Matlab Corrupted Files by movefile

Hi,

So this morning I was sorting a few files on my computer, and came across a Matlab script. I decided to open the script in Matlab to see if I needed it or not, and because it was not located in the usual Matlab folder path, Matlab opened in the "Current Folder' which had various files such as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, etc. Well awhile ago I created a finish.m script to help clear the files in the Matlab folder path that usually opens by moving any files in the 'Current Folder' path into a folder on the Matlab path titled 'Current'. This script is:

function finish %% Store current files in folder 'Current'

    directory = dir;
    directory_size = size(directory);
    directory_names = directory_size(1);

    for i = 1 : directory_names
        if (isdir(directory(i).name) == 0)&& ...
           (strcmp(directory(i).name, 'diary') ~= 1)&& ...
           (strcmp(directory(i).name, 'finish.m') ~= 1)&& ...
           (strcmp(directory(i).name, 'matlab.mat') ~= 1)&& ...
           (strcmp(directory(i).name, 'startup.m') ~= 1)

            movefile(directory(i).name, 'Current') ;
        end
    end

%% Save and then clear Workspace

    save ;
    clear all ;
end

So not realizing it, after closing Matlab while still in the 'Current folder' path, the finish script detected the 20 or 30 Microsoft etc. files and attempted to move them into the folder 'Current'. What happened is all the files seem to be condensed into a file called 'Current' that, when opened in the Matlab script editor, shows strings of random symbols. I was so upset when I realized what happened, and I assume the file is corrupt. Is there any way to recover these files? I was reading about doing a system restore (I have a Windows computer), but I don't know if that would resolve it. I appreciate all the help.

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

I don't doubt that "various files such as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint " would look like gibberish "when opened in the Matlab script editor" . They're binary files, not text files, so what did you expect? The key thing is if you can still open them in the application they were intended for, like Word or Powerpoint. Can you do that?

[Andrew]

No what I mean is all of the files were condensed into one file (which is labeled as "File" as the Type of file when clicking on Properties), and regardless of the application it appears as strings of symbols. I'm not sure it is binary code since there are many arbitrary symbols, not all ones and zeros. However, Matlab did also create a .mat file structure that retained the names and properties of all the files. Would it help to attach these two files in a comment?