How can I import a structured binary file into matlab

I have a binary file that is structured as: a control record showing the number of elements: integer*4 followed by records for each element structured as: integer*4 , character*8 and character*40. how can i convert the element records into an array?

Thanks

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/memmapfile.html

Answer 2

[Iain]

Not sure about quick n easy ways of doing it, but:

 fid = fopen(filename,'r');
 elements  = fread(fid,1,'*uint32');
 for i = 1:elements
  read_out{1,i} = fread(fid,1,'*uint32');
  read_out{2,i} = char(fread(fid,8,'*uint8')');
  read_out{3,i} = char(fread(fid,40,'*uint8')');
 end