How can I insert numbers 1-100 into the first column of a cell array?

I know this sounds simple... maybe it's Friday and my brain is fried, so bare with me.

I have a cell array that is 100x8. I simply want the first column of this array to be numbers 1-100, such that the first row of the first column has a 1, the second row of the first column has a 2, the third row of the first column has a 3, and so on until the 100th row of the first column has 100. These numbers will correspond to the trial numbers.

I don't know why I can't figure this out.

[the cyclist]

Don't feel bad. Even after decades of use of MATLAB, I sometmes have to tinker around to remember the exact syntax for different operations using cell arrays. (Even with the solution I proposed, I feel in the back of my mind that there is a simpler way.)

Answer 1

[the cyclist]

Here is one way:

N = 100;

% Set up an empty cell array
C = cell(N,8);

% Fill the first column
C(:,1) = num2cell(1:N)

C = 100×8 cell array
    {[ 1]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 2]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 3]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 4]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 5]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 6]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 7]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 8]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 9]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[10]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[11]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[12]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[13]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[14]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[15]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[16]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}

[DGM]

There we go. I feel like I'm in the same boat as OP today.

[the cyclist]

There is always more room in the "Here is one way but I think there is a better way" boat. I am regularly humbled here by the elegant solutions that are obvious (in retrospect).

[Brooke Yeager]

This worked beautifully. Thank you for your help!!!

Answer 2

[DGM]

Someone can surely improve on this, but this is one way

C = cell(10,4) % i'm just going to use a smaller example array
C(:,1) = mat2cell((1:10).',ones(10,1),1)

gives

C =
  10×4 cell array
    {[ 1]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 2]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 3]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 4]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 5]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 6]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 7]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 8]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[ 9]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}
    {[10]}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}    {0×0 double}

[Brooke Yeager]

Thank you for your suggestion!!!