Import a matrix stored in a text file?

Questions
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1

I am trying to import a very large matrix file to a variable using the code below. The matrix is of the form {{A,B,C},{D,E,D},{G,F,A}}

inputseq2s = Import[ "C:\Users\jdd0758\Desktop\WaveformsOnly.txt","Data"]

However when I import it like this, it is not read as if it was entered as:

inputseq2s = {{A,B,C},{D,E,D},{G,F,A}}

Extra commas are added to the input and it will not work in my algorithm. I have also tried importing it as “Mat” but that also did not work. How can I make this work properly?

2

Hi Jamie,

It would help if you could attach a small sample of the file. Try “Table” or “List” instead of “Data”.

3

I have uploaded a small sample file. My algorithm does not work when the file is imported with ‘List’, ‘Table’, ‘Data’, etc but it does work if I copy the contents of the file and paste them into Mathematica.

tESTmATRIX.txt (19.3 KB)

4

InputForm reveals the issue

data = Import["~/Downloads/tESTmATRIX.txt", "List"];
InputForm@data
(* {"{{52.000,52.289,39.000,59.000 .... *)

It is a List with a single element with a Head of String. So take the first element and convert from string to expression.

data = Import["~/Downloads/tESTmATRIX.txt", "List"] // First // ToExpression;
InputForm@data
(* {{52., 52.289, 39., 59., .... *)
5

Rohit, thank you for your help. Unfortunately this did not solve the problem that I was having. Ultimately inputseq2s = Import["C:/Users/jdd0758/Desktop/WaveformsOnly.txt", "String"]; ended up solving my problem.