fprintf row indentation export

I'm having trouble correctly exporting a custom text file I need. When I use fprintf within a for loop, I am getting strange formatting issues with spacing occuring before the beginning of every 5th row starting with row 6.

fileout = 'q.txt';
fid2 = fopen( fileout, 'w' );

for row = 1:5:n;
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+1, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+2, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+3, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+4, : } );
end

fclose( fid2 );

Here is a sample of what the output text file looks like. Every 5th row aside from the 1st row is indented by about 8 spaces. I cannot figure out why my code is doing this. If I eliminate the last, shorter fprintf line within the for loop, I don't have this problem. However, I need to have every fifth row in output as well as the remaining alternating first four rows. As can be seen, there is no additional spacing in the formatSpec (just 1 space). I've also checked the rough_cell cell array and there is no additional spacing for the first column of every fifth row.

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02 
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02 
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02 
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02   
      -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02   
      -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02 
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02 
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  
-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02
      -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

Any ideas?

[Walter Roberson]

How many columns are there in rough_cell ?

If you examine the file byte by byte, then what shows up at that point? For example,

T = fileread('q.txt');
T(1:300)        %display as text
T(1:300) + 0    %as decimal

[Image Analyst]

What's in the cells? Numbers or strings? It looks like strings (numbers that have been converted into string representations).

[dpb]

I'd suggest also showing the code by which the array rough_cell was created--I'd guess the reason for it is therein.

[curoi]

Walter, there are actually 12 columns in rough_cell but I shortened the number of strings in the for loop code so the output would fit in the message. Here is the actual display text:

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.99000

Image Analyst, the cells are composed of strings not numbers. dpb, here is the preceding code and the real 12 column code (unshortened):

for i = 1:12;
  depth( 1:n, i) = C1{ 1, i };
end
[ indx.nan( :, 1 ), indx.nan( :, 2 ) ] = find( ~isnan( depth ) == 0 );
[ indx.blk( :, 1 ), indx.blk( :, 2 ) ] = find( depth == -999 );
[ indx.hgr( :, 1 ), indx.hgr( :, 2 ) ] = find( -998 <= depth ...
  & depth <= -10 );
[ indx.lwr( :, 1 ), indx.lwr( :, 2 ) ] = find( -10 < depth ...
  & depth <= -1 );
[ indx.fld( :, 1 ), indx.fld( :, 2 ) ] = find( -1 < depth ...
  & depth <= 3 );
[ indx.chl( :, 1 ), indx.chl( :, 2 ) ] = find( 3 < depth ...
  & depth <= 20 );
[ indx.sea( :, 1 ), indx.sea( :, 2 ) ] = find( 20 < depth ...
  & depth < 100 );
for j = 1:length( indx.nan );
  rough( indx.nan( j, 1 ), indx.nan( j, 2 ) ) = NaN;
end

for k = 1:length( indx.blk );
  rough.blk = -999;
  rough_str( 1, 1:15 ) = [ ' ', num2str( rough.blk, '%9.7E' ) ];
  rough_cell( indx.blk( k, 1 ), indx.blk( k, 2 ) ) = cellstr( rough_str );
end
for m = 1:length( indx.hgr );
  rough.hgr = 0.050;
  rough_str( 1, 1:15 ) = [ '  ', num2str( rough.hgr, '%9.7E' ) ];
  rough_cell( indx.hgr( m, 1 ), indx.hgr( m, 2 ) ) = cellstr( rough_str );
end
for p = 1:length( indx.lwr );
  rough.lwr = 0.040;
  rough_str( 1, 1:15 ) = [ '  ', num2str( rough.lwr, '%9.7E' ) ];
  rough_cell( indx.lwr( p, 1 ), indx.lwr( p, 2 ) ) = cellstr( rough_str );
end

for q = 1:length( indx.fld );
  rough.fld = 0.030;
  rough_str( 1, 1:15 ) = [ '  ', num2str( rough.fld, '%9.7E' ) ];
  rough_cell( indx.fld( q, 1 ), indx.fld( q, 2 ) ) = cellstr( rough_str );
end

for r = 1:length( indx.chl );
  rough.chl = 0.024;
  rough_str( 1, 1:15 ) = [ '  ', num2str( rough.chl, '%9.7E' ) ];
  rough_cell( indx.chl( r, 1 ), indx.chl( r, 2 ) ) = cellstr( rough_str );
end

for t = 1:length( indx.sea );
  rough.sea = 0.020;
  rough_str( 1, 1:15 ) = [ '  ', num2str( rough.sea, '%9.7E' ) ];
  rough_cell( indx.sea( t, 1 ), indx.sea( t, 2 ) ) = cellstr( rough_str );
end
fileout = 'q.txt';
fid2 = fopen( fileout, 'w' );

for row = 1:5:n;
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+1, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+2, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+3, : } );
  fprintf( fid2, ' %s %s %s %s %s %s %s\r\n', rough_cell{ row+4, : } );
end
fclose( fid1 );
fclose( fid2 );

[dpb]

num2str( rough.blk, '%9.7E')

I didn't dig thru it all entirely, but it's possible the ill-formed format string could possibly contribute to the problem.

An E format w/ a precision of 7 digits needs a minimum of 14 spaces for the field accounting for the sign place, a leading digit, the decimal and the four for the exponent. Not sure what C (hence Matlab) does when there isn't enough room...

[Walter Roberson]

The 9 would be the minimum width, and more width will be silently used if needed to satisfy the precision and format specifier.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Change

fid2 = fopen( fileout, 'w' );

to

fid2 = fopen( fileout, 'wt' );

and remove the \r from each of the format strings.

Note: how it shows up will depend on which method you use to output it. Not all MS Windows operations know that \r\n is to be treated together as a single newline.

