load function sometimes alters structure name in the Workspace

I am encountering a weird phenomena where using the load('filename') function to load a structure, alters the structure name in the workspace. This does not occur everytime, but I observed it on multiple occasions:

Example:

close all
clear variables

load('TM24_w')

results in a structure in my workspace named: "TM242_w"

It does load in the correct structure with the correct fields and values but the workspace name is wrong.

Has anyone ever encountered this and is there a solution?

[Stephen23]

"...but the workspace name is wrong."

Nothing in your question indicates any problem: the names of the variable/s that are loaded do NOT depend in any way on the filename. So the fact that your example file is called "TM24_w.mat" is unrelated to the loaded variable name/s.

Loading directly into the workspace is liable to bugs. It is much more robust to always load into an output variable.

[Jon-Danilo Kortram]

"Nothing in your question indicates any problem:..."

I find it perplexing that when I load in 4 different structure arrays, 3 of them get the exact same name as the filename that I stored them under, and the 4th one get's a random "2" added to the variable name. I did consider that a problem.

[Stephen23]

"I find it perplexing that when I load in 4 different structure arrays, 3 of them get the exact same name as the filename that I stored them under, and the 4th one get's a random "2" added to the variable name."

Check the name/s of the variable/s stored in the .mat file (e.g using whos). They certainly will not change when they are loaded.

The name of the file is irrelevant.

[Jon-Danilo Kortram]

Again it's the name of the structure that changed. The variables inside the structure are fine.

[Stephen23]

"Again it's the name of the structure that changed. The variables inside the structure are fine. "

Very unusual. Can you please upload the .mat file by clicking the paperclip button.

What OS are you using?

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

When you load a mat file without output on the load command, the variable names will be the same as the names inside the mat and not what the file name happens to be.

[Jon-Danilo Kortram]

I do not understand what you are saying. What do you mean by the "names inside the mat"?

[Stephen23]

"What do you mean by the "names inside the mat"?"

.mat files store one or more variables (or fields of a structure). Variables have names.

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/matlab_env/save-load-and-delete-workspace-variables.html

The name of the file is irrelevant.

Note that the MATLAB documentation recommends loading into an output variable.

[Jon-Danilo Kortram]

loading directly into an output variable is a good solution, thank you