Merge array cells after creation to one cell

Hi,

i have an array arr = cell(2,3) and I wonder, if there's a method/function/trick which could combine the three cells in the second row into just one cell?

I mean instead of having:

arr =

 [?] [?] [?]

 [?] [?] [?]

I would like to have:

arr =

 [?] [?] [?]

 [    ?    ]

I tried to use reshape, but using reshape restricts the user to keep the number of cells unchanged. With this I am changing the size of the array along its second dimension ... Is this possible?

I ask because in the last row of my cell array, I just need one cell and not any more:

Thanks for your answer in advance.

Answer 1

[dpb]

No. The cell array is required to be rectangular; the content of some cell can be empty as you have, but the cell array itself can't be jagged.

>> c=cell(2)  % build a minimal cell array
c = 
  []    []
  []    []
>> c(4)=[]     % try to shorten the second row
c = 
  []    []    []
>>

As you see, Matlab has let you eliminate the cell, but it now is a vector, not 2D array.

You could encapsulate each row into another cell that can be variable-length, but that's another level of indirection in addressing to get to the data.

Where's the problem, specifically, as is other than simply the visual representation isn't neat?

[Ahmed Hossam]

I just wanted to know if it would be possible for a cell array to change its rectangular form after creation...

[Ahmed Hossam]

It would have nice, but if it's not possible, then I get the point. No problem!

[dpb]

No, the underlying cell array itself must be rectangular; the content in each cell is variable including empty, but the empty placeholder is something so the cell itself isn't (empty that is).

>> c=cell(2);
>> isempty(c)
ans =
   0
>> isempty(c(1))
ans =
   0
>> isempty(c{1})
ans =
   1
>>

If that's the nub of the question, how about Accept'ing an Answer to at least indicate query isn't still outstanding??