How can I convert a char vector according to the readtable VariableNamingRule

I would like to convert a character vector according to the VariableNamingRule = 'modify' algorithm of the readtable function.

Example:

Original vector: '123 Character?Vector_With*Special Characters_'

Converted vector: 'x123Character_Vector_With_SpecialCharacters_'

Is there a standard MATLAB function which does this conversion (preferentially without regexp)?

[Stephen23]

You could use GENVARNAME, but it does not always return the prettiest text:

genvarname('123 Character?Vector_With*Special Characters_')

ans = 'x123Character0x3FVector_With0x2ASpecialCharacters_'

Answer 1

[Rik]

Yes, there is:

S='123 Character?Vector_With*Special Characters_';
N = matlab.lang.makeValidName(S)

N = 'x123Character_Vector_With_SpecialCharacters_'

If you want to make sure to have the same behavior for any Matlab release, you will have to use a slightly different strategy. Feel free to have a look at my JSON-parser. It is neither fancy nor fast, but it has a stable behavior when generating the variable name. I'm not sure it exactly matches the readtable behavior, or genvarname.

[Frank Hofmann]

Thank you!

[Rik]

You're welcome. If my answer solved your question, please consider marking it as accepted solution, otherwise, feel free to comment with any follow-up questions.