How can I write to a CSV file in separated columns and without any commas?

I am using the following code to write in a CSV file for 10 different columns but I end up with all data in a single column and commas between each data.

dlmwrite('/Users/.../matlabdandata2.csv',[frames' time' cycle' ...],'delimiter',',','-append')

Thanks!

Answer 1

[Christopher Wallace]

csvwrite('matlabdandata2.csv', [frames, time, cycle])

[Ece Su Ildiz]

It gives this error:

Undefined function 'write' for input arguments of type 'double'.

    Error in writetable (line 124)
    write(a,filename,varargin{:})

[Christopher Wallace]

Sorry, I had the wrong command. See my edit above.

[Ece Su Ildiz]

Thank you very much for your answer but it still writes all data to a single column.

[Christopher Wallace]

Can you provide the full code?

[Ece Su Ildiz]

%'Enter the file name: ' is /Users/ecesuildiz/Desktop/denemekod/book1.xls
%'Enter actuation frame: ', 's' is 141
%'Enter the number of best frames: ' is 40

my_str = cell(1,3);
my_str{1} = input('Enter the file name: ', 's');
my_str{2} = input('Enter actuation frame: ', 's');
my_str{3} = input('Enter the number of best frames: ', 's');

file = xlsread(my_str{1},'Results');
act_frame = str2double(my_str{2});
index = str2double(my_str{3});

frames = file(1:index);
mean1 = file(index+1:2*index); %cytop
mean2 = file(2*index+1:3*index); %backgr1 
mean3 = file(3*index+1:4*index); %backgr2
mean4 = file(4*index+1:5*index); %backgr3

avgBack = (mean2+mean3+mean4)/3;
cyto_minus_backgr = mean1-avgBack;

normalized = cyto_minus_backgr.*(1/cyto_minus_backgr(1));
fps = 4.9;

time = zeros();

for i = 1:index
    time(i) = (frames(i)-act_frame)/fps;
end

timenot0 = find(time>=0,1,'first');

cycle=zeros();
cycle(timenot0)=2;

for i = timenot0:index-1

          cycle(i+1)=cycle(timenot0)+cycle(i);

end

csvwrite('/Users/ecesuildiz/Desktop/matlabdandata2.csv',[frames', time', cycle'])

Here all arrays contain double and index is 40 (taken from user). Thank you very much.

[Christopher Wallace]

Using this code and the data file you provided below results in the following which appears to be in separate columns.

[Image Analyst]

But this answer gives commas between the values. Just open the csv file in a text editor and you'll see, and for some weird reason the poster didn't want commas and specifically said so. So he shouldn't use the csv extension and should use a .dat or .txt extension, and call dlmwrite() like I did in my answer.

Also, where did you get his input data with frames, times, cycles, etc.? I don't see that he attached it.

[Walter Roberson]

Ece attached a .xls to https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/410303-how-can-i-write-to-a-csv-file-in-separated-columns-and-without-any-commas#answer_328806

[Image Analyst]

That workbook has only 5 columns and they don't even have names that match. How are we supposed to generate the variables he called "[frames' time' cycle' ...]" which he is trying to stitch together?

And does he want 3 columns in the output text file, or 10 columns? And what does "the only problem is separating as 10 different columns" mean?

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

When you did this:

dlmwrite('/Users/.../matlabdandata2.csv', [frames' time' cycle' ...], 'delimiter', ',', '-append')

did you notice that you specified a comma as the delimiter? Why?

If you don't want a comma, specify a space or something else as the delimiter.

[Ece Su Ildiz]

Thanks you are right. Now the only problem is separating as 10 different columns.

[Image Analyst]

What does this say in the command window:

data = [frames', time', cycle', ...etc....] % Stitch 10 vectors side by side.
whos data
dimensions = size(data)

Attach your data if you want people to help you.

Answer 3

[Ece Su Ildiz]

It gives the following;

data =

    113.0000   -5.7143         0
    119.0000   -4.4898         0
    124.0000   -3.4694         0
    129.0000   -2.4490         0
    139.0000   -0.4082         0
    154.0000    2.6531    2.0000
    169.0000    5.7143    4.0000
    184.0000    8.7755    6.0000
    199.0000   11.8367    8.0000
    214.0000   14.8980   10.0000
    229.0000   17.9592   12.0000
    244.0000   21.0204   14.0000
    259.0000   24.0816   16.0000
    273.0000   26.9388   18.0000
    289.0000   30.2041   20.0000
    304.0000   33.2653   22.0000
    318.0000   36.1224   24.0000
    332.0000   38.9796   26.0000
    349.0000   42.4490   28.0000
    363.0000   45.3061   30.0000
    379.0000   48.5714   32.0000
    393.0000   51.4286   34.0000
    408.0000   54.4898   36.0000
    423.0000   57.5510   38.0000
    438.0000   60.6122   40.0000
    453.0000   63.6735   42.0000
    467.0000   66.5306   44.0000
    483.0000   69.7959   46.0000
    498.0000   72.8571   48.0000
    513.0000   75.9184   50.0000
    527.0000   78.7755   52.0000
    542.0000   81.8367   54.0000
    558.0000   85.1020   56.0000
    573.0000   88.1633   58.0000
    588.0000   91.2245   60.0000
    602.0000   94.0816   62.0000
    618.0000   97.3469   64.0000
    632.0000  100.2041   66.0000
    647.0000  103.2653   68.0000
    663.0000  106.5306   70.0000

    Name       Size            Bytes  Class     Attributes

    data      40x3               960  double

Just used first 3 column. XLS file is also attached. Thank you very much.

[Image Analyst]

Please attach your input data with the 10 variables frames, times, cycles, etc. I don't see that you attached it.

I solved the problem of how to get rid of the comma for you, but with "the only problem is separating as 10 different columns", I can't do that unless I have your 10 variables or 10 columns.

What are you stitching together that is giving you 10 columns and describe what "separating as 10 different columns" looks like to you. What kind of output do you want from "separating as 10 different columns"?

[Ece Su Ildiz]

I got this result:

But, I want to obtain this result (I don't know why it gives MATLAB data in this form there are comma and dot errors);

Correct excel file is attached. Actuation frame is 102 and number of best frames is 44. Thank you very much Sir.

[Walter Roberson]

What are the rules for when comma should be used as the decimal separator or period should be used for the decimal separator ? You use both in several of the columns.

[Ece Su Ildiz]

Just a dot will be enough as decimal separator. However here, I got the numbers also wrong. They should be like that;

[Image Analyst]

When you said "separator" regarding a CSV (Comma Separated Variable) file I assumed you meant the separator between the complete numbers. Now I'm wondering if you're talking about the separator between the thousands and millions groups in the number instead. Which is it?

Also I'm wondering if the columns in your table are actually strings, because I don't see why, in your first screenshot, cell F1 uses a comma but cell F2 uses a period for the decimal point.

What is your "region" (country) that your computer is set up for in your settings/control panel? Is it one of those countries that uses commas instead of dots for decimal points?

[Ece Su Ildiz]

I meant the separation of columns by saying "CSV file in separated columns". Also I am talking about the dot separator (in each cell) as decimal point separator. I am trying to obtain the exact output as shown in MATLAB matrix and I don't want any commas. It is set up for Turkey and Turkey uses commas for decimal points. Maybe that's the reason. I'll check. Thank you again Sir.