MATLAB convert string representing array to actual array?

Question

I have the following:

ans = 

    '[-1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]'

I really want the variable

x = [-1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]

How can I convert ans into x?

Luis Mendo · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-12 19:58:00Z

3

s = '[-1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]';
x = str2num(s);

If your input is a cell array:

c = {'[-1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]'};
x = str2num(c{1});

answered Jan 12, 2014 at 19:51

Luis Mendo

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2 Comments

Error using str2num (line 33) Requires string or character array input.

@JDS Maybe your variable is a cell: c = {'[-1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]'}? In that case, use x = str2num(c{1})

Bruce Dean · Accepted Answer · 2014-01-12 19:54:15Z

2

Try this:

a =  '[-1, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0]'

x = str2num(a(2:end-1))

answered Jan 12, 2014 at 19:54

Bruce Dean

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