Converting inputdlg entries to symbols in a matrix

Code for non-symbol case:

    Matrices = inputdlg({'Matrix 1', 'Matrix 2'})
    Matrix1 = str2num(Matrices{1})
    Matrix2 = str2num(Matrices{2})
    Product = Matrix1*Matrix2

I have tried the following but it does not work.

str2sym(Matrices{1})

I want the user to be able to enter somethig like a 40; c 20 and have this converted to a matrix whilst recognising the letters as symbolic values.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

You need to have [] around the entries. str2sym() will not assume that a space is to indicate a list.

Matrices = {'40', 'c 20'}

Matrices = 1×2 cell array
    {'40'}    {'c 20'}

str2sym(Matrices{1})

ans = 

40

str2sym("["+ Matrices{2}+"]")

ans =