merging files using for loop

I am trying to merge 7 text files into 1 using system ('copy 090615.txt+090616.txt+090617.txt+090618.txt+090619.txt+090619.txt+090620.txt+090621.txt New.txt'); How can I do the same thing using a for loop. Thanks

Answer 1

[Ced]

The above method should work.

However, instead of copying the content into a string ( which might be HUGE for several files ), try using the flag 'a' (append) instead of 'w' (write, will start at the beginning of the file again) when opening the file, i.e.

   fid = fopen(newFile, 'a');

This way, you can read the files one at a time, and write the content to a single file.

PS: If the file is not empty in the beginning, but you don't want to keep the old content, you need to open it with "w" for k == 1, and then use "a".

[MF]

It's working. Thank you very much

Answer 2

[Jan]

Calling the operating system is indirect. You can do this inside Matlab instead:

Folder = cd;  % Set accordingly
Str    = '';
for k = 90615:90621
  FileName = fullfile(Folder, sprintf('%06d.txt', k));
  Str      = [Str, fileread(FileName)];
end

newFile = fullfile(Folder, 'New.txt');
fid = fopen(newFile, 'w');
if fid == -1, error('Cannot open file for writing: %s', newFile);
fwrite(fid, Str, 'char');
fclose(fid);

[MF]

but still the file created remains empty. I want the content of all files to be saved into a single file, in this case the new file. Thanks