Converting a text file into strings and integers

I have .txt input files with a very simple structure, of which I attach an example. I want to convert its content in strings and integers. My code below works, but I was wondering if there is a faster option than "textread", which seems to be the weak point.

[pattern, text, d] = textread('dataset.txt', '%s %s %d');
pattern = cell2mat(pattern(1));
text    = cell2mat(text(1));

[Paolo Binetti]

BTW, I read in Mathworks documentation: http://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/textread.html?searchHighlight=textread&s_tid=doc_srchtitle

that textread is not recommended, but it does not say why and textscan does not seem to work in the same way. I have actually tried implementing textscan but I did not figure it out. Amazing how much time one can lose with I/O ...

[Walter Roberson]

textscan is more flexible.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Is there only the one set of values for each file? If so then probably a few fscanf() would be faster.

[Paolo Binetti]

Thank you but I am not sure I understand your question. I have attached a file example. That is exactly the file I want to read (except that the string on the second row would be much longer).

[Walter Roberson]

fid = fopen('dataset.txt');

pattern = fscanf(fid, '%s', 1);
txt = fscanf(fid, '%s', 1);
d = fscanf(fid, '%f', 1);

fclose(fid);

[Paolo Binetti]

Thank you: 5 times faster on my sample, noticeably faster on larger files, no longer the slowest piece of code in my algorithm.