272 18142 32987 962 31413 29337 24800 8468 15294 14063 3218 1970 103 4482 115 115 -65 299 62188 28477 26633 2003 33887 22099 11134 1990 91375 59723 25666 5429 3325 18366 34070 1069 32271 31077 26000 8897 15682 14589 3240 2486 120 5015 -139 -140 -363 469 62612 29543 27632 2078 33235 21065 11447

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[Steven Lord]

Steven Lord raised the possibility here that those commas are perhaps intended to be thousands-separators (not mentioned in the user guide!), rather than decimal radix characters. In which case... even more urrrghghghghhhh.

Yeah. Data sometimes can be as messy as a toddler or a puppy who just learned that mud exists ;)

What led me to that conclusion was the fact that the value for 1981 in the row "Final consumption expenditure" had a comma ('74,785') while the value for the row "Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption expenditure" didn't ('864'). I was originally going to suggest, since Import Tool imported that first entry as 74785 (which I checked by hovering over its entry prior to importing) that the poster simply divide the values by 1000 but that wouldn't have made sense for 864 which didn't have a comma.

I'm wondering if whoever created this data set didn't expect anyone to try to import it into another software package than Microsoft Excel, and it was mostly going to be used to display the data rather than trying to compute with it. Thousands separators can be nice for human eyes and brains to use in reading the data, but can be painful for software to handle if there's potential ambiguity.

[Ezra]

That was indeed the case Stephen23! I didn't think the data and it's odd format would lead to so many comments. I had modified the

% convert text to numeric

step already, but thank you very much for your comments and engagement with the problem!

Steven Lord, that may be the case. See here. Statistics Canada focuses on annual changes from year to year, highlighting percentage growth in various economic components. Simple enough to calculate in Excel... On the other hand, the data is also quite useful for Real Business Cycle research (that's where Matlab comes in handy). Thanks again!

[Steven Lord]

You asked an interesting question and showed what you'd tried. That tends to pique the interest of people on Answers.

Answer 2

[VBBV]

seriesAL = rows2vars(readtable('Alberta.csv', ReadRowNames=1, MissingRule="omitrow",VariableNamingRule='preserve'))

Warning: Table variable names that were not valid MATLAB identifiers have been modified. Since table variable names must be unique, any table variable names that happened to match the new identifiers also have been modified.
To use the original row names as new variable names, set 'VariableNamingRule' to 'preserve'.

seriesAL = 42x41 table
    OriginalVariableNames    Estimates    FinalConsumptionExpenditure    HouseholdFinalConsumptionExpenditure      Goods       DurableGoods    Semi_durableGoods    Non_durableGoods     Services     Non_profitInstitutionsServingHouseholds_FinalConsumptionExpendi    GeneralGovernmentsFinalConsumptionExpenditure    GrossFixedCapitalFormation    BusinessGrossFixedCapitalFormation    ResidentialStructures    Non_residentialStructures_MachineryAndEquipment    Non_residentialStructures    MachineryAndEquipment    IntellectualPropertyProducts    Non_profitInstitutionsServingHouseholds_GrossFixedCapitalFormat    GeneralGovernmentsGrossFixedCapitalFormation    InvestmentInInventories    OfWhich_BusinessInvestmentInInventories     Non_farm        Farm       ExportsOfGoodsAndServices    ExportsToOtherCountries    ExportsOfGoodsToOtherCountries    ExportsOfServicesToOtherCountries    ExportsToOtherProvinces    ExportsOfGoodsToOtherProvinces    ExportsOfServicesToOtherProvinces    Less_ImportsOfGoodsAndServices    ImportsFromOtherCountries    ImportsOfGoodsFromOtherCountries    ImportsOfServicesFromOtherCountries    ImportsFromOtherProvinces    ImportsOfGoodsFromOtherProvinces    ImportsOfServicesFromOtherProvinces    StatisticalDiscrepancy    GrossDomesticProductAtMarketPrices    FinalDomesticDemand
    _____________________    _________    ___________________________    ____________________________________    __________    ____________    _________________    ________________    __________    _______________________________________________________________    _____________________________________________    __________________________    __________________________________    _____________________    _______________________________________________    _________________________    _____________________    ____________________________    _______________________________________________________________    ____________________________________________    _______________________    _______________________________________    __________    __________    _________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _________________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _________________________________    ______________________________    _________________________    ________________________________    ___________________________________    _________________________    ________________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________    __________________________________    ___________________

