creating a new blank .txt file using matlab

Question

How can I create a blank .txt file? I use Matlab R2014a.
I want to check whether file of specified name exists and if it does not, I want to create one.

This is easily google-able.. why not use that tool (google) in a first place? — Kyslik, Nov 11 '15 at 12:06

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Apr 16 '17 at 07:04

2

I do not like answering questions that just "ask" and provide no "I tried this...".

Nevertheless, there are many ways to accomplish what you are asking. This is one of them:

if exist('text.txt', 'file') == 0
 disp('File does not exist, creating file.')
 f = fopen( 'text.txt', 'w' );  
 fclose(f);
else
    disp('File exists.');
end

edited Apr 16 '17 at 07:04

ZerkTheMighty

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answered Nov 11 '15 at 12:15

Kyslik

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score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Nov 11 '15 at 12:16

1

to check if file exists, simply use the exist command:

exist( filename, 'file' )

To create an empty file, you can simply use fopen and fclose:

if ~exist(filename, 'file' )
    fid = fopen(filename,'w');
    fclose(fid);
end

answered Nov 11 '15 at 12:16

Shai

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How can you overwrite an existing file? – Code42 Jan 20 '19 at 18:18
1

probably too late, but to overwrite you use fprintf(fid,'your text'). You must open with 'w' to overwrite. If you want to append open with 'a'. – Ferro Luca Jun 19 '23 at 08:31

creating a new blank .txt file using matlab

2 Answers2