How do I access cell array using names contained in master cell array?

I have variable data sets that will contain one each of up to 224 individual (varying in number of elements) cell arrays. I can check the existance and create a "master" cell array where each element contains the name of the individual cell arrays. I want to loop through the master list and access the contents of the individual cell arrays.

Ex: master cell array = {'AA_label','AB_label','AC_label','AD_label'....} where 'AA_label' exists and has 8 elements, 'AD_label' exists and has 12 elments....

[Dyuman Joshi]

TUTORIAL: Why Variables Should Not Be Named Dynamically

[Bryan Mackey]

I agree with not dynamically naming. Challenge is data set is being fed to me from another source as a cell array matched to a double matrix but I won't know which one is given until provided.

[Stephen23]

"Challenge is data set is being fed to me from another source as a cell array matched to a double matrix but I won't know which one is given until provided."

You forgot to tell us the most important information: how do all of these variables get into the workspace? Variables must be created somehow, and that is the correct place to fix this bad data design. For example if you import that data from some MAT files, then simply LOAD into an output variable and access its fields:

S = load(..)

Solve the actual problem (bad data import or similar) rather than doing this:

https://xyproblem.info/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XY_problem

[Bryan Mackey]

Thanks...I had a total brain freeze....forgot S = load(...)

Answer 1

[Bruno Luong]

First thing to do is to convert your data to struct or table or whatever suitable for your data.

mystruct = struct();
for fc = mastercell(:)'
    f = fc{1};
    mystruct.(f) = eval(f);
end
save('myfile.mat', 'mystruct');

Then later load myfile and use mystruct and forget about your master and variables AA***

Alternatvely you might

• read your data,
• clear all workspace excepted those data

        eval(['clearvars -except mastercell ' sprintf('%s ', mastercell{:})])

• save the workspace in file,

         save ws.mat

• then later load it as struct.

        s = load('ws.mat');
        % use s ...