Read files from directory, load function causing error

from the code below, when I run it and select the files I want, I get this error, I seem to be lost and cant figure out whats causing it> It seems to be reading letters of the file instead of the name of the file: ??? Error using ==> load Unable to read file G: No such file or directory.

G is the first letter of the file I selected.

The other problem is if i select more than one files i get this error:

??? Error using ==> fprintf Function is not defined for 'cell' inputs.

Error in ==>at line 34 fprintf('You have selected: %s\n\n',files2get)

Can someone help me?

 when I change the load functions code to:

matrix = load(files2get{i,1},'%c%e%g%s%f'); i get this:

??? Cell contents reference from a non-cell array object.

Error in ==> twinleaf at 38 matrix = load(files2get{i,1},'%c%e%g%s%f');

Question=input('Do You Want To Select Files: y/n \n\n', 's')

   Prompt=Question;

   if strcmp(Prompt,'y')

       fprintf('You selected: %s \n\n',Prompt)

       fprintf('Please select the file type in the directory \n\n')

       files2get = uigetfile('*.*','MultiSelect','on');

       files2get={};

       fprintf('You have selected: %s\n\n',files2get)   

       nfiles = size(files2get,1);

   for i = 1:nfiles    

    matrix = load(files2get(i,1),'%c%e%g%s%f');

end elseif strcmp(Prompt,'n')

       fprintf('You selected: %s\n\n GOODBYE',Prompt)

   end

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

Rather than say everything that's wrong with that, I'll just show you how to do it correctly, and in a more robust way:

promptMessage = sprintf('Do you want to select files?');
titleBarCaption = 'Continue?';
button = questdlg(promptMessage, titleBarCaption, 'Yes', 'No, quit', 'Yes');
if strcmpi(button, 'No, quit')
  fprintf('You selected: %s\n\n GOODBYE\n',Prompt)
  return;
end
fprintf('You selected: %s \n\n',Prompt)
fprintf('Please select the files in the dialog box\n\n')
[baseFileNames, folder] = uigetfile('*.*', 'Select a file', 'MultiSelect','on');
if isequal(baseFileNames,0)
  % User clicked the No button.
  fprintf('You selected: %s\n\n GOODBYE\n',Prompt)
  return;
end
% User selected yes if they got here.
fullFileName = fullfile(folder, baseFileNames)
fprintf('You have selected:\n')
fprintf('%s\n',baseFileNames{:})
nfiles = length(baseFileNames)
for k = 1 : nfiles
  % Get this fullfile name.
  thisFileName = fullfile(folder, baseFileNames{k});
  % Load it in to a structure.
  fprintf('Loading %s\n', thisFileName);
  matrix = load(thisFileName);
  % Might need to do matrix = matrix.matrix if matrix is a structure instead of an array.
  % Now process matrix before moving on to the next file.
end

Hopefully it's self explanatory. If not, ask.

[Mini Me]

Thanks alot for the corrections.

What if by chance I have a file with $ in the data. when I run another
file with $ in it i guess this error:

??? Error using ==> load

Unknown text on line number 1 of ASCII file

"$".

Also If i wanted to do a data comparison and select two files at once, i

 get this error

?? Error using ==> fprintf

Function is not defined for 'cell' inputs.

is there another print function to use.Please help if you can?

Also after I select the first file, then it plots and ask to select a

second file when I do I get this:

??? Cell contents reference from a non-cell array object.

Error in ==>

fprintf('%s\n',baseFileNames{:}

[Mini Me]

Actually my comment above was based on the original code that was still

running.

your version gives this error before loading the files.

??? Cell contents reference from a non-cell array object.

Error in ==>

fprintf('%s\n',baseFileNames{:})

Also nfiles value is wrong.

Let's say if i want the timestamp of the selected file. can I do: thiFileName(k,1).date

[Image Analyst]

You're going to have to use the proper function to read in your files. If they're .mat files it should be no problem. If they're some special format of yours you might have to write a special function to read the files.

[Mini Me]

They're only .txt and .dat files

Let's say if i want the timestamp of the selected file. can I do: thisFileName(k,1).date

[Image Analyst]

To get the data of a file:

% Get the file date
fileInfo = dir(fullFileName);
% Show the file time and date.
fprintf('Date of %s = %s\n', fullFileName, fileInfo.date);

To read the contents of a txt or dat file, you're going to have to know what's inside it so you can pull it back out into the proper variables.

[Mini Me]

Thanks alot.. but im still having this error and cant get past it even

if i change the {} to ()

??? Cell contents reference from a non-cell array object.

Error in ==>

fprintf('%s\n',baseFileNames{:})

[Image Analyst]

What does the variable editor say baseFileNames is?

[Mini Me]

it opens up in the array editor...Im guessing it uses it as an array

[Mini Me]

seems to work this way!!

       promptMessage = sprintf('Do you want to select files?');
titleBarCaption = 'Continue?';
button = questdlg(promptMessage, titleBarCaption, 'Yes', 'No, quit', 'Yes');
if strcmpi(button, 'No, quit')
  fprintf('You selected: No %s\n\n GOODBYE\n', promptMessage)
  return;
end
fprintf('You selected: %s \n\n',promptMessage)
fprintf('Please select the files in the dialog box\n\n')
[baseFileNames, folder] = uigetfile('*.*', 'Select a file', 'MultiSelect','on');
if isequal(baseFileNames,0)
  % User clicked the No button.
  fprintf('You selected: %s\n\n GOODBYE\n',promptMessage)
  return;
end
% User selected yes if they got here.
fullFileName = fullfile(folder, baseFileNames)
fprintf('You have selected:\n')
fprintf('%s\n',baseFileNames(:))
nfiles = length(baseFileNames)
M=size(baseFileNames)
for k = 1 : nfiles   % Get the file date
fileInfo = dir(fullFileName);
% Show the file time and date.
fprintf('Date of %s = %s\n', fullFileName, fileInfo.date);
  % Get this fullfile name.
  thisFileName = fullfile(folder, baseFileNames);
  % Load it in to a structure.
  fprintf('Loading %s\n', thisFileName);
  matrix = load(thisFileName);

% Might need to do matrix = matrix.matrix if matrix is a structure instead of an array. % Now process matrix before moving on to the next file. end

[Image Analyst]

Not sure what you changed, but whatever...as long as it's working now you're in good shape.