serialize

Create matlab code from a variable

Description

matcode = SERIALIZE(x) generates matlab code of x
matcode = SERIALIZE(x, n) generates matlab code of x retaining n digits
of precision

SERIALIZE should be able to create matlab code of the following data types:
- matrices, vectors, and scalars of any class and dimension
- strings
- structs, arrays of structs with up to six dimensions
- cell arrays
- matlab objects with a copy constructor implemented
- empty values of any class
- any combinations hereof

The value of x can be obtained by
  eval(matcode)

Examples
  x = [1 2 3; 3 4 5];
  serialize(x)
  
  x = uint8(rand(10)*5);
  matcode = serialize(x)

  x = {rand(3,3,3,4), 'a string value', {1 2 3; 1 3 3 }}
  matcode = serialize(x, 30)

• Acknowledgements: This submission has inspired the following:; Serialize/Deserialize
• MATLAB release: MATLAB 7.2 (R2006a)

[Steve Orzol]

x{1} = 'rick''s'

y = serialize(x)

z = eval(y) %gives ??? Error: Unexpected MATLAB expression.

[Jøger Hansegård]

This has been fixed by converting such strings to uint8. Thanks for noticing me.

[Steve Orzol]

Nice. Thanks for the quick update. I can see using this with building xml strings.

[anony mouse]

An absolutely wonderful piece of code. I wish I now had the ability to read the output into software like excel.

[Tom Muylle]

It's too bad it doesn't work for matlab 6.5 :(

[Matt Dunham]

This is fantastic - exactly what I was looking for. Thanks

[Matt Dunham]

It would be nice if it also serialized function handles - the following changes would do the trick.

elseif isa(v, 'function_handle')
  val = serializehandle(v);

function val = serializehandle(v)
    val = sprintf('str2func(''%s'')', func2str(v));
end