         {'Alberta'}         {'1981'}             {'74,785'}                          {'49,421'}                 {'23,172'}     {'4,111'}          {'3,068'}           {'17,803'}       {'25,632'}                               {'864'  }                                                {'25,706'}                              {'40,943'}                        {'34,948'}                      {'9,953'}                            {'22,704'}                              {'24,940'}                  {'3,539'}                   {'2,527'}                                          {'127'}                                                 {'6,012'}                            {'186'   }                         {'180'   }                   {'110'   }    {'75'    }           {'47,401'}                  {'15,698'}                     {'14,281'}                          {'1,577'}                      {'32,721'}                     {'22,478'}                         {'9,397' }                          {'46,377'}                     {'14,719'}                       {'11,726'}                            {'3,154'}                        {'33,093'}                       {'17,968'}                           {'15,048'}                       {'-1,083'}                     {'121,088'}                    {'119,315'}    
         {'Var2'   }         {'1982'}             {'74,931'}                          {'48,922'}                 {'22,394'}     {'3,565'}          {'2,935'}           {'18,175'}       {'26,074'}                               {'872'  }                                                {'26,571'}                              {'36,555'}                        {'29,290'}                      {'7,932'}                            {'19,227'}                              {'21,172'}                  {'2,983'}                   {'2,158'}                                          {'130'}                                                 {'7,266'}                            {'-2,088'}                         {'-2,046'}                   {'-1,652'}    {'-136'  }           {'45,593'}                  {'16,062'}                     {'14,639'}                          {'1,551'}                      {'30,082'}                     {'20,577'}                         {'8,752' }                          {'40,115'}                     {'11,879'}                       {'9,247' }                            {'2,922'}                        {'29,738'}                       {'15,679'}                           {'14,000'}                       {'-1,368'}                     {'118,052'}                    {'114,339'}    
         {'Var3'   }         {'1983'}             {'76,465'}                          {'49,051'}                 {'22,379'}     {'3,689'}          {'2,944'}           {'17,878'}       {'26,236'}                               {'806'  }                                                {'28,429'}                              {'29,889'}                        {'23,914'}                      {'6,739'}                            {'15,588'}                              {'16,329'}                  {'2,645'}                   {'1,724'}                                          {'105'}                                                 {'5,978'}                            {'-865'  }                         {'-841'  }                   {'-448'  }    {'-466'  }           {'46,705'}                  {'15,882'}                     {'14,511'}                          {'1,463'}                      {'31,552'}                     {'21,857'}                         {'8,814' }                          {'40,284'}                     {'11,709'}                       {'9,263' }                            {'2,638'}                        {'30,143'}                       {'15,763'}                           {'14,320'}                       {'465'   }                     {'117,421'}                    {'108,311'}    
         {'Var4'   }         {'1984'}             {'77,002'}                          {'49,488'}                 {'22,516'}     {'3,892'}          {'2,952'}           {'17,655'}       {'26,551'}                               {'760'  }                                                {'28,587'}                              {'26,476'}                        {'21,596'}                      {'5,201'}                            {'14,191'}                              {'14,776'}                  {'2,433'}                   {'1,973'}                                          {'95' }                                                 {'4,893'}                            {'-870'  }                         {'-857'  }                   {'-163'  }    {'-1,000'}           {'49,228'}                  {'17,851'}                     {'16,330'}                          {'1,608'}                      {'31,949'}                     {'21,897'}                         {'9,246' }                          {'35,613'}                     {'11,960'}                       {'9,607' }                            {'2,469'}                        {'24,612'}                       {'12,407'}                           {'12,155'}                       {'-82'   }                     {'123,180'}                    {'105,083'}    
         {'Var5'   }         {'1985'}             {'80,953'}                          {'52,267'}                 {'23,630'}     {'4,451'}          {'3,083'}           {'17,872'}       {'28,241'}                               {'862'  }                                                {'29,623'}                              {'28,530'}                        {'23,269'}                      {'5,454'}                            {'15,102'}                              {'16,153'}                  {'2,463'}                   {'2,441'}                                          {'93' }                                                 {'5,284'}                            {'274'   }                         {'273'   }                   {'183'   }    {'83'    }           {'53,112'}                  {'21,069'}                     {'19,258'}                          {'1,925'}                      {'32,389'}                     {'21,735'}                         {'9,995' }                          {'38,399'}                     {'12,635'}                       {'10,281'}                            {'2,408'}                        {'26,875'}                       {'14,312'}                           {'12,504'}                       {'-433'  }                     {'132,159'}                    {'111,238'}    
         {'Var6'   }         {'1986'}             {'81,194'}                          {'52,806'}                 {'23,652'}     {'4,569'}          {'3,148'}           {'17,551'}       {'28,828'}                               {'866'  }                                                {'29,185'}                              {'25,456'}                        {'20,027'}                      {'5,508'}                            {'13,408'}                              {'14,733'}                  {'2,072'}                   {'1,109'}                                          {'91' }                                                 {'5,425'}                            {'1,771' }                         {'1,732' }                   {'710'   }    {'1,437' }           {'52,010'}                  {'20,873'}                     {'19,029'}                          {'1,980'}                      {'31,441'}                     {'20,644'}                         {'10,202'}                          {'40,001'}                     {'13,147'}                       {'10,445'}                            {'2,870'}                        {'28,016'}                       {'14,623'}                           {'13,330'}                       {'525'   }                     {'128,432'}                    {'108,117'}    
         {'Var7'   }         {'1987'}             {'82,988'}                          {'54,011'}                 {'23,665'}     {'4,632'}          {'3,164'}           {'17,420'}       {'30,197'}                               {'778'  }                                                {'29,966'}                              {'26,461'}                        {'21,491'}                      {'6,643'}                            {'13,635'}                              {'13,505'}                  {'2,550'}                   {'1,677'}                                          {'94' }                                                 {'4,956'}                            {'-158'  }                         {'-154'  }                   {'-125'  }    {'-5'    }           {'55,704'}                  {'23,330'}                     {'21,487'}                          {'1,961'}                      {'32,628'}                     {'21,340'}                         {'10,664'}                          {'41,975'}                     {'13,780'}                       {'10,872'}                            {'3,118'}                        {'29,416'}                       {'14,946'}                           {'14,404'}                       {'560'   }                     {'130,777'}                    {'110,982'}    
         {'Var8'   }         {'1988'}             {'85,503'}                          {'55,856'}                 {'24,456'}     {'4,961'}          {'3,187'}           {'17,846'}       {'31,253'}                               {'805'  }                                                {'30,580'}                              {'30,375'}                        {'25,655'}                      {'7,630'}                            {'16,459'}                              {'15,293'}                  {'3,409'}                   {'1,966'}                                          {'99' }                                                 {'4,674'}                            {'805'   }                         {'783'   }                   {'708'   }    {'-105'  }           {'61,004'}                  {'27,762'}                     {'25,549'}                          {'2,357'}                      {'33,420'}                     {'21,777'}                         {'10,995'}                          {'45,755'}                     {'15,425'}                       {'12,169'}                            {'3,492'}                        {'31,583'}                       {'15,892'}                           {'15,620'}                       {'1,021' }                     {'140,853'}                    {'117,607'}    
