Using Matfile() in combination with a variable

I reference a Matfile and to access its entries using a variable:

a = 'variablefrommat';
m = matfile('myMat.mat');
x = m.a

This results (obviously) in Matlab searching the Matfile for 'a'. In my case this error occurs:

'a' does not exist in 'myMat.mat'.

Is there a way to interpret 'a' as the variable?

Answer 1

[Adam Danz]

The mat file object is similar to a structure array. Use parentheses to access fields dynamically.

m = matfile('myMat.mat');
a = 'variablefrommat'; 
x = m.(a)    %same as m.variablefrommat

[Stephen23]

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/generate-field-names-from-variables.html

[Jan Majewski]

Thanks it works!

Answer 2

[Geoff Hayes]

Jan - if you know the name of the variable that you want to reference then why are you setting this to its own variable? What are you trying to accomplish here?

You can do this using getfield as

x = getfield(m,a)

which will return the expected result...but do you need to do it this way?

[Jan Majewski]

I have a function which executes it since i have a lot variables and wanted to organize it better.

Maybe should have added it in the Question.

Your solution works aswell! Thanks.