Matlab Slow Import using Import preview

I am using the Import function in Matlab to preview the file before import. The file I am importing is rather large (500 MB or so) but is pretty simple in that it has 15 columns (2 text 13 numeric) and comma delimited. When I use textscan this file comes in relatively quickly but when I proceed to import using the import editor it is incredibly slow (10+ minutes) Can someone tell me why this method of importing is so slow? I find it very convenient since I can preview the data before importing, I just wish it wasn't so slow that it was unusable. Hopefully I am doing something wrong and it will be more useful if I can figure out what I'm doing.

Thanks much, Brian

Answer 1

[Jason Ross]

If you are importing a lot of data that's the same format, you can generate code from the Import Wizard and then use that code to pull in other files. It's in the drop-down menu where you usually accept the import.

[Brian]

Thanks Jason. I was able to use the generate code to figure out that the find and replace of non-numeric cells was 99% of the time spent on the import. Since I am confident that my data is all numeric this is unnecessary. The actual textscan piece, which is created by the drop-down menu takes little to no time at all.

I appreciate your help, Brian

[Jason Ross]

No problem, glad I could help!