Multiple Variables Loading Too Slow from a MATLAB mat file

Hi,

I want to load a few variables (some are large and others are smaller) from a .mat file previously created.

I am using the following commands:

load ('abc.mat','A')
load ('abc.mat','B')
load ('abc.mat','C')

While loading them individually, only the single variable of the largest size gets loaded much faster but all subsequent ones take uncomfortably large time in loading. It happens even if I switch the order of loading. That is only the first one is the fastest.

I will be grateful for the help.

Best regards,

Rehan

[Walter Roberson]

Are the .mat files -v7 files or are they -v7.3 files? The rules for automatic compression are different between the two.

[Rehan Rehan]

-v7.3

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

The rules for automatic compression in -v7.3 files are not clear. It was experimentally found that only the first variable in -v7.3 files was compressed -- or perhaps for sufficiently large variables only. See https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/15521-matlab-function-save-and-v7-3#comment_39500