Save multiple datasets in different structures/properties in app designer

Hello,

I am working on building an app in which I can analyze multiple datasets that have to be processed in a similar way.

The workflow will be to first load a particular dataset. Which dataset is determined by choosing an option in a dropdown selection and subsequently pressing Load data. I have so far written the part where I can load the data from the different types of datasets and display them to judge if any data needs to be excluded. after all data in the set is judged for inclusion, I have several matrices and cell arrays that need to be kept for later processing. I wanted to keep the number of properties limited and each dataset contains similar matrices and cell arrays (data[x,y,z] with the values, filenames{x,y} with the names of the file etc.) that later on can be processed in the same way.

In matlab I would store these different matrices and arrays in a data structure that I would name according to the dataset I'm loading. However, I cannot manage to do this in matlab appdesigner. I already made the matrices and cell arrays as properties so I can access them in different parts of the app.

I was wondering if there is a way to group these in app designer so I can have a specific name, e.g. 'CurrentClamp', under which I have the properties: 'data', 'filenames','etc.', or named 'VoltageClamp', under which I then also have the properties: 'data', 'filenames','etc.'

I define them now as follows but in this way I would have to make many properties and add the type of dataset to their name.

properties (Access = private)
    data = [];
    data_filename = {};
    excluded_data = [];
    excluded_filename = {};
end
    
    

Thank you in advance.

Answer 1

[Tejas]

Hello Anouk Heuvelmans,

To efficiently organize the four properties ('data', 'data_filename', 'excluded_data', 'excluded_filename'), I recommend creating a class to encapsulate them. This class will contain all four properties, and each instance of this class will represent a cohesive group possessing these properties.

In the example provided, I have created a file named 'Dataset.m' located in the same directory as the App. This file defines the class with all the desired properties.

'CurrentClamp' and 'VoltageClamp' have been introduced as objects of the ‘Dataset’ class within the properties section. The 'startupFcn' is utilized to generate instances of the class, with each instance corresponding to one of the multiple datasets.

Additionally, I've implemented a function called 'Load_data', which shows one of the ways to assign data to the properties of the objects (‘CurrentClamp’ and ‘VoltageClamp’).

Below is the code, as well as a screenshot of the output.

Dataset.m

classdef Dataset 

    properties 
        data  
        data_filename  
        excluded_data  
        excluded_filename  
    end 

    methods 
        function obj = Dataset() 
            obj.data = []; 
            obj.data_filename = {}; 
            obj.excluded_data = []; 
            obj.excluded_filename = {}; 

        end 
    end 
end 

Properties Section

properties (Access = private) 
     CurrentClamp Dataset 
     VoltageClamp Dataset 
end 

startupFcn Callback

function startupFcn(app) 
     app.CurrentClamp = Dataset(); 
     app.VoltageClamp = Dataset(); 
end 

Load_Data function

function Load_DataButtonPushed(app, event) 
     app.CurrentClamp.data = rand(8,4); 
     app.CurrentClamp.data_filename = {'CC_File_1.dat' ,  'CC_File_2.dat' ,'CC_File_3.dat' }; 
     
     app.VoltageClamp.data = rand(8,4); 
     app.VoltageClamp.data_filename = {'VC_File_1.data' ,'VC_File_1.data' ,'VC_File_1.data' }; 
end 

ScreenShot 1 : shows the contents of ‘CurrentClamp’.

ScreenShot 2 : shows the contents of ‘VoltageClamp’.

This solution is tested on MATLAB R2023b.

For more information on Classes and Objects , refer this documentation : https://ch.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_oop/why-use-object-oriented-design.html#:~:text=Reducing%20Redundancy,and%20return%20values .