How to assign a name to a Table given set of names?

Hi folks. I have a long code which runs every time with the number of items a set. For instance I have a set: Subjects = {Name1,Name2,Name3}. My FOR produces 3 different tables/matrixes: A, B and C. So each time the FOR statement runs, it overwrites the tables generated for each different subject. Is there a way to insert a code inside my FOR statement to store each table/matrix (A,B,C) and name each after the subject? For instance, something like this:

Subjects = {'Name1','Name2','Name3'}
  for i=1:length(Subjects)
      A = magic(2)
      B = magic(3)
      C = magic(4)

        strcat('A_',Subjects(1)) = A % These were my best attempts, But It doesn't work.
        strcat('B_',Subjects(2)) = B
        strcat('C_',Subjects(3)) = C

end
% Any help much appreciated.

[Adam]

I assume you mean matrices rather than tables. A table is now a specific data type in Matlab so it is useful to be as specific as you can with terminology. Your code suggests these are simply matrices though.

[Stephen23]

Use Adam's answer, it is the best solution to your problem.

Creating variables dynamically is a really bad way to code, which is explained in lots of threads on this forum:

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/196952-how-to-create-new-variables-in-batches-with-strcat

Answer 1

[Ralf]

Hi Edson,

would that work for you?

assignin('base', ['A_' Subjects{1}], A);

[Edson]

Certainly Ralf. It stores the data in a Struct arrangement. I can work with that. But a further question if I may, no way to store it in a non-struct arrangement right? Thanks for you time!

[Guillaume]

As a rule, do not use assignin, evalin, eval and similar. Do not create variable names dynamically and do not embed metadata in variable names. The metadata belongs in the content of the variable not its name.

Creating variable names dynamically is slow, is a nightmare to debug, makes subsequent code a lot more complicated, and may also not always work.

Adam's answer is a much better way of doing what you want.

[Ralf]

Guillaume, you are absolutely right. Assignin and evalin are "quick and dirty" solutions. I must admit that Adam's solution is much better.

Answer 2

[Adam]

Taking your current solution and making minimal changes, rather than starting from scratch...

Subjects = {'Name1','Name2','Name3'}

for i=1:numel(Subjects)
    A.( Subjects{i} ) = magic(2)
    B.( Subjects{i} ) = magic(3)
    C.( Subjects{i} ) = magic(4)
end

will give you structs A, B and C with a field for each subject containing the relevant matrix.

You can then get hold of these fields using dynamic strings in the same way I do above.

[Edson]

Thanks very much Adam for your answer. I think I can work with Ralf's and yours on my code. Have a great day!