Deleting rows of a table using for loops if consecutive terms in the first column are the same

So I have a table with 33 rows and 4 columns and i want to trim the table down so that the terms in the first column are unique. The first column has a bunch of text (states in the US). I'm trying to remove rows that have the same state in the first column. Here is my code.

function output = scenarioreduction()

A = readtable("book2.xlsx")

dimensions = size(A)

nrows = dimensions(1)

ncolumns = dimensions(2)

for r = 1:nrows

if strcmp(A{r,1},A{r+1,1}) == 1

A([r+1],:) = []

r = r+1

else

end

end

end

[ak]

i get the following error: Row index exceeds table dimensions

Answer 1

[Ruger28]

Please - next time use the code format. It makes this easier to look at. You're deleting an active part of the table, and changing its dimensions. Try assinging the row to remove into a variable, and adjusting it at the end.

function output = scenarioreduction()
 
A = readtable("book2.xlsx")
dimensions = size(A)
nrows = dimensions(1)
ncolumns = dimensions(2)
 
for r = 1:nrows
    if strcmp(A{r,1},A{r+1,1}) == 1
        
        % A([r+1],:) = [] this deletes a row in teh table, and changes its dimensions
        removeValues(r) = r;
        % r = r+1 not needed unlsess you're skipping ever other row
    else
        
    end
end
% remove the rows from the table
A(removeValues) = [];

end