Partial overwrite of data in a structure

Is it possible to partially overwrite a structure? Let say I have two structures:

a.a=1;a.b=2;a.c=3;

and

b.a=11; b.b=12;

if I write a=b

, then I will have two exactly the same "b" structures. Instead I would like to end up with

a.a=11;a.b=12; a.c=3;

structure. So if there is such a member in the second structure it should be overwritten in the first, if there is no such a member in the second structure it should be untouched in the first. And it should work in the nested structures as well.

So is there any command or a short and fast solution? I am in a development of an evaluation of measurements, and when I am restructuring the data it always a hassle to put every data holder variable to a proper place. Once I am ready there will be no problem.

Thanks if you answer.

Csaba

Answer 1

[Guillaume]

"when I am restructuring the data it always a hassle to put every data holder variable to a proper place" If it's a hassle, then your storage structure is not optimal. You may be better off revising the way you store your data rather than constantly finding workarounds.

To answer your question, this should do what you want:

   function into = mergestruct(into, from)
      %MERGESTRUCT merge all the fields of scalar structure from into scalar structure into
      validateattributes(from, {'struct'}, {'scalar'});
      validateattributes(into, {'struct'}, {'scalar'});
      fns = fieldnames(from);
      for fn = fns.'
         if isstruct(from.(fn{1})) && isfield(into, fn{1})
              %nested structure where the field already exist, merge again
              into.(fn{1}) = mergestruct(into.(fn{1}), from.(fn{1}));
         else
             %non structure field, or nested structure field that does not already exist, simply copy
             into.(fn{1}) = from.(fn{1});
         end
      end
   end

Test:

>> a = struct('a', 1, 'b', 2, 'c', 3, 'd', struct('a', 11, 'b', 12, 'c', struct('a', 111))) 
a =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: 1
    b: 2
    c: 3
    d: [1×1 struct]

>> a.d  
ans =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: 11
    b: 12
    c: [1×1 struct]  

>> a.d.c 
ans =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: 111

>> b = struct('a', -1, 'b', -2, 'd', struct('b', -12, 'c', struct('b', -112)))  
b =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: -1
    b: -2
    d: [1×1 struct]

>> aa = mergestruct(a, b)  
aa =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: -1
    b: -2
    c: 3
    d: [1×1 struct]

>> aa.d  
ans =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: 11
    b: -12
    c: [1×1 struct]

>> aa.d.c  
ans =   
  struct with fields:  
    a: 111
    b: -112

Seems to do what you want.

[Csaba]

Thank you, it is.

"then your storage structure is not optimal. You may be better off revising the way you store your data rather than constantly finding workarounds."

As I told yes, my structure is not optimal, I am revising it. But on the way of revising I have a hassle. When I will found the proper structure then there willl be no problem.

Thanks again.

Csaba