readline.m v4.0

Reads the specified line(s) from a file.

You are now following this Submission

USAGE:
% Reads the first line (default)
s = readline('data.txt');
% Reads the 8th line
s = readline('data.txt',8);

% Reads the [1 2 4 8] lines
s = readline('data.txt',[1 2 4 8]);
% Reads last 7 lines
s = readline('data.txt',[-7; -1]);
% Or just, reads the whole file
s = readline('data.txt','all');

NOTES:
In general, the output is a cell of strings. You may force a string matrix output with a third argument
s = readline('data.txt','all','string');

Cite As

Carlos Adrian Vargas Aguilera (2026). readline.m v4.0 (https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/20026-readline-m-v4-0), MATLAB Central File Exchange. Retrieved .

Acknowledgements

Inspired by: saveascii.m v6.2 (Oct 2009)

General Information

MATLAB Release Compatibility

  • Compatible with any release

Platform Compatibility

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Linux
Version Published Release Notes Action
4.0.0.0

V4.0 Now accepts 'all' input. Uses TEXTSCAN instead of TEXTREAD.

1.1.0.0

V3.0 Rewritten code. Negative NLINES values now indicated number of line from the End-of-File, instead of from the last line. New pairwise optional inputs for TEXTSCAN.

1.0.0.0

1. I change the loops of FGETL by a single TEXTREAD function as suggested by Urs (us) Schwarz.

2. New easy way for the lines inputs. Now accepts ascending and descending (negative) ranges.

3. I eliminate the file identifier input.