Trouble validating number of parameters in a function

To whom it may concern:

I am a beginner in Matlab programming and I am having difficulty with the function below. I need to validate that one of the inputs b1,b2,h,h1,l,v is [ ]. In otherwords, there can only be one unknown. The function is supposed to return 1 if there is only ony unknown, 0 if there are too many or too little. Not sure if I am on the right track but I am limited to basic Matlab vocabulary!

Thanks in advance.

MY FUNCTION:

function [ nb_valid_parameters ] = validate_nb_parameters( b1, b2, h, h1, l, v )

if (isempty(b1) & isnumeric(b2) & isnumeric(h) & isnumeric(h1) & isnumeric(l) & isnumeric(v));

    nb_valid_parameters = 1;

        if (isnumeric(b1) & isempty(b2) & isnumeric(h) & isnumeric(h1) & isnumeric(l) & isnumeric(v));
        nb_valid_parameters = 1;
%         end

            if (isnumeric(b1) & isnumeric(b2) & isempty(h) & isnumeric(h1) & isnumeric(l) & isnumeric(v));
            nb_valid_parameters = 1;
%             end

                if (isnumeric(b1) & isnumeric(b2) & isnumeric(h) & isempty(h1) & isnumeric(l) & isnumeric(v));
                nb_valid_parameters = 1;
%                 end

                    if (isnumeric(b1) & isnumeric(b2) & isnumeric(h) & isnumeric(h1) & isempty(l) & isnumeric (v));
                    nb_valid_parameters = 1;
%                     end

                        if (isnumeric(b1) & isnumeric(b2) & isnumeric(h) & isnumeric(h1) & isnumeric(l) & isempty(b1));
%                         end

    else nb_valid_parameters = 0;
                        end
                    end
                end
            end
        end

    fprintf('\n\n the number of parameters is invalid \n\n');

end

end

Answer 1

[Torsten]

Hint:

Use

summe=isempty(b1)+isempty(b2)+isempty(h)+isempty(h1)+isempty(l)+isempty(v)

Best wishes

Torsten.

Answer 2

[PR]

Yes! Thank you Mr. Torsten!

I just had a brainwave (it's in french now though):

function [ nb_parametres_valides ] = valider_nombre_parametres( b1, b2, h, h1, l, v )

    nb_inconnues = isempty(b1)+isempty(b2)+isempty(h)+isempty(h1)+isempty(l)+isempty(v);

    if (nb_inconnues > 1);
        nb_parametres_valides = 0;
        fprintf('il y a trop d''inconnues en entree');
    end

    if (nb_inconnues < 1);
        nb_parametres_valides = 0;
        fprintf('il n y pas assez d''inconnues en entree');
    end

    if (nb_inconnues == 1);
        nb_parametres_valides = 1;
        fprintf('le nombre de parametres en entree est valide');
    end

end

Answer 3

[Guillaume]

Because I like to write code that is as generic as possible, I'd use varargin and expansion of cell arrays to comma separated list to perform the test and allocate the inputs. So, if in the future there's some additional variables, there's only one line to change:

function [nb_parametres_valides] = valider_nombre_parametres(varargin)
    inconnues_voulues = 1;
    variables_voulues = 6;
    nb_inconnues = sum(cellfun(@isempty, varargin);
    nb_variables = numel(varargin);
    if nb_variables ~= variable_voulues
       fprintf('il n'y pas assez de variables en entree');
    end
    switch sign(nb_inconnues - inconnues_voulues)
       case -1 
          fprintf('il n y pas assez d''inconnues en entree');          
       case 0
          fprintf('le nombre de parametres en entree est valide');
       case 1
          fprintf('il y a trop d''inconnues en entree');
    end
    %and if you want to access the input variables:
    %[b1, b2, h, h1, l, v] = varargin{:};
end

Answer 4

[PR]

Thanks Guillaume. I appreciate you taking the time to develop that function. I will try and integrate some of your strategies!