Hello, so i have 4 XLS files that contain data and every files has the same information but at different locations within that specific file. I want to extract all needed data

so all the files start like this: "HAYT" and at the end of HAYT, it contains one number(1-4) so the filenames range from HAYT1-HAYT4. I want all the files to be in one specfic folder where the code would sort through all four files and extract the data needed. how would i go about this? I am currently trying to code it but I am stuggling a bit.

[Scott MacKenzie]

Do you know the range of the data in each file? Do you want to read the data into separate matrices/tables or concatenate into a single matrix/table?

[Ahisa]

thanks for the comment, each file has about 10 sheets, the first sheet is what is needed. the data are in different rows/columns and i wouldnt know what to do with that. i want each file to have all the data on one row

[Scott MacKenzie]

Your reply just raises more questions.

Can you inspect the files and determine the range of the data to read in the usual format; e.g., 'A5:F22'?

What do you mean by i want each file to have all the data on one row? I assumed you want to read the data into a MATLAB matrix or table. But, is your intent to read the data, then write it back out? Please clarify, if you can.

[Ahisa]

well, the data that i need are in random areas. i would like it to read into a table within matlab, EX:

HAYT1 2323 2323 54545 454545 676767

HAYT1 545df je4j55 and so on...

[Star Strider]

Do the data have anything at all in common (same column or variable names, same row names)?

Think of it this way: If you were replying to your question, what information would you need in order to provide a solution?

[Ahisa]

completely agree! so every file has the same headers but they are in different locations

[dpb]

Random tidbits being pulled by repeated questions tersely replied to but with little real information and what is given just randomly pulled out of context will never get to a solution...

Without actually seeing at least a couple of the files sufficiently to be able to know what are looking at and what is wanted/needed to be returned, it's a wild goose chase to provide any useful code.

Other than that, getting the files is easy...

d=dir('HAYT*.xls');
for i=1:numel(d)
  d=read???(d(i).name,...);
  ....
end

[Ahisa]

how can i edit this to a specific folder?

[dpb]

Set the folder path either as a variable defined in your code or let use select it with a call to uigetdir() if you want fancy interface, then use fullfile() to build the fully qualified file search path. Similarly for the access, use fullfile and

  d=read???(fullfile(d(i).folder,d(i).name),...);

You've still not given enough information on the file structure itself to be able to know what else about the input itself would need...

[Ahisa]

i am unable to share the files, would there be a way to make a layout of the code? as in, most the data are on the first sheet and are at differemt locations, i was thinking of doing 4 loops for the 4 types of files. so, I would create a single loop per file type and have it loop through every file within the folder

[dpb]

You can put artificial data (of the same time data types and locations) in a sample file or two that illustrate the format and what data are needed.

It might be that just calling detectImportOptions for each could automagically find where the data are, or you might discover that the internal logic already built into readtable does it without any human intervention.

Have you tried it or just presumed it wouldn't work...?

[Ahisa]

i can edit the file and may be able to share them, i do believe they are encrypted, so i'm unsure.

I havent tried anything yet, trying to figure it out first before i do.