How do I save a cell array that has both text and numeric data?

I have a data set where I would like to extract alphanumeric data to a text file. E.g. here is one 1x6 cell array:

37 0 240 0.436 'cat dog mouse' 10

I would like to save this data into a text file but I cannot do that with the fprintf command since it contains alphanumeric data. How do I do this?

Answer 1

[dpb]

>> fmt=[repmat('%5d',1,3) '%8.4f ' '%s %5d\n'];
>> fprintf(fmt,c{:})
  7    0  240  0.4360 cat dog mouse    10
>>

[T Shep]

Thank you! Works great!

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Here's one way:

ca = {37, 0, 240, 0.436, 'cat dog mouse', 10}
fid = open(filename, 'wt'); % File on disk
% fid = 1; % Command window.
fprintf(fid, '%f, %f, %f, %f, %s, %d\n', ca{:});
close(fid);

[T Shep]

Thank you! Both solutions work great! I see now that I was denoting the numeric data with %d instead of %f

[Image Analyst]

You need %f for numbers with fractional parts. You can use %f for integers also but %d works for integers only and %d is what I use if I know for certain the numbers are pure integers. Using %d for fractional numbers won't work - you need %f for them.

[T Shep]

I see. I think I am getting the hang of it. What if I want to now open up that text file so that each number is in a separate cell and the string 'cat dog mouse' is back in it's own cell (without commas)? i.e. read it in so that I am back to: 37 0 240 0.436 'cat dog mouse' 10

Do I just use....

textread(fid, '%f, %f, %f, %f, %s,%f,%f, %d\n')

[Image Analyst]

I don't know. You could always try it. I think they recommend textscan() now instead of textread(). Or you could use fgetl() to get just one line and then use textscan() or sscanf() on just that line.

You might also be able to use importdata() or readtable(). See which function lets you read it in with the least fuss.