         {'Var9'   }         {'1989'}             {'88,840'}                          {'58,133'}                 {'25,113'}     {'5,195'}          {'3,272'}           {'18,142'}       {'32,987'}                               {'962'  }                                                {'31,413'}                              {'29,337'}                        {'24,800'}                      {'8,468'}                            {'15,294'}                              {'14,063'}                  {'3,218'}                   {'1,970'}                                          {'103'}                                                 {'4,482'}                            {'115'   }                         {'115'   }                   {'-65'   }    {'299'   }           {'62,188'}                  {'28,477'}                     {'26,633'}                          {'2,003'}                      {'33,887'}                     {'22,099'}                         {'11,134'}                          {'46,418'}                     {'15,753'}                       {'12,385'}                            {'3,625'}                        {'31,920'}                       {'15,806'}                           {'16,044'}                       {'1,053' }                     {'142,912'}                    {'119,885'}    
         {'Var10'  }         {'1990'}             {'91,375'}                          {'59,723'}                 {'25,666'}     {'5,429'}          {'3,325'}           {'18,366'}       {'34,070'}                               {'1,069'}                                                {'32,271'}                              {'31,077'}                        {'26,000'}                      {'8,897'}                            {'15,682'}                              {'14,589'}                  {'3,240'}                   {'2,486'}                                          {'120'}                                                 {'5,015'}                            {'-139'  }                         {'-140'  }                   {'-363'  }    {'469'   }           {'62,612'}                  {'29,543'}                     {'27,632'}                          {'2,078'}                      {'33,235'}                     {'21,065'}                         {'11,447'}                          {'47,336'}                     {'16,462'}                       {'13,002'}                            {'3,708'}                        {'32,103'}                       {'15,408'}                           {'16,620'}                       {'494'   }                     {'146,131'}                    {'124,238'}    
         {'Var11'  }         {'1991'}             {'90,491'}                          {'59,054'}                 {'25,215'}     {'5,272'}          {'3,221'}           {'18,237'}       {'33,909'}                               {'1,129'}                                                {'31,972'}                              {'28,850'}                        {'24,181'}                      {'7,612'}                            {'14,843'}                              {'13,694'}                  {'3,110'}                   {'2,451'}                                          {'128'}                                                 {'4,590'}                            {'748'   }                         {'739'   }                   {'351'   }    {'517'   }           {'63,276'}                  {'31,909'}                     {'30,129'}                          {'1,991'}                      {'31,549'}                     {'19,765'}                         {'11,060'}                          {'45,986'}                     {'17,641'}                       {'13,956'}                            {'3,941'}                        {'29,346'}                       {'13,888'}                           {'15,383'}                       {'976'   }                     {'146,777'}                    {'121,105'}    
         {'Var12'  }         {'1992'}             {'91,375'}                          {'59,645'}                 {'25,286'}     {'5,211'}          {'3,294'}           {'18,285'}       {'34,489'}                               {'1,204'}                                                {'32,172'}                              {'28,383'}                        {'23,834'}                      {'8,816'}                            {'14,068'}                              {'11,411'}                  {'3,580'}                   {'2,169'}                                          {'151'}                                                 {'4,439'}                            {'-1,527'}                         {'-1,497'}                   {'-859'  }    {'-747'  }           {'68,195'}                  {'37,411'}                     {'35,208'}                          {'2,433'}                      {'31,011'}                     {'19,526'}                         {'10,795'}                          {'46,471'}                     {'18,052'}                       {'14,338'}                            {'3,959'}                        {'29,400'}                       {'13,394'}                           {'15,925'}                       {'-152'  }                     {'147,756'}                    {'121,560'}    
         {'Var13'  }         {'1993'}             {'92,701'}                          {'61,392'}                 {'25,977'}     {'5,434'}          {'3,394'}           {'18,636'}       {'35,563'}                               {'1,168'}                                                {'31,557'}                              {'31,413'}                        {'27,044'}                      {'8,950'}                            {'16,074'}                              {'14,204'}                  {'3,627'}                   {'3,087'}                                          {'167'}                                                 {'4,221'}                            {'863'   }                         {'845'   }                   {'-157'  }    {'1,570' }           {'73,583'}                  {'39,899'}                     {'37,704'}                          {'2,461'}                      {'33,932'}                     {'21,832'}                         {'11,437'}                          {'48,308'}                     {'19,640'}                       {'15,642'}                            {'4,250'}                        {'29,535'}                       {'13,311'}                           {'16,147'}                       {'-52'   }                     {'159,234'}                    {'125,842'}    
         {'Var14'  }         {'1994'}             {'93,724'}                          {'63,784'}                 {'26,794'}     {'5,688'}          {'3,486'}           {'19,110'}       {'37,195'}                               {'1,126'}                                                {'29,758'}                              {'36,162'}                        {'32,180'}                      {'8,872'}                            {'19,729'}                              {'19,137'}                  {'3,788'}                   {'4,247'}                                          {'151'}                                                 {'3,804'}                            {'-277'  }                         {'-273'  }                   {'-306'  }    {'130'   }           {'78,712'}                  {'43,747'}                     {'41,323'}                          {'2,713'}                      {'35,193'}                     {'23,218'}                         {'11,388'}                          {'50,638'}                     {'19,934'}                       {'15,580'}                            {'4,706'}                        {'31,756'}                       {'15,477'}                           {'16,135'}                       {'1,505' }                     {'168,049'}                    {'131,475'}    
         {'Var15'  }         {'1995'}             {'94,882'}                          {'65,202'}                 {'27,159'}     {'5,733'}          {'3,652'}           {'19,197'}       {'38,309'}                               {'1,216'}                                                {'29,193'}                              {'36,027'}                        {'32,341'}                      {'7,820'}                            {'20,143'}                              {'19,100'}                  {'4,038'}                   {'4,691'}                                          {'194'}                                                 {'3,440'}                            {'1,584' }                         {'1,551' }                   {'830'   }    {'854'   }           {'83,092'}                  {'48,227'}                     {'45,564'}                          {'2,983'}                      {'35,030'}                     {'23,043'}                         {'11,392'}                          {'52,769'}                     {'21,138'}                       {'16,667'}                            {'4,796'}                        {'32,640'}                       {'16,011'}                           {'16,472'}                       {'1,090' }                     {'173,206'}                    {'132,536'}    
         {'Var16'  }         {'1996'}             {'96,845'}                          {'67,067'}                 {'28,005'}     {'6,114'}          {'3,770'}           {'19,444'}       {'39,320'}                               {'1,425'}                                                {'28,870'}                              {'38,041'}                        {'34,239'}                      {'8,976'}                            {'21,127'}                              {'18,522'}                  {'4,830'}                   {'4,694'}                                          {'185'}                                                 {'3,562'}                            {'-120'  }                         {'-116'  }                   {'-21'   }    {'-137'  }           {'90,697'}                  {'51,695'}                     {'48,572'}                          {'3,443'}                      {'39,244'}                     {'27,627'}                         {'11,185'}                          {'56,783'}                     {'24,874'}                       {'19,915'}                            {'5,250'}                        {'32,544'}                       {'15,495'}                           {'16,939'}                       {'342'   }                     {'177,367'}                    {'136,502'}    

