Merge specific .txt files depending on the prefix.

Hello,

I have multiple .txt files with names like:

M1_mR1.txt, M1_mR2.txt,.... M1_mr100.txt

AND

M2_mr2.txt,M2_mR2.txt,..., M2_mR100.txt.

I would like to merge into one file all the files that have the prefix "M1_", and after that I would like to merge into one file all the files that have the prefix "M2_".

If I want to merge files with different suffix I am using these commads:

txtFiles = dir('mR*.txt') ;  % get the text files in the present folder 
N = length(txtFiles) ;      % Total number of text files 
iwant = cell(N,1) ;         % initlaize the data required 
% loop for each file 
for i = 1:N
    thisFile = txtFiles(i).name ;
    iwant{i} = importdata(thisFile) ;  % read data of the text file 
end
iwant = cell2mat(iwant) ;

    outFile = strcat('finalR.txt') ;  
    dlmwrite(outFile,iwant,'delimiter','\t')

How could I solve my problem, by modifying my code?

Answer 1

[dpb]

Just iterate over the prefix of interest...

indx=1;                         % initial prefix number
fileString="M"+indx+"_*.txt";   % use strings for convenience
d=dir(fileString);              % return first search
while ~isempty(d)               % indefinite loop construct for unknown number
  for i = 1:numel(d)            % loop over the returned struct
    data{i}=importdata(d(i).name);
  end
  indx=indx+1;                  % try next set in sequence
  fileString="M"+indx+"_*.txt";
  d=dir(fileString);
end
data=cell2mat(data);
outFile = strcat('finalR.txt');
dlmwrite(outFile,data,'delimiter','\t')

should be reasonable start point. Air code, not tested...

[Ivan Mich]

I am afriad but it's no use ...

[dpb]

And why would that be, pray tell...