Concatenate cells leaving columns/rows empty

If I want to concatenate 2 cells I can use []. For example:

>> a={'lala'};b={'lolo'};c=[a,b]

c =

  1×2 cell array

    {'lala'}    {'lolo'}

However, if I want to leave a column (or row if I'd had concatenated them vertically) empty, I have to create an empty array to "occupy" the space:

>> d=cell(1,1);
>> c=[d,a,b]

c =

  1×3 cell array

    {0×0 double}    {'lala'}    {'lolo'}

I have not been able to change the position of a and b without creating the empty cell. Is there a way to choose their position just by indexing? I don't really care what the "empty cell" is.

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

Do you mean this:

c = {};  %or better if you know the final size:
%c = cell(1, 3);
c(1, [1 3]) = [a,b];  %put a at column 1 and b at column 3

?

[Miquel]

Yes! Thanks :)

Although I'm still playing wit it, I think I understand how to use it. However I don't get why it works and would have never done it myself. Could you tell me the logic behind it, please?

[Guillaume]

It's a simple assignment using indexing. As long as the left-hand and right-hand side have the same size (or the right-hand side is scalar) it just work.

c(1, [1 3]) is a two-element portion of the destination cell array to which you assign a two-element cell array.

[Miquel]

Thanks!