Question

I have a cell array 3×1 like this:

name1 = text1
name2 = text2
name3 = text3

and I want to parse it into separate cells 1×2, for example name1 , text1. In future I want to treat text1 as a string to compare with other strings. How can I do it? I am trying with regexp and tokens, but I cannot write a proper formula for that, if someone can help me with it please, I will be grateful!

Answer 1

This code

input = {'name1 = text1';
         'name2 = text2';
         'name3 = text3'};

result = cell(size(input, 1), 2);
for row = 1 : size(input, 1)
    tokens = regexp(input{row}, '(.*)=(.*)', 'tokens');
    if ~isempty(tokens)
        result(row, :) = tokens{1};
    end
end

produces the outcome

result = 
    'name1 '    ' text1'
    'name2 '    ' text2'
    'name3 '    ' text3'

Note that the whitespace around the equal sign is preserved. You can modify this behaviour by adjusting the regular expression, e.g. also try '([^\s]+) *= *([^\s]+)' giving

result = 
    'name1'    'text1'
    'name2'    'text2'
    'name3'    'text3'

Edit: Based on the comments by user1578163.

Matlab also supports less-greedy quantifiers. For example, the regexp '(.*?) *= *(.*)' (note the question mark after the asterisk) works, if the text contains spaces. It will transform

input = {'my name1 = any text1';
         'your name2 = more text2';
         'her name3 = another text3'};

into

result = 
    'my name1'      'any text1'    
    'your name2'    'more text2'   
    'her name3'     'another text3'