Convert cell array of cells into cell array of strings in MATLAB

Question

Using regexp with tokens on cell array of strings I've got cell array of cells. Here is simplified example:

S = {'string 1';'string 2';'string 3'};
res = regexp(S,'(\d)','tokens')
res = 

    {1x1 cell}
    {1x1 cell}
    {1x1 cell}
res{2}{1}
ans = 
    '2'

I know I have only one match per cell string in S. How I can convert this output into cell arrays of strings in a vectorized form?

gnovice · Accepted Answer · 2010-04-12 20:29:29Z

12

The problem is even worse than you thought. Your output from REGEXP is actually a cell array of cell arrays of cell arrays of strings! Yeah, three levels! The following uses CELLFUN to get rid of the top two levels, leaving just a cell array of strings:

cellArrayOfStrings = cellfun(@(c) c{1},res);

However, you can also change your call to REGEXP to get rid of one level, and then use VERTCAT:

res = regexp(S,'(\d)','tokens','once');  %# Added the 'once' option
cellArrayOfStrings = vertcat(res{:});

edited Apr 12, 2010 at 20:29

answered Apr 12, 2010 at 19:28

gnovice

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2 Comments

yuk Over a year ago

@gnovice: You are right about those levels. I think the second solution is better for the speed and clearness. Thanks again.

Jonas Over a year ago

@gnovice: I don't know how often I have read the documentation of regexp - yet I haven't noticed the 'once' option. Thanks!

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