Enumerated Data Type in MATLAB

I want to define a enumerated data type (eMatType) which consists of the following definitions :

STEEL = 1

CONCRETE = 2

ALUMINUM = 3

Now, once that data type is created, how can I use it to declare a variable. eg. if I want to delclare a variable as 'double', I use x = zeros(1,1,'double')

How can I declare a variable with the new enumerated data type?

Thanks.

Answer 1

[Fangjun Jiang]

Check out the MATLAB Enumeration class. http://www.mathworks.com/support/2010b/matlab/7.11/demos/enumerations-in-r2010b.html

Answer 2

[Laura Proctor]

Do you mean something like this?

x = nominal([3:-1:1,1,1,3],{'Steel','Concrete','Aluminum'})

[Peeyush]

Thanks, but I am looking for creating a new instance of a enumerated data type.

for example, if you want to initialize a variable of the type string, you write:

x = '';

if you want to initialize a variable of the type 'int32', you write:

y = zeros(1,1,'int32');

I am looking for a way to initialize a variable of the new enumerated data type 'MatType' where the class definition for 'MatType' is:

classdef(Enumeration) MatType < Simulink.IntEnumType

enumeration

MATERIAL_STEEL(1);

MATERIAL_CONCRETE(2);

MATERIAL_NODESIGN(3);

MATERIAL_ALUMINUM(4);

MATERIAL_COLDFORMED(5);

MATERIAL_REBAR(6);

MATERIAL_TENDON(7);

end

end