Finding correct data row in excel data file

Hi,

I have excel data files which I read and process in matlab, sometimes the logged data shifts and starts at row 10 instead of row 8, is there a way for matlab to automatically find where the data starts without having to manually set the row?

Below is a screenshot of what I mean:

Thanks

Answer 1

[Sriram]

If you are sure that all your input file starts with the same string "Parameter PC Timest..... " or "SourceAddress" as like what you have shown in the image.... If that's the case, you can use any of the following which might suit yours

 strcmp     % Compare strings with case sensitive
 strcmpi    % Compare strings   
 strncmp    % for first n characters
 strncmpi

To get the text fields from xlsread use

 [num,txt,raw] =xlsread('filename') % check matlab help for more info

Compare the text filed and later try to access the data by appending the rows from the compared string "true" row..! Hope you can understand..:)

This might the simple and best way that can help you and I am sure Matlab by itself automatically can't know what's your files data starting point :P

[Aadil]

Hi, thanks for that

So from what I understand I will use strncmp to find 'Parameter' in the excel sheet, how would I then find the properties of the containing cell, for instance the row and column of the cell?

Thanks,

[Sriram]

 [numbers,texts,full] = xlsread('filename');
 cmp = strcmpi ('Parameter',texts);
 row_nums  = find(cmp==1);

Now cell's row with word parameter is available in row_nums !

[Aadil]

Worked, thanks!

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

that depends on what kind of data you have, string, numbers,...

 [num,text,num_text]=xlsread(YourFile)

1. num contains numeric data (class double)
2. text contains string data (class cell)
3. num_textt contains both numeric and string (class cell)

you don't need to know where are your data, unless there other contents then your matrix of data.