from txt to dat file

I have an program from an older version that uses a dat file looking like :

when I open it using import data.

I want to use data from another station and downloaded the data (attached) (there are no fieldnames)

I wat tot import the data using import data to convert it tot the same output as the original file.

the text file gives the data as:

1996.0417; 6701; 0;000

1996.1250; 6773; 0;000

1996.2083; 6684; 0;000

1996.2917; 6760; 0;000

1996.3750; 6849; 0;000

1996.4583; 6861; 0;000

I know how to split the third column and change both new one tot number but when i change de delimiter to space this happens

I dont know how to proceed from here. And I cannot find a tutorial how to proceed. Can someont tell me which settings i need (table array etc) and how to save the file as a *.dat file

Kind regards, Ellen

[VBBV]

For saving the file see this link https://in.mathworks.com/help/matlab/ref/save.html

[Ellen]

i cannot save the workspace as dat file only as .m or .mat What would happen if I save it als .m and rename? can mathlab still read the file?

[VBBV]

Yes. Matlab can read those file extensions. In your case it's recommended to save it as .txt file which you can later renamed it as .dat file

[Dyuman Joshi]

Note by @Ellen - "that seems to be the solution for me thx".

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

I would use either readtable or readmatrix, specifying the semicolon as the delimiter and ignoring the space delimiter —

% r = fileread('psmsl_monthly_22.txt')                            % Original File Content & Format
format long
T1 = readtable('psmsl_monthly_22.txt', 'Delimiter',{';'}, 'HeaderLines',1)

T1 = 324×4 table
      Var1       Var2    Var3    Var4
    _________    ____    ____    ____

    1996.0417    6701     0       0  
     1996.125    6773     0       0  
    1996.2083    6684     0       0  
    1996.2917    6760     0       0  
     1996.375    6849     0       0  
    1996.4583    6861     0       0  
    1996.5417    6888     0       0  
     1996.625    6905     0       0  
    1996.7083    6873     0       0  
    1996.7917    6948     0       0  
     1996.875    7114     0       0  
    1996.9583    6855     0       0  
    1997.0417    6785     0       0  
     1997.125    6974     0       0  
    1997.2083    6876     0       0  
    1997.2917    6829     0       0  

To read the file with a .dat extension, add: 'FileType','text' to the argument list.

.

Answer 2

[VBBV]

Select the desired range in Range field box. i.e. Only the categorical column. It seems you have selected a array of columns in range

[VBBV]

Range: C1:C324 

Then apply the space delimiter