[curoi]

I changed the file permission type to 'wt' and removed all \r from the format spec of each fprintf line in the for loop but I'm still getting 8 spaces in front of the 6, 11, 16, 21, etc lines.

[Walter Roberson]

Please show the output of

T = fileread('q.txt');
T(1:1350)        %display as text
T(1:1350) + 0    %as decimal

Also, how are you viewing the file when you see the spaces?

[curoi]

>> T = fileread('q.txt');
T(1:1350)        %display as text
T(1:1350) + 0    %as decimal

ans =

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02   2.4000000E-02   4.0000000E-02  -9.9900000E+02

      -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02

-9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  -9.9900000E+02  

ans =

Columns 1 through 12

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 13 through 24

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 25 through 36

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 37 through 48

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 49 through 60

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 61 through 72

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 73 through 84

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 85 through 96

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 97 through 108

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 109 through 120

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 121 through 132

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 133 through 144

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 145 through 156

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 157 through 168

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 169 through 180

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 181 through 192

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 193 through 204

    13    10    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 205 through 216

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 217 through 228

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 229 through 240

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 241 through 252

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 253 through 264

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 265 through 276

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 277 through 288

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 289 through 300

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 301 through 312

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 313 through 324

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 325 through 336

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 337 through 348

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 349 through 360

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 361 through 372

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 373 through 384

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 385 through 396

    48    50    13    10    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 397 through 408

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 409 through 420

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 421 through 432

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 433 through 444

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 445 through 456

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 457 through 468

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 469 through 480

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 481 through 492

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 493 through 504

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 505 through 516

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 517 through 528

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 529 through 540

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 541 through 552

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 553 through 564

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 565 through 576

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 577 through 588

    69    43    48    50    13    10    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 589 through 600

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 601 through 612

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 613 through 624

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 625 through 636

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 637 through 648

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 649 through 660

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 661 through 672

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 673 through 684

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 685 through 696

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 697 through 708

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 709 through 720

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 721 through 732

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 733 through 744

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 745 through 756

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 757 through 768

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 769 through 780

    48    48    69    43    48    50    13    10    32    32    45    57

Columns 781 through 792

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 793 through 804

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 805 through 816

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 817 through 828

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 829 through 840

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 841 through 852

    32    32    32    50    46    52    48    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 853 through 864

    69    45    48    50    32    32    32    52    46    48    48    48

Columns 865 through 876

    48    48    48    48    69    45    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 877 through 888

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 889 through 900

    13    10    32    32    32    32    32    32    32    32    45    57

Columns 901 through 912

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 913 through 924

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 925 through 936

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 937 through 948

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 949 through 960

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 961 through 972

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 973 through 984

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 985 through 996

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 997 through 1008

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 1009 through 1020

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 1021 through 1032

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 1033 through 1044

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 1045 through 1056

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 1057 through 1068

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 1069 through 1080

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 1081 through 1092

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    13    10    32    32

Columns 1093 through 1104

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 1105 through 1116

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 1117 through 1128

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 1129 through 1140

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 1141 through 1152

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 1153 through 1164

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 1165 through 1176

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 1177 through 1188

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 1189 through 1200

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 1201 through 1212

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 1213 through 1224

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 1225 through 1236

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32

Columns 1237 through 1248

    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43

Columns 1249 through 1260

    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48

Columns 1261 through 1272

    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57

Columns 1273 through 1284

    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    13    10

Columns 1285 through 1296

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 1297 through 1308

    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48

Columns 1309 through 1320

    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50    32    32    45    57

Columns 1321 through 1332

    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48    69    43    48    50

Columns 1333 through 1344

    32    32    45    57    46    57    57    48    48    48    48    48

Columns 1345 through 1350

    69    43    48    50    32    32

I'm viewing the file in notepad++

[curoi]

For Columns 889 through 900 in the decimal output, there are eight consecutive 32's which I'm guessing represent the spaces I don't want to be there (at least I don't want 6 of the 8 ). Again, this is all being viewed in notepad++.

[Walter Roberson]

Yup, those are spaces alright.

Notice that the preceding line is short, only 7 entries instead of 12, and notice that the short line has a 0.024 and a 0.040 that are out of place. Tracing back, we see that the most probably cause would be indx.lwr( p, 1 ) and indx.chl( r, 1 ) being unexpected values at some point, causing writing into rows before what are expected. Please go back and debug the relevant find() commands.

It is not clear why you would be using ":" as the first dimension when you are writing the output of the find() commands. Remember that an index of ":" in an assignment statement means "corresponding entries" if the right hand side is a vector, but if the right hand side comes out to be a scalar then the ":" as the index on the left means "all entries"

[curoi]

I went back and modified the T(1:1350) output above because there were apparently still issues with copying into the message board. You'll notice that there really is an extra space (3) between a positive value and the preceding string (The 0.040 doesn't line up but the 0.024 does). In addition, there are only 6 spaces in front of the beginning of offending sixth set instead of 8 now. Due to the message board, all 2 spaces at the beginning of each line are dropped out but do actually appear in my text and T(1:1350) + 0 output above.

Anyway, I went back to check the rough_cell cell array and at the end of every sixth line there are 5 blank cells which is why the preceding line you mentioned is short by 5 entries out of 12. I did this knowing that I only needed 7 values in the last line and I believed I could just specify that in the fprintf command separately from the other sets (lines) of strings. If I can't do that, should I just fill each of those missing cells with some arbitrary number of the same size and keep my fprintf specification at only 7 strings?

[curoi]

I figured out the problem. It was just that in my fprintf, I was specifying all 12 rows for the short 7 string line by using ':' instead of '1:7'.