how to extract some data from this particular structure?

Hello,

I have this structure, I am trying to extract some data (preferably avoiding loops):

sasa =

1×4 cell array

{1×1 struct} {1×1 struct} {1×1 struct} {1×1 struct}

K>> sasa{1}

ans =

struct with fields:

fmt: '%05.2f'

name: 'MOVE_ALONG_AXIS'

flag: 1

prjv: 1

vals: [-20 -19 -18 -17 -16 -15 -14 -13 -12 -11 -10 -9 -8 -7 -6 -5 -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20]

type: 'real'

unit: 'mm'

ref: 1

X0: [2×1 double]

LB: -20

UB: 20

magn: 0

K>> sasa{1}

sasa{2}

ans =

struct with fields:

fmt: '%05.2f'

name: 'wn'

flag: 1

prjv: 1

vals: [1×181 double]

type: 'real'

unit: 'mm'

ref: 2

X0: [2×1 double]

LB: 0.2000

UB: 2

magn: 0.5000

sasa{3}

ans =

struct with fields:

fmt: '%05.2f'

name: 'hn'

flag: 1

prjv: 1

vals: [1×991 double]

type: 'real'

unit: 'mm'

ref: 3

X0: [2×1 double]

LB: 0.1000

UB: 10

magn: 0.5000

sasa{4}

ans =

struct with fields:

fmt: '%05.2f'

name: 'pn'

flag: 1

prjv: 1

vals: [1×131 double]

type: 'real'

unit: 'mm'

ref: 4

X0: [2×1 double]

LB: 2

UB: 15

magn: 10

I would like to extarct just the names (preferably without loops), i.e. get a vector like this

M=['MOVE_ALONG_AXIS' 'wn' 'hn' 'pn']

tried a few things such as

sasa{:}.name

sasa{1:4}.name

it didn't work

Any ideas?

Thank you

[Stephen23]

Note that in MATLAB the square brackets are a concatenation operator (not a "list" operator, which MATLAB does not have), so your desired output

M=['MOVE_ALONG_AXIS' 'wn' 'hn' 'pn']

is exactly equivalent to this

M = 'MOVE_ALONG_AXISwnhnpn'

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

"Any ideas?"

Two comma-separated lists will do it. For example, where C is your cell array:

S = [C{:}]; % create non-scalar structure
N = [S.name] % then your task is this easy

Note that rather than storing lots of scalar structures in a cell array, your task would be easier if you used one non-scalar structure array right from the start. Better data deisgn makes your code simpler and more efficient.

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/comma-separated-lists.html

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/access-multiple-elements-of-a-nonscalar-struct-array.html

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/1656435-tutorial-comma-separated-lists-and-how-to-use-them