%% Set Data Types for Multiple Variables
% Use detectImportOptions to create import options, set multiple variable data types, and then read the data using readtable.
% Create an options object.

opts = detectImportOptions('patients.xls');

%
% Examine the current (detected) data types of the variables.

disp([opts.VariableNames' opts.VariableTypes'])

%
% Change the data type of multiple variables depending on your import needs.

opts = setvartype(opts,{'LastName','Gender','Location',...
                   'Smoker','SelfAssessedHealthStatus'},'string');
opts = setvartype(opts,{'Age','Height','Weight',...
                                'Systolic','Diastolic'},'single');

%
% Examine the updated data types of the variables.

disp([opts.VariableNames' opts.VariableTypes'])

%
% Import the variables with their updated types using readtable.

T = readtable('patients.xls',opts);

% Copyright 2012 The MathWorks, Inc.