How to input an image from the user using imread() command?

I am trying to input an image from the user using imread() command.If i simply put the location of the image in imread(), it converts the image into a "500*500*3 uint8" (in my case). I want to input (a random) image from the user and later on, convert it into pixels and then into the respective bits. How can I do it?

Thanks

[Walter Roberson]

[n, d] = uigetfile();
f = fullfile(d,n); 

p = imread(f);
b = dec2bin(p,8) - '0';

[Afaq Ahmad]

Thank you! It worked.

Answer 1

[Rik]

You can extract data from the clipboard with the clipboard function. If you want the user to supply a file so you can use imread, you should use uigetfile to make the user select a file.

Make sure to deal with the user supplying invalid data or clicking cancel on the file picker window. You probably want to make sure the user gets an understandable error in such cases.

Answer 2

[Image Analyst]

Try this:

% Have user browse for a file, from a specified "starting folder."
% For convenience in browsing, set a starting folder from which to browse.
startingFolder = pwd;  % or 'C:\wherever';
if ~isfolder(startingFolder)
	% If that folder doesn't exist, just start in the current folder.
	startingFolder = pwd;
end
% Get the name of the file that the user wants to use.
defaultFileName = fullfile(startingFolder, '*.*');
[baseFileName, folder] = uigetfile(defaultFileName, 'Select a file');
if baseFileName == 0
	% User clicked the Cancel button.
	return;
end
fullFileName = fullfile(folder, baseFileName)
theImage = imread(fullFileName);
imshow(theImage);

Also, to see bits, see my attached bitplane viewer program.