yy = strrep(seriesAL{:,40},',','')

yy = 42x1 cell array
    {'121088'}
    {'118052'}
    {'117421'}
    {'123180'}
    {'132159'}
    {'128432'}
    {'130777'}
    {'140853'}
    {'142912'}
    {'146131'}
    {'146777'}
    {'147756'}
    {'159234'}
    {'168049'}
    {'173206'}
    {'177367'}
    {'189477'}
    {'198807'}
    {'201271'}
    {'213656'}
    {'217167'}
    {'222143'}
    {'229834'}
    {'242622'}
    {'253330'}
    {'269426'}
    {'274159'}
    {'278580'}
    {'263141'}
    {'276213'}

rgdp_AL = log(0.001.*str2num(cell2mat(yy)))

rgdp_AL = 42x1

4.7965 4.7711 4.7658 4.8136 4.8840 4.8554 4.8735 4.9477 4.9622 4.9845

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<mw-icon class=""></mw-icon>

[VBBV]

@Ezra use cell2mat & str2num for converting the cell array data in the log function

[Ezra]

Thank you very much VBBV! Super useful! That works well!

Answer 3

[Siddharth Bhutiya]

Others have already given good answers. I'll give another version that tweaks a few more options in readtable to simplify the conversion process. If you import the values as strings then you can use convertvars to convert these into doubles.

format long
filename = "https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/uploaded_files/1748189/Alberta.csv";
t = readtable(filename,ReadVariableNames=true,ReadRowNames=true,NumHeaderLines=10,MissingRule="omitrow",VariableNamingRule="preserve",TextType="string")

t = 39x42 table
                                                                                   1981        1982        1983        1984        1985        1986        1987        1988        1989        1990        1991        1992        1993        1994        1995        1996        1997         1998         1999         2000         2001         2002         2003         2004         2005         2006         2007         2008         2009         2010         2011         2012         2013         2014         2015         2016         2017         2018         2019         2020         2021         2022   
                                                                                 ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    ________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________    _________

    Final consumption expenditure                                                "74,785"    "74,931"    "76,465"    "77,002"    "80,953"    "81,194"    "82,988"    "85,503"    "88,840"    "91,375"    "90,491"    "91,375"    "92,701"    "93,724"    "94,882"    "96,845"    "102,525"    "106,850"    "110,566"    "116,613"    "121,259"    "126,360"    "130,450"    "136,210"    "145,163"    "155,904"    "165,769"    "171,723"    "171,464"    "177,672"    "184,778"    "191,218"    "198,423"    "204,685"    "206,646"    "208,493"    "214,522"    "219,333"    "219,670"    "208,764"    "216,594"    "223,413"
    Household final consumption expenditure                                      "49,421"    "48,922"    "49,051"    "49,488"    "52,267"    "52,806"    "54,011"    "55,856"    "58,133"    "59,723"    "59,054"    "59,645"    "61,392"    "63,784"    "65,202"    "67,067"    "72,035"     "74,705"     "77,277"     "81,323"     "84,425"     "88,079"     "91,003"     "95,971"     "103,450"    "112,769"    "120,296"    "123,446"    "121,880"    "126,927"    "132,063"    "137,565"    "144,369"    "149,804"    "150,554"    "150,024"    "154,356"    "157,123"    "157,750"    "147,478"    "154,378"    "159,602"
    Goods                                                                        "23,172"    "22,394"    "22,379"    "22,516"    "23,630"    "23,652"    "23,665"    "24,456"    "25,113"    "25,666"    "25,215"    "25,286"    "25,977"    "26,794"    "27,159"    "28,005"    "30,234"     "31,692"     "32,668"     "34,768"     "36,338"     "38,231"     "39,295"     "41,546"     "44,815"     "49,489"     "52,950"     "53,989"     "51,993"     "53,828"     "56,166"     "59,123"     "62,393"     "65,178"     "63,849"     "62,571"     "65,159"     "65,947"     "65,488"     "63,444"     "66,309"     "65,696" 
    Durable goods                                                                "4,111"     "3,565"     "3,689"     "3,892"     "4,451"     "4,569"     "4,632"     "4,961"     "5,195"     "5,429"     "5,272"     "5,211"     "5,434"     "5,688"     "5,733"     "6,114"     "7,180"      "7,477"      "7,744"      "8,619"      "9,318"      "10,103"     "10,503"     "11,229"     "12,850"     "14,996"     "16,530"     "16,676"     "14,781"     "15,505"     "16,517"     "17,869"     "19,408"     "20,599"     "19,228"     "18,318"     "19,734"     "19,784"     "19,180"     "17,732"     "19,213"     "18,708" 
    Semi-durable goods                                                           "3,068"     "2,935"     "2,944"     "2,952"     "3,083"     "3,148"     "3,164"     "3,187"     "3,272"     "3,325"     "3,221"     "3,294"     "3,394"     "3,486"     "3,652"     "3,770"     "3,987"      "4,261"      "4,366"      "4,677"      "5,060"      "5,357"      "5,616"      "6,015"      "6,634"      "7,481"      "8,221"      "8,574"      "8,305"      "8,795"      "9,455"      "10,233"     "10,685"     "11,072"     "10,951"     "10,768"     "10,928"     "11,080"     "11,166"     "9,904"      "11,547"     "11,872" 
    Non-durable goods                                                            "17,803"    "18,175"    "17,878"    "17,655"    "17,872"    "17,551"    "17,420"    "17,846"    "18,142"    "18,366"    "18,237"    "18,285"    "18,636"    "19,110"    "19,197"    "19,444"    "20,186"     "21,091"     "21,730"     "22,495"     "22,773"     "23,481"     "23,807"     "24,897"     "25,711"     "27,190"     "28,239"     "28,758"     "28,983"     "29,565"     "30,201"     "31,023"     "32,316"     "33,535"     "33,670"     "33,486"     "34,497"     "35,081"     "35,131"     "35,752"     "35,583"     "35,187" 
