How to insert an object into a cell?

Question

I googled but couldn't find anything although I think this a general need.
I use this function in Matlab to insert an object in to a cell:

function ce = insertInCell(ce,toInsert,idexx)
    ce = [ce(1:idexx-1,1); cellToInsert; ce(idexx:end,1);];
end 

I think this function works like this:
1st: creates a new cell by copying ce(1:idexx-1,1)
2nd: adds cellToInsert to this new cell
3nd: copies and adds ce(idexx:end,1); to the new cell

and I was wondering if there is a more efficient way of doing this? I mean a function that just updates the indices of the elements (Or I'm wrong and this function is efficient?)

Thanks.

Answer 1

MATLAB does not expose pointers, therefore you can't just update the indices (pointers), unless you write a MEX file for that purpose.

There is a bug in your code: in code you refer to a variable cellToInsert, but in the function definition you have only toInsert.

Your code only works for vertical cell arrays. It does not work for horizontal cell arrays or n-dimensional cell arrays. For vertical cell arrays it works with the toInsert -> cellToInsert fix.

Bugfixed version:

function ce = insertInCell(ce,cellToInsert,idexx)
    ce = [ce(1:idexx-1); cellToInsert; ce(idexx:end) ];
end