Alternative to cell2mat

I have a cell array, f with contents in it.

Is there a way to sort the contents of the cell array using

[B,IX]=sort(f) without having to use cell2mat?

I would like to evaluate it directly.

[Walter Roberson]

Hmmm... what kind of contents? It is, for example, difficult to sort 'hello' against [18.2 13.39 9.44]

Answer 1

[Fangjun Jiang]

If f is a cell array of strings, you can run sort(f) directly. If you f contains numerical data, what do you try to sort of the size of data is different. You need to provide more details. And what is wrong with using cell2mat()? What is the rational for "evaluate it directly"?

[RDG]

The data type in each cell array is a 10x4 double. I'll be looping an evaluation. If I were to use cell2mat(), after the evaluation, I've to use mat2cell() again for the evaluation to continue...and at times it causes issue.

That's why I'm trying to evaluate the cell array as it is. without using cell2mat() function.

[RDG]

Sorry. I meant the data type is a 10x1 cell with number in its content.

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[Fangjun Jiang]

C={8,7,9}

[d,ind]=sort(cell2mat(c))

C=c(ind)

[Fangjun Jiang]

Should be all low-case 'c'. Smart phone is too smart.

[Jan]

In this case [C{:}] is faster than CELL2MAT.

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

[IX,IX]=sortrows(cell2mat(f));
newcell = f(IX);

No mat2cell() required.