Generate variable names and assign them to workspace variables

Hello, I have data files in the workspace and I want to take parts of them and combine them in a certain order. the files are named according to a rule for example "p12_13_50" which means aerofoil 12 and 13 with 50% blending.

I want to combine the first, second and third column from 11 such files each into one variable.

I was able to generate the variable name using strcat as follows

af1 = 12;
af2 = 13;
polar_name = {};
for ii = 1:10:101
    var_name = strcat('p',num2str(af1), '_',num2str(af2), '_', num2str(ii-1));
    polar_name = [polar_name; var_name];
    clear var_name
end

The trick is, how do I use the names that I have generated in calling part of the workspace variables with the same name. I have tried eval but it recognize the variable as a string. I also tried evalin and assignin without success.

If you think of other way to achieve the same goal I would be glad to try it as well.

Thanks in Advance

Answer 1

[Iain]

This is the answer to the question you've asked:

 generated_variable_name = 'Big_whatever'; %(needs to be in your working workspace

 eval([generated_variable_name ' = 5;'])
 evalin('base',[generated_variable_name ' = 5;']);
 assignin('base',generated_variable_name, 5)

The right answer is to use a structure or a cell array, as it is WAY more generic:

 structure(2).filename  = 'p12_13_50'
 structure(2).aerofoils = [12 13];
 structure(2).blending  = 50;
 structure(2).data      = ...

 cell{2}{1} = 'p12_13_50';
 cell{2}{2} = [12 13];
 cell{2}{3} = [50];
 cell{2}{4} = .... ;

[Fadi Kahwash]

It's working fine, thanks for the prompt response...

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Don't do that. Please see the FAQ: http://matlab.wikia.com/wiki/FAQ#How_can_I_create_variables_A1.2C_A2.2C....2CA10_in_a_loop.3F