How to check whether multiple variables are numeric using a loop

Hi everyone,

My problem is how to check whether a variable within the workspace is numeric. I know about "isnumeric" the problem I have is trying to actually get MATLAB to tell me whether the variable content is numeric and not the string that I use within my loops to identify the variable within the workspace.

The attached code forms part of a conditional set of instruction on how to load in data, depending on whether it exists (non pre-allocated memory) or is an actual file.

Could you help?

Many thanks

D_mat_SA_search_master = ["D_mat_N_sqz_27.mat"	"D_mat_G_sqz_27.mat"]

for aa = 1:size(D_mat_SA_search_master,2)
        File_loc_ID = fullfile(Main_sim_directory,D_mat_SA_search_master(Main_loop,aa));
        
        %If variable not in WS and is a file - load up
        if ~isnumeric(contains(WS,D_mat_search(aa))) && isfile(File_loc_ID) % Problem here 
            isfile(File_loc_ID)
            File_loc_ID = string(File_loc_ID);
            importdata(File_loc_ID);
            fprintf ('Loading - %s \n.',string(File_loc_ID));
            continue   
         
        % Variable is present from loading - skip to next section    
        elseif isnumeric(contains(WS,D_mat_search(aa)))
            continue
            % skip this
        
        % Variables need to be calculated and saved   
        else            
       % Do stuff             
    end
end
        

[Matt J]

and not the string that I use within my loops to identify the variable within the workspace.

It is bad practice to be assigning names dynamically to data read in from files,

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

Answer 1

[Matt J]

varname=D_mat_search(aa);
if exist(varname,'var') && isnumeric(eval(varname)) && isfile(File_loc_ID)  %BAD

[Richard Rees]

Thank you