How to convert categorical data to double with unique rows

Hello, please assist me with converting categorical data to double data. Would a if statement do this?

Under Vertical Steering Column, replace unique categoriacal text to a unique double value.

rows with Altitude to '0'

rows with Limbo to '6'

Answer 1

[David Hill]

a=readtable('Book1.xlsx');
b=zeros(size(a));
b(ismember(a.Vertical_Steering,'Limbo'))=6

b = 1045×1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

[Deborah Johnson]

I did it in Excel but wanted to learn an easy way in MATLAB. Thanks!