Cell Array, Example From Manual

I'm working on an example in the fundamental manual. I'm note sure if I understand what is happening.

Create a cell array

C = {'one','two','three';1,2,3},

{'one'} {'two'} {'three'}

{[ 1]} {[ 2]} {[ 3]}

Create a subset of the cell array

upperLeft = C(1:2,1:2)

{'one'} {'two'}

{[ 1]} {[ 2]}

I tried to do as above in creating the subset. I was thinking the code below should copy the cell array but it gives an error. I'm not sure I'm understanding what is going on when I do this.

CopyArray = C(1:2,1:2,1:2)

Any help will be appreciated,

Thanks

D

Answer 1

[James Tursa]

The variable C is only a 2D variable having two dimensions. You have requested indexing into a third dimension

with that last 1:2, hence the error. Similar to doing this:

>> M = [1 2 3;4 5 6]
M =
     1     2     3
     4     5     6
>> M(2,3)
ans =
     6
>> M(2,3,1:2)
Index exceeds matrix dimensions. 

What was the expected result of what you tried? Maybe we can guide you to the correct syntax to get the result you wanted.

[Darnell Gawdin]

Hello, thank you for your time.

I'm in the reading through the manual and poking around at some of the examples to understand how it all works.

I've just tried the following and it worked, I believe I got it

Is it specifying rows 1 to 2 and columns 1 to 3? Pretty sure this is it.

copyOfC = C(1:2,1:3)

[Stephen23]

Darnell Gawdin's "Answer" moved here:

I did not understand fully that this is a 2 x 3 matrix and the indices represent a range of cells

I tried this to essentially copy all the cells to a new variable

CopyArray = C(1:2,1:2,1:2)

This did not work because I've added an extra dimension that isn't there. Its not a x,y,z array only a x,y array.

I've changed it to ...

CopyArray = C(1:2,1:3)

the indices now specify a range of rows from 1 to 2 and column range 1 to 3.

[James Tursa]

Yes, C(1:2,1:3) is the subset of C containing rows 1-2 and columns 1-3 of C.

[Darnell Gawdin]

thanks for your help, I needed a little push.