Python to MATLAB: exporting list of strings using scipy.io

Question

I am trying to export a list of text strings from Python to MATLAB using scipy.io. I would like to use scipy.io because my desired .mat file should include both numerical ma

Answer 1

It looks like the contents of the list are exported properly, they are just transposed and placed in a character array. You can easily convert it to the desired cell array of strings in MATLAB by transposing it and using CELLSTR, which places each row in a separate cell:

>> my_list = ['adg';'beh';'cfi'];  %# Your example
>> my_list = cellstr(my_list')    %'# A 3-by-1 cell array of strings

my_list = 

    'abc'
    'def'
    'ghi'

Granted, this doesn't address the more general issue of exporting data as a cell array from Python to MATLAB, but it should help with the specific problem you list above.