    Services                                                                     "25,632"    "26,074"    "26,236"    "26,551"    "28,241"    "28,828"    "30,197"    "31,253"    "32,987"    "34,070"    "33,909"    "34,489"    "35,563"    "37,195"    "38,309"    "39,320"    "42,042"     "43,190"     "44,815"     "46,694"     "48,182"     "49,884"     "51,787"     "54,487"     "58,695"     "63,231"     "67,271"     "69,417"     "69,936"     "73,167"     "75,959"     "78,474"     "81,999"     "84,644"     "86,716"     "87,449"     "89,197"     "91,179"     "92,270"     "84,018"     "88,056"     "94,137" 
    Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption expenditure    "864"       "872"       "806"       "760"       "862"       "866"       "778"       "805"       "962"       "1,069"     "1,129"     "1,204"     "1,168"     "1,126"     "1,216"     "1,425"     "1,736"      "1,890"      "2,023"      "2,191"      "2,367"      "2,642"      "2,470"      "2,351"      "2,605"      "2,552"      "2,618"      "2,790"      "2,694"      "2,656"      "2,826"      "2,952"      "3,029"      "2,991"      "3,136"      "3,301"      "3,310"      "3,429"      "3,624"      "3,439"      "3,454"      "3,525"  
    General governments final consumption expenditure                            "25,706"    "26,571"    "28,429"    "28,587"    "29,623"    "29,185"    "29,966"    "30,580"    "31,413"    "32,271"    "31,972"    "32,172"    "31,557"    "29,758"    "29,193"    "28,870"    "28,967"     "30,590"     "31,621"     "33,528"     "34,954"     "36,140"     "37,456"     "38,198"     "39,248"     "40,496"     "42,711"     "45,477"     "46,995"     "48,160"     "49,960"     "50,748"     "51,038"     "51,887"     "52,958"     "55,168"     "56,856"     "58,785"     "58,298"     "57,810"     "58,745"     "60,271" 
    Gross fixed capital formation                                                "40,943"    "36,555"    "29,889"    "26,476"    "28,530"    "25,456"    "26,461"    "30,375"    "29,337"    "31,077"    "28,850"    "28,383"    "31,413"    "36,162"    "36,027"    "38,041"    "48,248"     "53,435"     "50,899"     "59,401"     "66,071"     "65,452"     "69,925"     "77,011"     "93,836"     "103,336"    "105,515"    "107,221"    "79,625"     "98,129"     "108,826"    "121,061"    "134,491"    "140,637"    "112,731"    "91,260"     "91,903"     "90,904"     "84,688"     "72,365"     "80,514"     "86,779" 
    Business gross fixed capital formation                                       "34,948"    "29,290"    "23,914"    "21,596"    "23,269"    "20,027"    "21,491"    "25,655"    "24,800"    "26,000"    "24,181"    "23,834"    "27,044"    "32,180"    "32,341"    "34,239"    "44,411"     "49,240"     "46,194"     "53,984"     "59,343"     "58,377"     "63,472"     "70,228"     "85,696"     "93,762"     "94,533"     "95,024"     "67,399"     "84,297"     "95,374"     "107,500"    "121,740"    "128,767"    "99,886"     "78,189"     "78,881"     "79,298"     "74,150"     "61,668"     "71,144"     "76,833" 
    Residential structures                                                       "9,953"     "7,932"     "6,739"     "5,201"     "5,454"     "5,508"     "6,643"     "7,630"     "8,468"     "8,897"     "7,612"     "8,816"     "8,950"     "8,872"     "7,820"     "8,976"     "11,379"     "12,068"     "11,564"     "11,840"     "13,186"     "15,549"     "14,955"     "15,643"     "17,676"     "18,406"     "18,535"     "16,499"     "14,356"     "17,058"     "16,308"     "18,383"     "20,351"     "22,181"     "22,084"     "18,785"     "19,185"     "18,836"     "17,038"     "16,380"     "19,993"     "19,724" 
    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment                          "22,704"    "19,227"    "15,588"    "14,191"    "15,102"    "13,408"    "13,635"    "16,459"    "15,294"    "15,682"    "14,843"    "14,068"    "16,074"    "19,729"    "20,143"    "21,127"    "27,380"     "29,647"     "28,605"     "33,876"     "36,949"     "36,012"     "40,957"     "46,199"     "57,192"     "64,421"     "66,670"     "70,527"     "47,021"     "59,671"     "70,425"     "79,434"     "91,807"     "97,002"     "71,172"     "54,174"     "53,664"     "54,080"     "50,802"     "39,510"     "45,240"     "50,654" 
    Non-residential structures                                                   "24,940"    "21,172"    "16,329"    "14,776"    "16,153"    "14,733"    "13,505"    "15,293"    "14,063"    "14,589"    "13,694"    "11,411"    "14,204"    "19,137"    "19,100"    "18,522"    "24,349"     "22,549"     "22,080"     "26,175"     "28,194"     "26,338"     "28,976"     "32,717"     "39,864"     "43,058"     "45,120"     "49,320"     "29,602"     "42,016"     "50,345"     "57,175"     "67,703"     "71,898"     "52,538"     "40,224"     "39,707"     "38,178"     "35,254"     "26,779"     "32,906"     "36,380" 
    Machinery and equipment                                                      "3,539"     "2,983"     "2,645"     "2,433"     "2,463"     "2,072"     "2,550"     "3,409"     "3,218"     "3,240"     "3,110"     "3,580"     "3,627"     "3,788"     "4,038"     "4,830"     "6,119"      "8,231"      "7,798"      "9,223"      "10,226"     "10,500"     "12,432"     "14,005"     "17,736"     "21,284"     "21,577"     "21,428"     "17,175"     "17,755"     "20,201"     "22,378"     "24,121"     "25,091"     "18,636"     "13,950"     "13,957"     "15,902"     "15,543"     "12,710"     "12,318"     "14,275" 
    Intellectual property products                                               "2,527"     "2,158"     "1,724"     "1,973"     "2,441"     "1,109"     "1,677"     "1,966"     "1,970"     "2,486"     "2,451"     "2,169"     "3,087"     "4,247"     "4,691"     "4,694"     "6,312"      "8,273"      "6,633"      "8,549"      "9,596"      "7,724"      "8,047"      "8,745"      "11,053"     "11,030"     "9,365"      "8,286"      "6,062"      "7,640"      "8,779"      "9,836"      "9,701"      "9,668"      "6,615"      "5,224"      "6,032"      "6,383"      "6,304"      "5,837"      "5,958"      "6,661"  

