file that i am reading in loop changes in file

for idx = 1:length(alfiles)
    if contains(alfiles(idx).name,'tx01')
        v=v+1;
        temp(v)= alfiles(idx);  

thsi is where the issues comes up - my alfiles are not always going to be of size 3 - in may bes less or more - how may i modify it

        if v ==3 
            [~, index]  = max([temp.datenum]);
            files(1) = temp(index);
        end
    elseif contains(alfiles(idx).name,'tx02')
        v=v+1;
        temp(v)= alfiles(idx);  
        if v ==6 
            [~, index]   = max([temp.datenum]);
            files(2) = temp(index);
        end

[Rik]

If you want to test whether v is equal to the number of elements in alfiles, why don't you test that instead of hard-coding 3? Or is your question how to prevent the test if the number of elements is more than 3?

What do you want to happen?

[Ihaveaquest]

i was comfusing myself sorry

figure it out

for idx = 1:length(alfiles)
    if contains(alfiles(idx).name,'tx01')
        v=v+1;
        temp(v)= alfiles(idx);   
        [~, index]  = max([temp.datenum]);
        files(1) = temp(index);

there was no reasonn for the second if stament

Answer 1

[Ihaveaquest]

i was comfusing myself sorry

figure it out

for idx = 1:length(alfiles)
    if contains(alfiles(idx).name,'tx01')
        v=v+1;
        temp(v)= alfiles(idx);   
        [~, index]  = max([temp.datenum]);
        files(1) = temp(index);

there was no reasonn for the second if stament

[Rik]

You should make it a habit to use numel instead of length. Calling length is equivalent to max(size(A)), which is almost never what you want.

[Ihaveaquest]

Thank you, that is a great advise! after reading about numel it sure does help in preventing few of the issues i have had by using max and size......great catch!