Opening .mat file using matlab

I couldn’t open a .mat file in my computer using matlab. Rather it was opening with Microsoft Access and I followed the laid down procedures on how to change the default file type. But the thing is that I didn’t find .mat extension in my file type. What do I do?

[Jonas]

you can also try to go over to a mat file using your file explorer: right click -> open with and then choose matlab (or 'other program' and then matlab). then either tick the 'always open with' box (I think this was windows 10) or click the always button on windows 11

[Kilaliba Tugwell]

There’s no option for “open with”, it’s windows 11. It only has the “open” option

[Mayur]

Can you share a screenshot of the file properties?

[Kilaliba Tugwell]

Sure, here is it.

Answer 1

[Mayur]

Thanks for sharing that. If you open MATLAB and then open this file from there, does it open properly?

Also, please check the following MATLAB Answers in case they help:

https://in.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/402193-file-mat-changed-to-microsoft-access-table

https://in.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/103000-why-have-all-my-mat-files-become-associated-with-microsoft-access

[Kilaliba Tugwell]

I tried opening it from the MATLAB software and it worked.

Thank you Mayur🙏🏽

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Try

storedStructure = load('C:\Users\X360\Desktop\My Thesis\third trial')

All the variables stored in that mat file will be fields of the structure returned by the load function.

help load

 LOAD Load data from MAT-file into workspace.
    S = LOAD(FILENAME) loads the variables from a MAT-file into a structure
    array, or data from an ASCII file into a double-precision array. 
    Specify FILENAME as a character vector or a string scalar. For example,
    specify FILENAME as 'myFile.mat' or "myFile.mat". 
 
    S = LOAD(FILENAME, VARIABLES) loads only the specified variables from a
    MAT-file. Specify FILENAME and VARIABLES as character vectors or string
    scalars. When specifying VARIABLES, use one of the following forms:
 
        VAR1, VAR2, ...          Load the listed variables.  Use the '*'
                                 wildcard to match patterns.  For
                                 example, load('A*') loads all variables
                                 that start with A.
        '-regexp', EXPRESSIONS   Load only the variables that match the
                                 specified regular expressions.  For more
                                 information on regular expressions, type
                                 "doc regexp" at the command prompt.
 
    S = LOAD(FILENAME, '-mat', VARIABLES) forces LOAD to treat the file as
    a MAT-file, regardless of the extension.  Specifying VARIABLES is
    optional.
 
    S = LOAD(FILENAME, '-ascii') forces LOAD to treat the file as an ASCII
    file, regardless of the extension.
 
    LOAD(...) loads without combining MAT-file variables into a structure
    array.
 
    LOAD ... is the command form of the syntax, for convenient loading from
    the command line. With command syntax, you do not need to enclose 
    inputs in single or double quotation marks. Separate inputs with spaces
    instead of commas. Do not use command syntax if FILENAME is a variable.
    
    Notes:
 
    If you do not specify FILENAME, the LOAD function searches for a file
    named matlab.mat.
 
    ASCII files must contain a rectangular table of numbers, with an equal
    number of elements in each row.  The file delimiter (character between
    each element in a row) can be a blank, comma, semicolon, or tab.  The
    file can contain MATLAB comments.
 
    Examples:
 
        gongStruct = load('gong.mat')      % All variables
        load('handel.mat', 'y')            % Only variable y
        load('accidents.mat', 'hwy*')      % Variables starting with "hwy"
        load('topo.mat', '-regexp', '\d')  % Variables containing digits
 
        % Using command form
        load gong.mat
        load topo.mat -regexp \d
        load 'hypothetical file.mat'       % Filename with spaces
 
    See also SAVE, MATFILE, WHOS, CLEAR, REGEXP, IMPORTDATA, UIIMPORT.

    Documentation for load
       doc load

    Other uses of load

       Aero.Body/load
       coder/load
       COM.com/load
       COM/load
       controllib.widget.internal.cstprefs.ToolboxPreferences/load
       driving/load
       icomm/load
       imaq/load
       instrument/load
       matlab.buildtool.Plan/load
       matlab.diagram.ClassViewer/load
       mlreportgen.utils.word/load
       parallel.Job/load
       sim3d.Actor/load
       Simulink.CodeImporter/load
       Simulink.sdi/load
       slrealtime.Target/load
       slreq/load
       sltest.harness/load
       sltest.testmanager/load