t = convertvars(t,":","double") % convert the strings to numbers

t = 39x42 table
                                                                                 1981     1982     1983     1984     1985     1986     1987     1988     1989     1990     1991     1992     1993     1994     1995     1996      1997      1998      1999      2000      2001      2002      2003      2004      2005      2006      2007      2008      2009      2010      2011      2012      2013      2014      2015      2016      2017      2018      2019      2020      2021      2022 
                                                                                 _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    _____    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______    ______

    Final consumption expenditure                                                74785    74931    76465    77002    80953    81194    82988    85503    88840    91375    90491    91375    92701    93724    94882    96845    102525    106850    110566    116613    121259    126360    130450    136210    145163    155904    165769    171723    171464    177672    184778    191218    198423    204685    206646    208493    214522    219333    219670    208764    216594    223413
    Household final consumption expenditure                                      49421    48922    49051    49488    52267    52806    54011    55856    58133    59723    59054    59645    61392    63784    65202    67067     72035     74705     77277     81323     84425     88079     91003     95971    103450    112769    120296    123446    121880    126927    132063    137565    144369    149804    150554    150024    154356    157123    157750    147478    154378    159602
    Goods                                                                        23172    22394    22379    22516    23630    23652    23665    24456    25113    25666    25215    25286    25977    26794    27159    28005     30234     31692     32668     34768     36338     38231     39295     41546     44815     49489     52950     53989     51993     53828     56166     59123     62393     65178     63849     62571     65159     65947     65488     63444     66309     65696
    Durable goods                                                                 4111     3565     3689     3892     4451     4569     4632     4961     5195     5429     5272     5211     5434     5688     5733     6114      7180      7477      7744      8619      9318     10103     10503     11229     12850     14996     16530     16676     14781     15505     16517     17869     19408     20599     19228     18318     19734     19784     19180     17732     19213     18708
    Semi-durable goods                                                            3068     2935     2944     2952     3083     3148     3164     3187     3272     3325     3221     3294     3394     3486     3652     3770      3987      4261      4366      4677      5060      5357      5616      6015      6634      7481      8221      8574      8305      8795      9455     10233     10685     11072     10951     10768     10928     11080     11166      9904     11547     11872
    Non-durable goods                                                            17803    18175    17878    17655    17872    17551    17420    17846    18142    18366    18237    18285    18636    19110    19197    19444     20186     21091     21730     22495     22773     23481     23807     24897     25711     27190     28239     28758     28983     29565     30201     31023     32316     33535     33670     33486     34497     35081     35131     35752     35583     35187
    Services                                                                     25632    26074    26236    26551    28241    28828    30197    31253    32987    34070    33909    34489    35563    37195    38309    39320     42042     43190     44815     46694     48182     49884     51787     54487     58695     63231     67271     69417     69936     73167     75959     78474     81999     84644     86716     87449     89197     91179     92270     84018     88056     94137
    Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption expenditure      864      872      806      760      862      866      778      805      962     1069     1129     1204     1168     1126     1216     1425      1736      1890      2023      2191      2367      2642      2470      2351      2605      2552      2618      2790      2694      2656      2826      2952      3029      2991      3136      3301      3310      3429      3624      3439      3454      3525
    General governments final consumption expenditure                            25706    26571    28429    28587    29623    29185    29966    30580    31413    32271    31972    32172    31557    29758    29193    28870     28967     30590     31621     33528     34954     36140     37456     38198     39248     40496     42711     45477     46995     48160     49960     50748     51038     51887     52958     55168     56856     58785     58298     57810     58745     60271
    Gross fixed capital formation                                                40943    36555    29889    26476    28530    25456    26461    30375    29337    31077    28850    28383    31413    36162    36027    38041     48248     53435     50899     59401     66071     65452     69925     77011     93836    103336    105515    107221     79625     98129    108826    121061    134491    140637    112731     91260     91903     90904     84688     72365     80514     86779
    Business gross fixed capital formation                                       34948    29290    23914    21596    23269    20027    21491    25655    24800    26000    24181    23834    27044    32180    32341    34239     44411     49240     46194     53984     59343     58377     63472     70228     85696     93762     94533     95024     67399     84297     95374    107500    121740    128767     99886     78189     78881     79298     74150     61668     71144     76833
    Residential structures                                                        9953     7932     6739     5201     5454     5508     6643     7630     8468     8897     7612     8816     8950     8872     7820     8976     11379     12068     11564     11840     13186     15549     14955     15643     17676     18406     18535     16499     14356     17058     16308     18383     20351     22181     22084     18785     19185     18836     17038     16380     19993     19724
    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment                          22704    19227    15588    14191    15102    13408    13635    16459    15294    15682    14843    14068    16074    19729    20143    21127     27380     29647     28605     33876     36949     36012     40957     46199     57192     64421     66670     70527     47021     59671     70425     79434     91807     97002     71172     54174     53664     54080     50802     39510     45240     50654
    Non-residential structures                                                   24940    21172    16329    14776    16153    14733    13505    15293    14063    14589    13694    11411    14204    19137    19100    18522     24349     22549     22080     26175     28194     26338     28976     32717     39864     43058     45120     49320     29602     42016     50345     57175     67703     71898     52538     40224     39707     38178     35254     26779     32906     36380
    Machinery and equipment                                                       3539     2983     2645     2433     2463     2072     2550     3409     3218     3240     3110     3580     3627     3788     4038     4830      6119      8231      7798      9223     10226     10500     12432     14005     17736     21284     21577     21428     17175     17755     20201     22378     24121     25091     18636     13950     13957     15902     15543     12710     12318     14275
    Intellectual property products                                                2527     2158     1724     1973     2441     1109     1677     1966     1970     2486     2451     2169     3087     4247     4691     4694      6312      8273      6633      8549      9596      7724      8047      8745     11053     11030      9365      8286      6062      7640      8779      9836      9701      9668      6615      5224      6032      6383      6304      5837      5958      6661

t = rows2vars(t,VariableNamingRule="preserve")

t = 42x40 table
    OriginalVariableNames    Final consumption expenditure    Household final consumption expenditure    Goods    Durable goods    Semi-durable goods    Non-durable goods    Services    Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption e    General governments final consumption expenditure    Gross fixed capital formation    Business gross fixed capital formation    Residential structures    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment    Non-residential structures    Machinery and equipment    Intellectual property products    Non-profit institutions serving households' gross fixed capital    General governments gross fixed capital formation    Investment in inventories    Of which: business investment in inventories    Non-farm    Farm     Exports of goods and services    Exports to other countries    Exports of goods to other countries    Exports of services to other countries    Exports to other provinces    Exports of goods to other provinces    Exports of services to other provinces    Less: imports of goods and services    Imports from other countries    Imports of goods from other countries    Imports of services from other countries    Imports from other provinces    Imports of goods from other provinces    Imports of services from other provinces    Statistical discrepancy    Gross domestic product at market prices    Final domestic demand
    _____________________    _____________________________    _______________________________________    _____    _____________    __________________    _________________    ________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _____________________________    ______________________________________    ______________________    ___________________________________________________    __________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _________________________    ____________________________________________    ________    _____    _____________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    ___________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    _______________________    _______________________________________    _____________________

