Where can I find the directory for things like '*.xls', '%04df' or something?

Hello,

I am self teaching myself MATLAB so my apology if this is a very basic question. I want to use the function 'dir' to go into a folder and make a struct with only those files ending in '.xls' or '.xlsx'. Below is what I currently have and I would like to know how I can make it to also list '.xlsx' file in the same struct.

In addition, I would like to know where I can go to understand the nomenclature? of words like '%04df' and others.

xlsFiles = dir(fullfile(folderName, '*.xls'))

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

xlsFiles = dir(fullfile(folderName, '*.xls*'))

should get .xls and .xlxs files. But it would also get .xlsm and any other file extension that started with .xls .

To be specific about xlsx and xls and you want them in the same structure, there are two ways:

xlsFiles = [dir(fullfile(folderName, '*.xls'));
            dir(fullfile(folderName, '*.xlsx'))];

OR

xlsFiles = dir(fullfile(folderName, '*.xls*'));
[~, ~, ext] = fileparts({xlsFiles.name});
mask = ismember(ext, {'.xls', '.xlsx'});
xlsFiles = xlsFiles(mask);

[Duc Tran]

This works really well, thank you so much for bringing up how I can avoid getting .xlsm and others as well I didn't account for it!

Answer 2

[Rik]

I would personally go the easy route and merge the two separate structs, but you could try this:

xlsFiles = dir(fullfile(folderName, '*.xls*'));

As for '%04d', that look like a format specification. You should read the documentation for fprintf or sprintf (although num2str supports this as well).

[Duc Tran]

Thank you for your guide!