RE: newbie question: how to scrape a command line arg with argv()

[Damian Harty]

> Apologies in advance for asking what is surely a shockingly basic question, 
> expressed in highly inexpert terminology.

Never a need to apologise,  speaking as someone who is highly inexpert.

> octave myscript filename
>
> Dumb question of the day: how do I get a string out of a one element array, 
> so that I can assign it to a variable in the script called filename, and pass 
> it along to the next function?

The array is actually a "cell array". You can convert it pretty easily to a 
string:

    arg_list = argv ()
    filename = char(arg_list(1))

...then use the string as you please, eg

    fid=fopen(filename)

If you want to be tidier you can do it all in one, but I find this approach 
quickly makes the code somewhat impenetrable, however clever it makes you feel:

    fid=fopen(  char( arg_list(1) )  )

It's also rife with opportunities for miscounted parentheses. I can't think of 
anything other than an uneven number of sign errors that wastes more 
programming time to track down. Your mileage may vary.

Note that in Octave, character arrays can and do exist, this can lead to quite 
a lot of confusion as you find your way in. My experience is that the 
documentation is very good at telling you how "construct" information - ie to 
go from characters to a cell, from cells to a structure and so on, but not 
necessarily good at how to "deconstruct" information - to make that journey in 
reverse, as you have just discovered.

Damian

CONFIDENTIAL: The information contained in this email communication is 
confidential information intended only for the use of the addressee. 
Unauthorized use, disclosure or copying of this communication is strictly 
prohibited and may be unlawful. If you have received this communication in 
error, please notify us immediately by return email and destroy all copies of 
this communication, including all attachments.