How do I specify the datatype for readcell?

I have a large text file filled with part numbers that I want to read into MatLab. When using the command, I get a cell array, which makes sense.

Unfortunately, some of the part numbers follow a XX-XX-XXXX` format, and MatLab reads those ones in as datatime values rather than character arrays, so I have a cell array filled with character arrays and a few datetimes. Is there a way to specify that all of the cells should be filled with character arrays?

Answer 1

[dpb]

readcell will allow the use of an import options object whch would let you set the variable types. However, I'd strongly encourage the use of readtable instead; the table is far more convenient to use than having to dereference all cell arrays.

See detectImportOptions and readtable and friends for all the skinny, examples, ...