solving the problem with the error message 'Dot indexing is not supported for variables of this type.'

Hey guys, i am a begginer in MATLAB and I am already having difficulties in solving an error in the function for importing and exporting SVG files ( https://de.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/66554-svg-import-export ).... The problem is that I tried it with diferent svg files. With the file 'building.svg' the function worked with out any problem, but it doesn't work with my own file e.g. 'drawing.svg'. It would be nice, if someone help me solve this error...

and here is the error code:

>> example
Dot indexing is not supported for variables of this type.

Error in loadSVG (line 43)
    image.x=str2num(char(item.getAttribute('x')));

Error in example (line 1)
svg=loadSVG('drawing.svg');

thanks for ur time...

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

The error stems from a major bug in the code. length(imagesXml) is wrong, it's always going to return 1 regardless of the number of image tags in the file. The actual count is imagesXml.getLength. So the lines

svg.images=cell(1,length(imagesXml));
for k=0:length(imagesXml)-1

should be replaced by

svg.images=cell(1,imagesXml.getLength);
for k=0:imagesXml.getLength - 1

In effect, because of the bug the code assumes there's always one and only one image tag in the file regardless of the actual count. Since your file does not have an image tag it errors when it tries to get the x attribute of that image. item is empty and dot indexing is not valid for empty arrays.

Strangely enough the code uses the correct getLength syntax in the following loop which iterates over the layers, so it's not like the authors werent' aware of the issue.

[Steven Lord]

In addition I would avoid using image as a variable name. It already has a meaning in MATLAB. Since you're working with image data, I'd imagine at some point you might try adding this line in your code to show one of the pictures from your file

image(image)

or you might use

image(svg.images{1})

and those wouldn't work.

[Guillaume]

@Steven, yes I suggested that to the authors on their FileExchange entry.

[Stephen23]

That FEX description of that function clearly states "This code handles polygons but not bezier curves yet." Apparently your vector image contains curves. Ergo, it will not work with this function.

By the way, you appear to be copying-and-pasting a large amount of code from that function onto this thread. That function is copyright (stated clearly at the top of the file): do you have permission from its author/s to distribute it publicly like this?

[martin de la gorce]

Thanks for the suggestions, I update de code.

[prateek bhadauria]

i am also facing the same issue ,After running this code it gives error :

Dot indexing is not supported for variables of this type.

"gamma_x=1j*kd*sin(params.DoD_theta(l)*ang_conv)*cos(params.DoD_phi(l)*ang_conv); "

kindly provide the solution if found.

[Guillaume]

@prateek, you may be getting the same error but it's certainly not the same issue since you're not using the code from the link in the question, so please start your own question giving a lot more details about what you are doing.

[prateek bhadauria]

Thanks @ Guillaume to recognize my mistake .i already post my problem after your response .

[kevin harianto]

I am also wondering why dot indexing is wrong for my code:

Dot indexing is not supported for variables of this type.

Error in (line 166)

image = ptcloud.Location;

Error in (line 121)

I = helperPointCloudToImage(pointCloud);

EDIT: copyright code removed.