Issue with xlsread and merged cells

Hello,

Im trying to import data from an excel file using xlsread. Im currently having an issue when trying to import the "comments" line from the excel file which is in fact 35 cells merged into one in excel.

When trying to import this cell it imports the 35 base cells on the single merged cell, causing me issues as there is multiple comments.

Here is the code below:

[num,str]=xlsread(Bag_Report,2,'B18');
rem1=str
[num,str]=xlsread(Bag_Report,2,'B19');
rem2=str
[num,str]= xlsread(Bag_Report,2,'B20');
rem3=str
[num,str]=xlsread(Bag_Report,2,'B21');
rem4=str
[num,str]=xlsread(Bag_Report,2,'B22');
rem5=str
[num,str]=xlsread(Bag_Report,2,'B23');
rem6=str
remarks = strcat(rem1,rem2,rem3,rem4,rem5,rem6)

Which imports:

rem2 =

Columns 1 through 15

    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''    ''

Any help would be appreciated!

[per isakson]

I cannot reproduce (/understand) your problem on R2012a,64bit,Windows7 with Excel installed. However, doc says

    When the specified range overlaps merged cells:

    On Windows systems with Excel, xlsread expands the range to include 
    all merged cells.

    On systems without Excel for Windows, xlsread returns data for the
    specified range only, with empty or NaN values for merged cells