using variable inside input function

I am trying to get user input for node coordinates. For some reason the ouput in the command window does not show the variable number, but instead a square:

Input

for i =1:2

x(i)=input(['coordinate for x ' i ' in metres: ']);

end

Output

coordinate for x in metres:

[Dr. Kelsey Joy]

num2str(i) so it doesn't just convert the number to a character position

I agree sprintf or fprintf may be a better approach.

(refer to this example with fprintf: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/102644-educational-building-arrays-with-for-loops-d-d?s_tid=prof_contriblnk)

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

['coordinate for x ' i ' in metres: ']

Concatenation between a character and a numeric value is define the same as if you had done

['coordinate for x ', char(i), ' in metres: ']

char(1) is the unprintable SOH (Start of Header) character, and char(2) is the unprintable STX (Start Of Text) character.

You should look at sprintf(). Or switch to string objects:

"coordinate for x " + i + " in metres: "

is well defined as formatting the number as text (according to ill-defined rules.)