Name arrays based on a variable

Hi,

I would like to create and fill array, which names are based on a variable.

Right now I manage to create and fill arrays, simply like this :

This_array(1) = 8;
This_other_array(4) = 12;

So I create the array and at the same time fill the index of the array that I want.

But what I'm trying to do is like that, to give an idea :

var = 'B'

[var, This_array](1) = 8
[var, This_other_array](4) = 8

So this do not work it's just an exemple to illustrate what I'm tryiing to do, like dynamically change the name of created arrays based on a variable.

Here the variable var is a char (idk why but that's what "class" tell me).

This code is in a for loop, an I would like to obtain an array called "B_This_array", or "C_This_array" based on the variable.

I've tried numerous ways and can't manage to make it work.

Thanks.

[Stephen23]

"...dynamically change the name of created arrays based on a variable."

Which is one way that beginners force themselves into writing slow, complex, buggy code:

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

It seems that you are trying to force meta-data into a variable name. Meta-data is data, and data should be stored in variables, not in variable names.

Note that indexing is neat, simple, and very efficient. You should probably use indexing.

Answer 1

[Rik]

The reasons why naming variables dynamically can be found here. It sounds like you are looking for the features a struct will provide you.

[mael thevenot]

Like can you give me an exemple on how to do that with struct please? I have trouble to understand how it would work.

[Rik]

This_array(1) = 8;
This_other_array(4) = 12;
B.This_array=This_array;
B.This_other_array=This_other_array;
C.This_array=This_array;
C.This_other_array=This_other_array;

The point is that you shouldn't be generating variable names. You can get a bit closer to that like this:

This_other_array=struct;%overwrite in case the variable already exists
This_other_array.B=1;
This_other_array.C=[3 1];

You can treat the fields as their own variable. You can even use a char array to index into it, but you can generally avoid that.

This_other_array=struct;%overwrite in case the variable already exists
This_other_array.B=1;
This_other_array.C=[3 1];

var='B';
clc,disp(This_other_array.(var))

[Stephen23]

mael thevenot's "Answer" moved here:

Ok so I managed to do what I wanted with nested structures and indexing. I created structure and then dynamicaaly access its field with :

fns = fieldnames(A);
A.(fns{3})

So with nested structs I have things like :

if ....
        var 1 = 2;
        fns2 = fieldnames(s.(fns{var1}));
        var 2 = 4;
        fns3 = fieldnames(s.(fns{va1}).(fns2{var2}));
        ...
end
s.(fns{var1})(1).(fns2{var2})(1).(fns3{var3})(1).(fns4{var4})(1) = my_value;

And actually it's way more neat and short to do like this :)

Thank you very much for your help !