Read .txt file into a matrix and remove unwanted text

Hello,

I have a .txt file that I want to simplify into a matrix. I want to remove the first 3 lines completely, keep the numbers in the first row without the decimal places or colon (i.e. 6248.2: should become 6248) and I want to keep the key words in the last column such as flush-evac, flush, etc. I would also like the remove the line in the middle of the file that starts with a #. I'm pretty sure that textscan can accomplish this task but I am struggling with acquiring the correct format. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

Simpler:

str = fileread('N2_trace.txt');
tkn = regexp(str,'^(\d+)\.?\d*:[^:]+:\s+([^\n]+)','tokens','lineanchors');
tkn = vertcat(tkn{:})

tkn = 39×2 cell array
    {'0'     }    {'start'        }
    {'0'     }    {'vent-check'   }
    {'5'     }    {'flush-evac'   }
    {'70'    }    {'flush'        }
    {'84'    }    {'flush-vent'   }
    {'147'   }    {'init-evac'    }
    {'538'   }    {'pre-leak-test'}
    {'548'   }    {'leak-test'    }
    {'5948'  }    {'leak-test-end'}
    {'5948'  }    {'evac'         }
    {'6248'  }    {'pre-ramp'     }
    {'6308'  }    {'ramp'         }
    {'6344'  }    {'hold'         }
    {'71144' }    {'hold-end'     }
    {'71144' }    {'evac'         }
    {'71444' }    {'pre-ramp'     }
    {'71504' }    {'ramp'         }
    {'71536' }    {'hold'         }
    {'136336'}    {'hold-end'     }
    {'136336'}    {'evac'         }
    {'136637'}    {'pre-ramp'     }
    {'136697'}    {'ramp'         }
    {'136729'}    {'hold'         }
    {'201529'}    {'hold-end'     }
    {'201529'}    {'evac'         }
    {'201829'}    {'pre-ramp'     }
    {'201889'}    {'ramp'         }
    {'201921'}    {'hold'         }
    {'266721'}    {'hold-end'     }
    {'266721'}    {'evac'         }

vec = str2double(tkn(:,1))

vec = 39×1

0 0 5 70 84 147 538 548 5948 5948

[Justin Rosenthal]

This is perfect and exactly what I was trying to accomplish. Thank you so much for your help Stephen!

Answer 2

[Voss]

fid = fopen('N2_trace.txt');
data = fread(fid);
fclose(fid);

c_data = strsplit(char(data).',newline());
if isempty(c_data{end})
    c_data(end) = [];
end
c_data(1:3) = [];

time = cellfun(@(x)str2double(x(1:find(x == '.',1)-1)),c_data);
status = cellfun(@(x)x(find(x == ':',1,'last')+2:end),c_data,'UniformOutput',false);

disp(c_data);

  Columns 1 through 9

    {'5.0: step #1.1:…'}    {'70.0: step #1.1…'}    {'84.6: step #1.1…'}    {'147.2: step #1.…'}    {'538.0: step #1.…'}    {'548.0: step #1.…'}    {'5948.0: step #1…'}    {'5948.0: step #1…'}    {'6248.2: step #1…'}

  Columns 10 through 18

    {'6308.2: step #1…'}    {'6344.0: step #1…'}    {'# Edit Batch Pa…'}    {'71144.0: step #…'}    {'71144.0: step #…'}    {'71444.2: step #…'}    {'71504.2: step #…'}    {'71536.8: step #…'}    {'136336.8: step …'}

  Columns 19 through 27

    {'136336.8: step …'}    {'136637.0: step …'}    {'136697.0: step …'}    {'136729.2: step …'}    {'201529.2: step …'}    {'201529.2: step …'}    {'201829.4: step …'}    {'201889.4: step …'}    {'201921.0: step …'}

  Columns 28 through 36

    {'266721.0: step …'}    {'266721.0: step …'}    {'267021.2: step …'}    {'267081.2: step …'}    {'267112.6: step …'}    {'331912.6: step …'}    {'331912.6: post-…'}    {'332001.0: post-…'}    {'332098.8: post-…'}

  Columns 37 through 38

    {'332113.4: post-…'}    {'332176.0: post-…'}

disp(time);

  Columns 1 through 18

           5          70          84         147         538         548        5948        5948        6248        6308        6344         NaN       71144       71144       71444       71504       71536      136336

  Columns 19 through 36

      136336      136637      136697      136729      201529      201529      201829      201889      201921      266721      266721      267021      267081      267112      331912      331912      332001      332098

  Columns 37 through 38

      332113      332176

disp(status);

  Columns 1 through 14

    {'flush-evac'}    {'flush'}    {'flush-vent'}    {'init-evac'}    {'pre-leak-test'}    {'leak-test'}    {'leak-test-end'}    {'evac'}    {'pre-ramp'}    {'ramp'}    {'hold'}    {'1.0}'}    {'hold-end'}    {'evac'}

  Columns 15 through 30

    {'pre-ramp'}    {'ramp'}    {'hold'}    {'hold-end'}    {'evac'}    {'pre-ramp'}    {'ramp'}    {'hold'}    {'hold-end'}    {'evac'}    {'pre-ramp'}    {'ramp'}    {'hold'}    {'hold-end'}    {'evac'}    {'pre-ramp'}

  Columns 31 through 38

    {'ramp'}    {'hold'}    {'hold-end'}    {'vent'}    {'flush-evac'}    {'flush'}    {'flush-vent'}    {'done'}

[Justin Rosenthal]

Thank you so much Benjamin. This helped me out alot!