Random function from a text file?

Basically, I have a text file with a bunch of words on it. I'm not sure how I can use MATLAB to randomly select one word.

Answer 1

[Jan]

1. Read the file word by word.
2. Use rand to determine which word to choose.

fid = fopen('FileName.txt', 'r');
if fid < 0, error('Cannot open file.'); end
CC = textscan(fid, '%s');
C  = CC{1};
fclose(fid);

index  = ceil(rand * numel(C));
chosen = C{index};

[Chris]

Nevermind! Thank you.

Answer 2

[the cyclist]

There are many MATLAB functions that can read text from files. One possibility that might work for you is the textscan() function. That will read the file into a cell array. Then, you could randomly select one element of the cell array, perhaps using the randi() command.

 >> doc textscan
 >> doc randi

Those help files give the detailed syntax, and also point to other functions you might prefer to use.

[Chris]

Thank you still!