          {'1981'}                       74785                                 49421                     23172        4111                3068                 17803           25632                                    864                                                        25706                                      40943                                34948                              9953                                    22704                                     24940                        3539                           2527                                               127                                                        6012                                       186                                   180                           110         75                47401                          15698                              14281                                    1577                               32721                              22478                                    9397                                    46377                              14719                                11726                                      3154                                 33093                                17968                                     15048                               -1083                             121088                            119315        
          {'1982'}                       74931                                 48922                     22394        3565                2935                 18175           26074                                    872                                                        26571                                      36555                                29290                              7932                                    19227                                     21172                        2983                           2158                                               130                                                        7266                                     -2088                                 -2046                         -1652       -136                45593                          16062                              14639                                    1551                               30082                              20577                                    8752                                    40115                              11879                                 9247                                      2922                                 29738                                15679                                     14000                               -1368                             118052                            114339        
          {'1983'}                       76465                                 49051                     22379        3689                2944                 17878           26236                                    806                                                        28429                                      29889                                23914                              6739                                    15588                                     16329                        2645                           1724                                               105                                                        5978                                      -865                                  -841                          -448       -466                46705                          15882                              14511                                    1463                               31552                              21857                                    8814                                    40284                              11709                                 9263                                      2638                                 30143                                15763                                     14320                                 465                             117421                            108311        
          {'1984'}                       77002                                 49488                     22516        3892                2952                 17655           26551                                    760                                                        28587                                      26476                                21596                              5201                                    14191                                     14776                        2433                           1973                                                95                                                        4893                                      -870                                  -857                          -163      -1000                49228                          17851                              16330                                    1608                               31949                              21897                                    9246                                    35613                              11960                                 9607                                      2469                                 24612                                12407                                     12155                                 -82                             123180                            105083        
          {'1985'}                       80953                                 52267                     23630        4451                3083                 17872           28241                                    862                                                        29623                                      28530                                23269                              5454                                    15102                                     16153                        2463                           2441                                                93                                                        5284                                       274                                   273                           183         83                53112                          21069                              19258                                    1925                               32389                              21735                                    9995                                    38399                              12635                                10281                                      2408                                 26875                                14312                                     12504                                -433                             132159                            111238        
          {'1986'}                       81194                                 52806                     23652        4569                3148                 17551           28828                                    866                                                        29185                                      25456                                20027                              5508                                    13408                                     14733                        2072                           1109                                                91                                                        5425                                      1771                                  1732                           710       1437                52010                          20873                              19029                                    1980                               31441                              20644                                   10202                                    40001                              13147                                10445                                      2870                                 28016                                14623                                     13330                                 525                             128432                            108117        
          {'1987'}                       82988                                 54011                     23665        4632                3164                 17420           30197                                    778                                                        29966                                      26461                                21491                              6643                                    13635                                     13505                        2550                           1677                                                94                                                        4956                                      -158                                  -154                          -125         -5                55704                          23330                              21487                                    1961                               32628                              21340                                   10664                                    41975                              13780                                10872                                      3118                                 29416                                14946                                     14404                                 560                             130777                            110982        
          {'1988'}                       85503                                 55856                     24456        4961                3187                 17846           31253                                    805                                                        30580                                      30375                                25655                              7630                                    16459                                     15293                        3409                           1966                                                99                                                        4674                                       805                                   783                           708       -105                61004                          27762                              25549                                    2357                               33420                              21777                                   10995                                    45755                              15425                                12169                                      3492                                 31583                                15892                                     15620                                1021                             140853                            117607        
          {'1989'}                       88840                                 58133                     25113        5195                3272                 18142           32987                                    962                                                        31413                                      29337                                24800                              8468                                    15294                                     14063                        3218                           1970                                               103                                                        4482                                       115                                   115                           -65        299                62188                          28477                              26633                                    2003                               33887                              22099                                   11134                                    46418                              15753                                12385                                      3625                                 31920                                15806                                     16044                                1053                             142912                            119885        
          {'1990'}                       91375                                 59723                     25666        5429                3325                 18366           34070                                   1069                                                        32271                                      31077                                26000                              8897                                    15682                                     14589                        3240                           2486                                               120                                                        5015                                      -139                                  -140                          -363        469                62612                          29543                              27632                                    2078                               33235                              21065                                   11447                                    47336                              16462                                13002                                      3708                                 32103                                15408                                     16620                                 494                             146131                            124238        
          {'1991'}                       90491                                 59054                     25215        5272                3221                 18237           33909                                   1129                                                        31972                                      28850                                24181                              7612                                    14843                                     13694                        3110                           2451                                               128                                                        4590                                       748                                   739                           351        517                63276                          31909                              30129                                    1991                               31549                              19765                                   11060                                    45986                              17641                                13956                                      3941                                 29346                                13888                                     15383                                 976                             146777                            121105        
          {'1992'}                       91375                                 59645                     25286        5211                3294                 18285           34489                                   1204                                                        32172                                      28383                                23834                              8816                                    14068                                     11411                        3580                           2169                                               151                                                        4439                                     -1527                                 -1497                          -859       -747                68195                          37411                              35208                                    2433                               31011                              19526                                   10795                                    46471                              18052                                14338                                      3959                                 29400                                13394                                     15925                                -152                             147756                            121560        
          {'1993'}                       92701                                 61392                     25977        5434                3394                 18636           35563                                   1168                                                        31557                                      31413                                27044                              8950                                    16074                                     14204                        3627                           3087                                               167                                                        4221                                       863                                   845                          -157       1570                73583                          39899                              37704                                    2461                               33932                              21832                                   11437                                    48308                              19640                                15642                                      4250                                 29535                                13311                                     16147                                 -52                             159234                            125842        
          {'1994'}                       93724                                 63784                     26794        5688                3486                 19110           37195                                   1126                                                        29758                                      36162                                32180                              8872                                    19729                                     19137                        3788                           4247                                               151                                                        3804                                      -277                                  -273                          -306        130                78712                          43747                              41323                                    2713                               35193                              23218                                   11388                                    50638                              19934                                15580                                      4706                                 31756                                15477                                     16135                                1505                             168049                            131475        
          {'1995'}                       94882                                 65202                     27159        5733                3652                 19197           38309                                   1216                                                        29193                                      36027                                32341                              7820                                    20143                                     19100                        4038                           4691                                               194                                                        3440                                      1584                                  1551                           830        854                83092                          48227                              45564                                    2983                               35030                              23043                                   11392                                    52769                              21138                                16667                                      4796                                 32640                                16011                                     16472                                1090                             173206                            132536        
          {'1996'}                       96845                                 67067                     28005        6114                3770                 19444           39320                                   1425                                                        28870                                      38041                                34239                              8976                                    21127                                     18522                        4830                           4694                                               185                                                        3562                                      -120                                  -116                           -21       -137                90697                          51695                              48572                                    3443                               39244                              27627                                   11185                                    56783                              24874                                19915                                      5250                                 32544                                15495                                     16939                                 342                             177367                            136502        

t.Properties.RowNames = t.OriginalVariableNames; t.OriginalVariableNames = [] % Clean up the row names

t = 42x39 table
            Final consumption expenditure    Household final consumption expenditure    Goods    Durable goods    Semi-durable goods    Non-durable goods    Services    Non-profit institutions serving households' final consumption e    General governments final consumption expenditure    Gross fixed capital formation    Business gross fixed capital formation    Residential structures    Non-residential structures, machinery and equipment    Non-residential structures    Machinery and equipment    Intellectual property products    Non-profit institutions serving households' gross fixed capital    General governments gross fixed capital formation    Investment in inventories    Of which: business investment in inventories    Non-farm    Farm     Exports of goods and services    Exports to other countries    Exports of goods to other countries    Exports of services to other countries    Exports to other provinces    Exports of goods to other provinces    Exports of services to other provinces    Less: imports of goods and services    Imports from other countries    Imports of goods from other countries    Imports of services from other countries    Imports from other provinces    Imports of goods from other provinces    Imports of services from other provinces    Statistical discrepancy    Gross domestic product at market prices    Final domestic demand
            _____________________________    _______________________________________    _____    _____________    __________________    _________________    ________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _____________________________    ______________________________________    ______________________    ___________________________________________________    __________________________    _______________________    ______________________________    _______________________________________________________________    _________________________________________________    _________________________    ____________________________________________    ________    _____    _____________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    __________________________    ___________________________________    ______________________________________    ___________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    ____________________________    _____________________________________    ________________________________________    _______________________    _______________________________________    _____________________

