Reading workspace variables into function

I want a function to ask me the name of the variable from the base workspace to work on it. I have variables in the base workspace called A1, A2, A3. I want the function to read these variables into function by choice. I tried to assign the variables as global, however it doesn't seem to work.

Here's what I did;

function X name = input('Var?') y = name*5; end

I got this error message;

Error using ==> input Undefined function or variable 'X'.

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If I wanted to do it with eval function I would have written;

function X name = input('Var?','s') y = eval(name)*5; end

However it is not a practical way to do it. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Mert

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

FAQ4.6

Don't do it!

[Paulo Silva]

MATLAB Answers needs sticky questions with the most common questions, this one being the first of them.

[Mert]

My problem is to read variables from base workspace into a function with input command. Creating a struct array did not change the situation.

Undefined variable "S" or class "S.A1".