Best method to create multi-dimensional data set?

I have the following example data in Matlab.

Model-1: Set-1: [1 2 3]

Set-2: [5 6 7 8 9]

Set-3: []

Set-4: [21 22 23 24 25 26]

Model-2: Set-1: [2.5 43 22 28 71 101]

Set-2: [4 18 12]

Model-3: Set-1:...

.... and so on.

My goal is to iterate over all Models, then loop over the sets in each model and then read the contents of each set. The sets and contents for each model can different, e.g., Model-1 has 4 sets, Model-2 has only 2 sets, etc.

What would the best way to initialize and populate this information in Matlab? I've tried several variations with multi-dimensional arrays but can't get it working. TIA for the guidance, I'm sure this is quite easy to accomplish.

Joe

Answer 1

[Karim]

You could store this in a cell array. See below for a demonstration and some comments on the concept:

num_models = 10;
num_sets = [6 3 7 5 3 2 1 4 6 3]; % each value represents the number of sets for a given model

% create a cell array in which each column is a model and each row is a set
MyData = cell( max(num_sets), num_models);

% populate the cell array with data

for i = 1:num_models
    for j = 1:num_sets(i)
        
        % fill with random data
        num_rows = randi([1 10]); % pick random number of rows between 1 and 10
        num_cols = randi([1 10]); % pick random number of columns between 1 and 10
        MyData{i,j} = rand(num_rows,num_cols);
        
    end
end

% have a look at the data
MyData

MyData = 10×10 cell array
    {10×2  double}    { 5×5  double}    { 9×9 double}    {7×7 double}    {[0.9761 0.1392 0.0064 0.6623 0.9956 0.2634 0.6677 0.8311]}    { 9×6 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 9×9  double}    { 8×5  double}    { 2×9 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double                                               }    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 2×7  double}    { 3×3  double}    { 9×5 double}    {9×2 double}    {9×1 double                                               }    {10×8 double}    {9×9 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 2×10 double}    { 8×10 double}    { 4×2 double}    {5×2 double}    {[                                   0.5797 0.1913 0.3830]}    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 4×9  double}    { 3×2  double}    { 5×1 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double                                               }    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 7×2  double}    { 3×3  double}    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double                                               }    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 2×6  double}    { 0×0  double}    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double                                               }    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {10×3  double}    { 6×9  double}    { 2×3 double}    {6×9 double}    {0×0 double                                               }    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {10×5  double}    { 9×3  double}    {10×2 double}    {8×9 double}    {6×1 double                                               }    { 4×1 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    { 7×7  double}    {10×7  double}    { 4×2 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double                                               }    { 0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}

% have a look at the data of the 2nd set of the third model:
Model_3_Set_2 = MyData{2,3}

Model_3_Set_2 = 2×9

0.0702 0.9117 0.4120 0.1954 0.1926 0.5474 0.7631 0.2901 0.2313 0.9708 0.6431 0.8319 0.9188 0.0228 0.5095 0.4399 0.1118 0.1814

[Joe Rustan]

This is crystal-clear now, thanks. I was indeed struggling with the curlies vs. parentheses. Much appreciated!

Answer 2

[the cyclist]

One method would be nested cell arrays:

Model = cell(3,1); % Three models

Model{1} = cell(4,1); % Model 1 has four sets
Model{2} = cell(2,1); % Model 2 has two sets
Model{3} = cell(7,1); % Model 2 has seven sets


Model{1}{1} = [1 2 3];     % Contents of Model 1 Set 1
Model{1}{2} = [5 6 7 8 9]; % Contents of Model 1 Set 2

Model{2}{1} = [2.5 43 22 28 71 101];     % Contents of Model 1 Set 1

Note that the use of parentheses versus curly braces can be a bit tricky to under at the beginning. Use parentheses for the cell, and curly for the contents of the cell. See the difference here (and note that some cells have empty arrays, because I have not filled them yet.)

Model(1)

ans = 1×1 cell array
    {4×1 cell}

Model{1}

ans = 4×1 cell array
    {[    1 2 3]}
    {[5 6 7 8 9]}
    {0×0 double }
    {0×0 double }

Model{1}(1)

ans = 1×1 cell array
    {[1 2 3]}

Model{1}{1}

ans = 1×3

1 2 3

[Karim]

whoops you were faster then me, sorry for the redundant answer

[the cyclist]

Not fully redundant! You added some info that I did not.

[Joe Rustan]

I've accepted Karim's answer, but yours is just as clear of course. Thanks so much!