Automated variable name assignment

I have large cells that contain experimental data. (Up to 100000 entries with 2x2000 matricies each) On these large cells I run different cluster scripts that split these large cells into sub-cells (normally between 2 and 10 sub-cells) I then save these sub-cells and run different analysis routines on them. Is there a way to automatically name and save these subcells?

For example: I have a main_cell, split it up into 3 subcells, call them "subcell_1, subcell_2 and subcell_3" and then save them as subcell_1.mat etc. So far I have to do this manually or with this rather ugly "try and catch" approach (It is also limited because I cannot adapt the subcell's name automatically):

   try
      subcell_1 = main_cell(:,idx==1);
      save('subcell_1.mat','subcell_1');
      subcell_2 = main_cell(:,idx==2);
      save('subcell_2.mat','subcell_2');

    catch
    end

I know apparently it is recommended not to use dynamic variable naming, but for my specific situation I cannot think of another way without completly restructuring my analysis concept and/or dragging huge data files through my analysis.

[KSSV]

Instead of that naming convention...you can follow:

C = cell(1,3) ;
C{1}   % will be subcell_1
c{2}   % will be subcell 2
c{3}    % will be subcell 3

[Mario]

Thanks for the answer! I know I am going for a "bad" convention but I would really prefer not to drag the whole cell through the analysis. They can be up to one GB in size and it takes forever to load cells like this.

Plus, it is more clearly arranged if I can split up cells into few appropriatly named subcells in subfolders because I typically use multiple analysis and clustering steps in changing orders and if I keep everything in one cell it quickly gets messy.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

http://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/answers/304528-tutorial-why-variables-should-not-be-named-dynamically-eval

[KSSV]

He is aware of that I know apparently it is recommended not to use dynamic variable naming

[Walter Roberson]

Use dynamic field names of a struct . save() the struct using the -struct flag to save(). Each field in the struct will become a variable in the .mat file.

[Mario]

Yes, that's it! Thank you both!