Strings in Scilab

In today's tutorial, we'll delve deep into the world of strings in Scilab, ensuring you're equipped to use them with precision and efficiency.

Firstly, let's demystify what we mean by a 'string'. Within Scilab, a string is essentially a sequence of alphanumeric characters.

To craft a string, you'll want to encase your desired sequence within double quotes.

Here's a hands-on example.

This command assigns the string "Hello world!" to the variable "s".

s = "Hello world!";

Scilab's versatility shines when manipulating strings.

For instance, string concatenation is a breeze.

Let's define two strings, s1 and s2

s1 = "abc";
s2 = "def";

Then, concatenate them using the + operator

s1+s2

Scilab will return a single string, combining the two. The second string (s2) gets appended to the first one (s1).

abcdef

Curious about the length of your string? The length() function is at your service.

Take the string "s" for instance.

s = "Hello world!";

Invoke length(s) to reveal its character count.

length(s)

In this scenario, the string comprises 12 characters.

12.

For those keen on extracting specific portions of a string, the part() function is invaluable.

For instance, type in part(s, 1:3)

part(s, 1:3)

This nifty function retrieves the initial three characters of "Hello world!":

Hel

Occasionally, you might encounter strings with numerical characters.

To transform them into actual numbers, employ the evstr() function.

For instance, let's set the variable "s" to the string "123.45".

s="123.45"

Then, use the evstr(s) function to convert it.

evstr(s)

You're presented with the numerical value 123.45

123.45

When comparing strings, Scilab offers a suite of operators: "==", "~=", and "<>".

• The == operator confirms if two strings are identical, returning T (true) if they are, and F (false) if not.
• The operators ~= and <> are your go-to when determining differences, signaling T (true) for disparities and F (false) for similarities.

For instance, define two strings:

s1 = "abc";
s2 = "def";

Then type s1 == s2 to check if they match.

s1==s2

The verdict? F (false) – they're distinct.

F

To ascertain their difference, type s1 <> s2 or s1 ~= s2

You can use either interchangeably.

s1~= s2

The outcome, T (true), confirms their uniqueness. The strings "s1" and "s2" are indeed different.

T

While we've covered a substantial amount today, Scilab offers an even broader array of functions tailored for string manipulation. Stay tuned for subsequent tutorials where we'll explore these in detail.

Mastering these capabilities is pivotal in harnessing Scilab's full prowess.