Changing names of excl files automatically and converting into cell array

I have a project where i must rename excel files automatically and then place each file into a cell array. i cannoyt seem to figure it out. the code i am using to try and rename the fie is not working. Here it is:

files = dir('*.xlsx');
% Loop through each
for id = 1:length(files)
    % Get the file name (minus the extension)
    [~, f] = fileparts(files(id).name);
    % Convert to number
    num = str2double(f);
    if isnan(num)
        % If numeric, rename
        movefile(files(id).name, sprintf('%03d.xlsx', id));
    end
end

[Stephen23]

The order of the renamed files might not be what you expect:

writematrix(1,'1.txt')
writematrix(2,'2.txt')
writematrix(10,'10.txt')

S = dir('*.txt');
S.name % note the order!

ans = '1.txt'

ans = '10.txt'

ans = '2.txt'

Answer 1

[Dyuman Joshi]

If you want to rename the file when the file name is a number only, then the condition should be -

if ~isnan(num)

[NeedHelp55]

it is not a number only sorry. They all have names like the following "160816 Subject 20 ECG"

[Dyuman Joshi]

That is not what I meant.

You have commented this -

% If numeric, rename

But for that the check you have implemented is incorrect.

Correct it by using the negation as I mentioned above.

[Stephen23]

"i cannoyt seem to figure it out. the code i am using to try and rename the fie is not working"

You have not explained what you want to achieve. That means we have to guess. Guessing is not an effective way of transferring information.

"it is not a number only sorry. They all have names like the following "160816 Subject 20 ECG""

But so far you have not told us what you want to happen (apparently broken code does not help): do you want to

1. rename all files, regardless of filename content,
2. rename only files that do not have solely numeric filenames,
3. rename only files with solely numeric filenames,
4. something else...

Dyuman Joshi guessed #3. But we don't know because you have not told us.

So what should a filename like "160816 Subject 20 ECG" be renamed as? Use words to explain.

[NeedHelp55]

Hi Sorry.

I have 11 files all with names to similar to "160816 Subject 20 ECG" and i would like to rename each file to 1 through 11 to make it easier for taking in the data to the cell array. Each dile is in a seperate subfolder and all each subfolder is in a larger folder like so:

[NeedHelp55]

I would like to rename all files, regardless of filename content. Thank you for your help

[Stephen23]

"i would like to rename each file to 1 through 11 to make it easier for taking in the data to the cell array."

Renaming the files won't make that easier. Here is an alternative:

P = 'D:/foo/bar'; % absolute or relative path to the parent directory
S = dir(fullfile(P,'Non*BP*','*S*','*Subject*ECG.xlsx'));
for k = 1:numel(S)
    F = fullfile(S(k).folder,S(k).name);
    T = readtable(F); % or some other suitable file importing function
    S(k).data = T;
end

All of the imported data is stored in the structure S. For example, the 2nd file:

S(2).folder % filepath
S(2).name   % filename
S(2).data   % imported file data

If you really need the imported data in a cell array then you can simply do this:

C = {S.data};

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/1656435-tutorial-comma-separated-lists-and-how-to-use-them

I recommend using the structure.