Converting cell array containing char to array.

Hi,

I have a few cell arrays that contain char arrays that I need to convert to a single array. Currently the contents of the cell arrays are either numbers or [] for empty cells.

I tried cell2mat, str2num, str2double and all didn't work.

I attached one of the cell arrays.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Fangjun Jiang]

How do you want to convert "chars" to single array? You can make up a simple cell array to show your problem.

[Mohamed Abdelsamie]

Hi Fangjun,

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. I attached the cell array that I have trouble with.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

desired_array = vertcat(cell_array{1,1:8})

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/comma-separated-lists.html

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/320713-how-to-operate-on-comma-separated-lists

Answer 2

[Mohamed Abdelsamie]

Ok I was able to solve the problem this way:

desired_array=[cell_array{1,1}; cell_array{1,2}; cell_array{1,3};...
    cell_array{1,4}; cell_array{1,5}; cell_array{1,6};...
    cell_array{1,7}; cell_array{1,8};];

It is still a non numeric array, but all values are in the same single array now not a cell array inside a cell array.

I will leave the question and answer in case it's useful to someone or in case someone has a better solution.

[Stephen23]

Equivalent yet much simpler:

desired_array = vertcat(cell_array{1,1:8})

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/comma-separated-lists.html

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/320713-how-to-operate-on-comma-separated-lists

[Mohamed Abdelsamie]

Hi Stephen,

Vertcat didn't change the cell array at all. I will read the links you attached in case there's something to change in the function.

[Stephen23]

"Vertcat didn't change the cell array at all"

I would not expect vertcat to "change" anything. All it does is vertically concatenate its inputs together. Which is exactly what you showed in your answer... vertcat with a comma-separated list is just simpler than what you wrote:

desired_array = vertcat(cell_array{1,1:8})

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/comma-separated-lists.html

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/320713-how-to-operate-on-comma-separated-lists

[Mohamed Abdelsamie]

Ok, I see what you mean now. For some reason it didn't work within my main script when I tested it. But it works now.

Could you add your comment as an answer so I could flag it?