Clear Filters
Clear Filters

How can I extract an array of numbers from a text-formatted cell array of strings.

1 view (last 30 days)
I have read some data from a spreadsheet. The values are times, but formatted with s, m or h as a suffix to indicate seconds, minutes or hours. see example below,
I'd like to convert all of them to seconds, with NaN for the blank ones.
Is there an elegant way to do this?
Like this:
{'20s' }
{'15m' }
{0×0 char }
{'24s' }
{0×0 char }
{'44s' }
{'3h' }
{'40m' }
{'20s' }
{0×0 char }
{'14s' }

Accepted Answer

Stephen23
Stephen23 on 26 Apr 2024
Edited: Stephen23 on 26 Apr 2024
C = {'20s';'15m';'';'24s';'';'44s';'3h';'40m';'20s';'';'14s'}
C = 11x1 cell array
{'20s' } {'15m' } {0x0 char} {'24s' } {0x0 char} {'44s' } {'3h' } {'40m' } {'20s' } {0x0 char} {'14s' }
F = @(t)prod(sscanf(t,'%f'));
V = cellfun(F,regexprep(C,{'h$','m$','^$'},{' 3600',' 60','NaN'},'emptymatch'))
V = 11x1
20 900 NaN 24 NaN 44 10800 2400 20 NaN
<mw-icon class=""></mw-icon>
<mw-icon class=""></mw-icon>

More Answers (2)

Voss
Voss on 26 Apr 2024
data = {
'20s'
'15m'
''
'24s'
''
'44s'
'3h'
'40m'
'20s'
''
'14s'
};
C = regexp(data,'(\d+)([hms])','tokens','once');
idx = ~cellfun(@isempty,C);
C = vertcat(C{idx});
val = str2double(C(:,1));
[~,unit] = ismember(C(:,2),{'s','m','h'});
result = NaN(size(data));
result(idx) = val.*60.^(unit-1);
disp(result)
20 900 NaN 24 NaN 44 10800 2400 20 NaN 14

dormant
dormant on 14 May 2024
Thanks. Both of you helped.

Categories

Find more on Data Type Conversion in Help Center and File Exchange

Products


Release

R2024a

Community Treasure Hunt

Find the treasures in MATLAB Central and discover how the community can help you!

Start Hunting!