Is it possible to convert a cell array with multiple datatypes to a dataset array in Statistics Toolbox 7.1 (R2009a) ?

I have a 10x7 cell array obtained from a database. Some columns contain strings, and some columns contain numbers. I know the number of columns, but I do not know the data type of each column.

I would like to know if I can convert it to a dataset array.

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

Use the CELL2DATASET command in MATLAB 8.0 (R2012b) to achieve this.

For previous releases of MATLAB, read below for any possible workarounds:

The ability to convert a cell array to a dataset array is not available in the Statistics Toolbox 7.1 (R2009a).

As a workaround, the attached MATLAB file 'cell2ds.m' can perform this conversion. It takes as input an MxN cell array, and outputs a dataset array of similar dimensions. The second optional input argument is a cell array of strings, containing the names of the columns. If this parameter is omitted, then the function will auto-assign column names in the output dataset array as 'col1', 'col2', etc.

If "test" is the name of cell array, and if it contains 7 columns, then 'cell2ds' is called as follows:

ds = cell2ds(test)   % leave out column names

Optionally, you can choose to include the column names:

ds = cell2ds(test, strings {'A','B','C','D','E','F','G'} )

The 7 strings {'A','B','C','D','E','F','G'} represent the names of each column.