How to load text file to workspace variables?

Hi,

I wonder how to read/load variables from text file to matlab, with following format:

var1 val1
var2 val2
var3 val3
var4 val4

I want them to be loaded to workspace as variables with string name in var and numeric value as val.

[dpb]

In general, that's a bad idea -- use MATLAB array syntax instead.

[Stephen23]

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

Use indexing.

Indexing is neat, simple to debug, and very efficient (unlike what you are trying to do).

Answer 1

[per isakson]

"load to workspace as variables with string name in var and numeric value as val." There need to be a really good reason to do that, because it comes at a cost. Read Why Variables Should Not Be Named Dynamically and then read Magically Making Variables Appear in a Workspace is Risky a second time.

After reading try

cssm

which outputs

Name      Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes
  S         1x1               736  struct              
  var1      1x1                 8  double              
  var2      1x1                 8  double              
  var3      1x1                 8  double              
  var4      1x1                 8  double  

where (in one m-file named cssm.m)

%%
fid = fopen( 'cssm.txt' );
cac = textscan( fid, '%s%f' );
fclose( fid );
%%
for jj = 1 : length(cac{1})
   S.( cac{1}{jj} ) = cac{2}(jj);   % dynamic names in a structure
   assign( cac{1}{jj}, cac{2}(jj) ) % magically "poof" variables
end
whos S v*

function    assign( name, val )
    assignin( 'caller', name, val );
end

and where cssm.txt contains

var1 1
var2 2
var3 3
var4 4

Finally, are there any good reasons not to use "dynamic names in a structure" ?

[Stephen23]

A table would also be a good choice.