handling filename containing spaces

I am using the following code to load a data file [Windows environment]:

FileName = uigetfile('*.TAB','Select a TAB file.');

Frames = dlmread(FileName_in,'\t');

Most of the files have names such as foo_two.tab or foo-two.tab Some contain spaces, such as foo two.tab

I have tried both strcat and regexp to insert single quotes at the beginning and end of the filename string but these are ignored by the dlmread function.

Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.

[Sean de Wolski]

So I take it that doesn't work as written?

Answer 1

[Jan]

Matlab's fopen handles filenames containing spaces without any problems. Do not enclose them in quotes or double quotes.

If you have any problems, there must by another reason.

[Philip]

Jan,

Thanks. You are right.

I added the data file to a sub-directory then proceeded to analyze the data. I pulled a novice mistake of forgetting to add the sub-directory to my path.

Once that was done everything worked fine.

[Gordon Campbell]

Hi Jan,

Has this changed since 2012?

I tried fopen C:\New Folder and got "Error using fopen Invalid permission."

Whereas when I tried C:\NewFolder, I had no problem.

[Stephen23]

"Has this changed since 2012? "

Nope. But based on your example code you are using command syntax, which a) will cause your filepath to be interpreted as two separate text inputs to FOPEN, and b) is not very useful for FOPEN anyway.

You should be using function syntax (and forget about command syntax unless debugging).

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_prog/command-vs-function-syntax.html

Answer 2

[Sean de Wolski]

Ahh!

Difference between FileName and FileName_in. The issue has nothing to do with spaces.

[Philip]

Sorry. I had finger failure. The correct code is

FileName_in = uigetfile('*.TAB','Select a TAB file.');

Frames = dlmread(FileName_in,'\t');