    1981                74785                                 49421                     23172        4111                3068                 17803           25632                                    864                                                        25706                                      40943                                34948                              9953                                    22704                                     24940                        3539                           2527                                               127                                                        6012                                       186                                   180                           110         75                47401                          15698                              14281                                    1577                               32721                              22478                                    9397                                    46377                              14719                                11726                                      3154                                 33093                                17968                                     15048                               -1083                             121088                            119315        
    1982                74931                                 48922                     22394        3565                2935                 18175           26074                                    872                                                        26571                                      36555                                29290                              7932                                    19227                                     21172                        2983                           2158                                               130                                                        7266                                     -2088                                 -2046                         -1652       -136                45593                          16062                              14639                                    1551                               30082                              20577                                    8752                                    40115                              11879                                 9247                                      2922                                 29738                                15679                                     14000                               -1368                             118052                            114339        
    1983                76465                                 49051                     22379        3689                2944                 17878           26236                                    806                                                        28429                                      29889                                23914                              6739                                    15588                                     16329                        2645                           1724                                               105                                                        5978                                      -865                                  -841                          -448       -466                46705                          15882                              14511                                    1463                               31552                              21857                                    8814                                    40284                              11709                                 9263                                      2638                                 30143                                15763                                     14320                                 465                             117421                            108311        
    1984                77002                                 49488                     22516        3892                2952                 17655           26551                                    760                                                        28587                                      26476                                21596                              5201                                    14191                                     14776                        2433                           1973                                                95                                                        4893                                      -870                                  -857                          -163      -1000                49228                          17851                              16330                                    1608                               31949                              21897                                    9246                                    35613                              11960                                 9607                                      2469                                 24612                                12407                                     12155                                 -82                             123180                            105083        
    1985                80953                                 52267                     23630        4451                3083                 17872           28241                                    862                                                        29623                                      28530                                23269                              5454                                    15102                                     16153                        2463                           2441                                                93                                                        5284                                       274                                   273                           183         83                53112                          21069                              19258                                    1925                               32389                              21735                                    9995                                    38399                              12635                                10281                                      2408                                 26875                                14312                                     12504                                -433                             132159                            111238        
    1986                81194                                 52806                     23652        4569                3148                 17551           28828                                    866                                                        29185                                      25456                                20027                              5508                                    13408                                     14733                        2072                           1109                                                91                                                        5425                                      1771                                  1732                           710       1437                52010                          20873                              19029                                    1980                               31441                              20644                                   10202                                    40001                              13147                                10445                                      2870                                 28016                                14623                                     13330                                 525                             128432                            108117        
    1987                82988                                 54011                     23665        4632                3164                 17420           30197                                    778                                                        29966                                      26461                                21491                              6643                                    13635                                     13505                        2550                           1677                                                94                                                        4956                                      -158                                  -154                          -125         -5                55704                          23330                              21487                                    1961                               32628                              21340                                   10664                                    41975                              13780                                10872                                      3118                                 29416                                14946                                     14404                                 560                             130777                            110982        
    1988                85503                                 55856                     24456        4961                3187                 17846           31253                                    805                                                        30580                                      30375                                25655                              7630                                    16459                                     15293                        3409                           1966                                                99                                                        4674                                       805                                   783                           708       -105                61004                          27762                              25549                                    2357                               33420                              21777                                   10995                                    45755                              15425                                12169                                      3492                                 31583                                15892                                     15620                                1021                             140853                            117607        
    1989                88840                                 58133                     25113        5195                3272                 18142           32987                                    962                                                        31413                                      29337                                24800                              8468                                    15294                                     14063                        3218                           1970                                               103                                                        4482                                       115                                   115                           -65        299                62188                          28477                              26633                                    2003                               33887                              22099                                   11134                                    46418                              15753                                12385                                      3625                                 31920                                15806                                     16044                                1053                             142912                            119885        
    1990                91375                                 59723                     25666        5429                3325                 18366           34070                                   1069                                                        32271                                      31077                                26000                              8897                                    15682                                     14589                        3240                           2486                                               120                                                        5015                                      -139                                  -140                          -363        469                62612                          29543                              27632                                    2078                               33235                              21065                                   11447                                    47336                              16462                                13002                                      3708                                 32103                                15408                                     16620                                 494                             146131                            124238        
    1991                90491                                 59054                     25215        5272                3221                 18237           33909                                   1129                                                        31972                                      28850                                24181                              7612                                    14843                                     13694                        3110                           2451                                               128                                                        4590                                       748                                   739                           351        517                63276                          31909                              30129                                    1991                               31549                              19765                                   11060                                    45986                              17641                                13956                                      3941                                 29346                                13888                                     15383                                 976                             146777                            121105        
    1992                91375                                 59645                     25286        5211                3294                 18285           34489                                   1204                                                        32172                                      28383                                23834                              8816                                    14068                                     11411                        3580                           2169                                               151                                                        4439                                     -1527                                 -1497                          -859       -747                68195                          37411                              35208                                    2433                               31011                              19526                                   10795                                    46471                              18052                                14338                                      3959                                 29400                                13394                                     15925                                -152                             147756                            121560        
    1993                92701                                 61392                     25977        5434                3394                 18636           35563                                   1168                                                        31557                                      31413                                27044                              8950                                    16074                                     14204                        3627                           3087                                               167                                                        4221                                       863                                   845                          -157       1570                73583                          39899                              37704                                    2461                               33932                              21832                                   11437                                    48308                              19640                                15642                                      4250                                 29535                                13311                                     16147                                 -52                             159234                            125842        
    1994                93724                                 63784                     26794        5688                3486                 19110           37195                                   1126                                                        29758                                      36162                                32180                              8872                                    19729                                     19137                        3788                           4247                                               151                                                        3804                                      -277                                  -273                          -306        130                78712                          43747                              41323                                    2713                               35193                              23218                                   11388                                    50638                              19934                                15580                                      4706                                 31756                                15477                                     16135                                1505                             168049                            131475        
    1995                94882                                 65202                     27159        5733                3652                 19197           38309                                   1216                                                        29193                                      36027                                32341                              7820                                    20143                                     19100                        4038                           4691                                               194                                                        3440                                      1584                                  1551                           830        854                83092                          48227                              45564                                    2983                               35030                              23043                                   11392                                    52769                              21138                                16667                                      4796                                 32640                                16011                                     16472                                1090                             173206                            132536        
    1996                96845                                 67067                     28005        6114                3770                 19444           39320                                   1425                                                        28870                                      38041                                34239                              8976                                    21127                                     18522                        4830                           4694                                               185                                                        3562                                      -120                                  -116                           -21       -137                90697                          51695                              48572                                    3443                               39244                              27627                                   11185                                    56783                              24874                                19915                                      5250                                 32544                                15495                                     16939                                 342                             177367                            136502        

[Ezra]

I like this! Thank you very much Siddharth. I'm learning more about how to use readtable with each comment, so it's much appreciated!

[Steven Lord]

Another tool that may be able to help you is the Import Tool. This allows you to interactively experiment with how MATLAB will import your data, changing the data types of the variables it will import, control how unimportable cells are handled, etc. Once you're satisfied with your selections you can import the data and/or generate a script or function. [You can also iterate based on whether or not the imported data looks the way you want it to.]

The generated code can help you learn more about the commands MATLAB used to import the data and/or allow you to import more files in the same format without having to repeat the interactive configuration.

In this case, the commas in (some of) your numbers are interpreted as thousands separators (so 74,785 is interpreted as seventy-four thousand, seven hundred eighty-five) rather than as the decimal separator. If that's correct then you should be okay. If not, I don't think Import Tool has an option to specify what the decimal separator is but if that's a common situation for your data, you could file an enhancement request for such an option with Technical Support directly using this link.

[Ezra]

Thank you! In the future I'll likely try the import tools rather than coding directly. I figure I could learn a lot from it.

The commas are indeed thousands seperators (luckily)!