Find index of first empty cell in an array row

I have a cell with strings and matrices. I want to add data after the last cell with data in a row.

A = {['apple'] [3x2 double] ; ['banana'] []}

For example, I want to add a matrix after the 3x2 matrix in first row, or after the 'banana' in second row.

I tried using:

find(cellfun(@isempty,A{1,:}),1)

But I get the error:

Error using cellfun
Input #3 expected to be a cell array, was double instead.

[Stephen23]

The syntax A{1,:} places the contents of the cell array into a comma separated list, so what you wrote is equivalent to writing this:

cellfun(@isempty,'apple','banana',[3x2 double],[])

and none of those inputs are cell arrays. See also:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/320713-how-to-operate-on-comma-separated-lists

https://www.mathworks.com/company/newsletters/articles/matlab-tips-and-tricks-exploiting-the-comma-separated-list-vectorizing-cell-array-and-structure-references.html

Answer 1

[Hermes Suen]

The error you are receiving seems to be because you are using curly braces after A.

A{1,:}

When you use curly braces with a cell array, you access the actual contents of what is within the cell array. So if you have a cell array of char vectors and doubles, for example:

A = {'Banana', 560}
A{1}

A{1} will yield only the char vector 'Banana'. A{2} will yield a double, 560. But the cell argument into cellfun, must be an actual Cell array, not the contents of that cell array. I suggest using regular parenthesis to index the cell array A.

A(1)

This will yield a another Cell array of length 1 that is a subset of A.

[Ahmad Mahmoud]

Thanks! So simple.

Answer 2

[Jan]

A = {'apple', rand(2, 3); 'banana', []};
find(cellfun('isempty', A),1)

Note: Using the cellfun method 'isempty' is faster that providing a function handles @isempty.

There is no need to enclose a CHAR in square brackets. This wastes time only.

[Peeyush Awasthi]

Hi Jan, Thanks that was the best answer even using unique.