how to convert arrays inside my cell array into cells?

if I have a cell array:

    % code
cities =

    'city1'     
    'city2'       
    'city3'
    'city4'         
    'city5'

I want my cell to include cells that include the strings inside like that

    % code
cities = 

    {1x1 cell}
    {1x1 cell}
    {1x1 cell}
    {1x1 cell}
    {1x1 cell}

for example in the 3rd cell inside my cell array there is

    % code
{1x1 cell}% inside of it --> 'city3'

without using any kind of loop! (cause I can do it without any real problam with a loop)

[Image Analyst]

Cells are complicated - why make it even more complicated than it needs to be? If you want you could have cells inside of cells inside of cells inside of cells. But why?

[ilona]

this is because I study Matlab in a University course and they want me to submit a structure that include cell arrays that include cell arrays... for no good reason other then showing us it is possible...

Answer 1

[Andrei Bobrov]

out = num2cell(cities)

[ilona]

you are a genius!!! thanks I feel so stupid right now

[Image Analyst]

I never would have thought something called num2cell would work on something that is not numbers, but surprisingly it does.

[ilona]

yes! it is very surprising he is a genius!

Answer 2

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

cities ={'city1'     
         'city2'       
         'city3'
         'city4'         
         'city5'}
out=cellfun(@(x) {x},cities,'un',0)
out{3}

%or

out=cellfun(@cellstr,cities,'un',0)

[ilona]

thanks can you tell me what exactly is that you did?

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

I don't know how to explain, maybe you should look at

doc cellfun

[ilona]

thanks!

Answer 3

[Azzi Abdelmalek]

out=regexp(cities,'.+','match')