MATLAB xlswrite function

Hello all MATLAB users:

This came to my attention,

>> x = [inf 3 4 inf];
>> xlswrite('test',x,'test');

if you open the .xls file you will notice that the inf value in xls is the "magic" number 65535.

Does anyone know the reason?

Answer 1

[Sean de Wolski]

Because 2^16-1 is the largest number Excel can represent since it's 16 bit unsigned.

[Kenneth Eaton]

Don't you mean unsigned 16 bit? ;)

[Sean de Wolski]

Oops, yup.

Answer 2

[Kenneth Eaton]

The reason? Because the documentation says so! ;)

Excerpt:

• Excel converts Inf values to 65535. MATLAB converts NaN values to empty cells.

Answer 3

[Stavros]

ty all :)