How to only grab *.xls files, not *.xlsx or *.xlsm?

I am using the following before I run a loop and it is pulling *.xlsm files. Is there a way to cut off the call at *.xls?

SVMS_xls=dir('*.xls');

[Walter Roberson]

Odd, that should not bring in xlsx or xlsm files. Unless just maybe it has something to do with 8.3 file name equivalences ???

[dpb]

What OS/release?

If that is really so, it's a bug.

Check the OS CMD dir function to see if it's what's broke or if Matlab isn't passing the right wildcard expression.

I'd like to see the list...it surely doesn't behave that way here, of course I'm stuck at R2012b but if this is repeatable it's worth a but report.

[Walter Roberson]

I am not able to replicate this on Windows 10 with R2017a.

[Jan]

I guess, that the file extensions are hidden in the Windows Explorer and that one file is called "file.xlsm.xls".

[dpb]

'+1' -- that's a very good guess, Jan.

[Jan]

@dpb: Since 2 months "guess" is my favourite term in the forum. :-)

[dpb]

I 'spect this 'un is in the realm of crystal ball guesses, though! :)

[Calabrese]

I was assuming that the error occurring within a loop was because it was pulling *.xlsm files, seemed plausible at the time. However it was a protected file issue. Thank you everyone for you feedback.

Answer 1

[Jan]

This is not the case in the Matlab versions I know: R5.3, 6.5, 2008a, 2009a, 2011b, 2015b, 2016b, under Windows XP and 7 and Linux. Here dir('*.xls') does not include .xlsm files. Please check your code again.

[Calabrese]

I was assuming that the error occurring within a loop was because it was pulling *.xlsm files, seemed plausible at the time. However it was a protected file issue. Thank you for you feedback.