file_name_sequence, a MATLAB code which demonstrates ways of generating a sequence of file names with an embedded index that increases.
There are situations such as animations or parallel processing in which it is necessary to generate a sequence of file names which include an embedded index that increases. A simple example might be
'fred0.txt', 'fred1.txt', 'fred2.txt'
A side issue arises when the number of files is large enough that the
number of digits in the index will vary. Thus, if we are going to have
15 files, do we want to number them as
'fred00.txt' through 'fred14.txt'
which means, for one thing, that they will alphabetize properly, or
will we be satisfied with
'fred0.txt' through 'fred14.txt' ?
Schemes for generating such a sequence in MATLAB can involve the
num2str() function, the sprintf() function, or a more elaborate function
called file_name_inc() which searches a string for embedded numeric
data and increments it.
The computer code and data files described and made available on this web page are distributed under the MIT license
file_name_sequence is available in a C version and a C++ version and a FORTRAN90 version and a MATLAB version and a Python version.
filum, a MATLAB code which can work with information in text files.