strjoin.m

function output = strjoin(input, separator)
%STRJOIN Concatenate an array into a single string.
%
%     S = strjoin(C)
%     S = strjoin(C, separator)
%
% Description
%
% S = strjoin(C) takes an array C and returns a string S which concatenates
% array elements with comma. C can be a cell array of strings, a character
% array, a numeric array, or a logical array. If C is a matrix, it is first
% flattened to get an array and concateneted. S = strjoin(C, separator) also
% specifies separator for string concatenation. The default separator is comma.
%
% Examples
%
%     >> str = strjoin({'this','is','a','cell','array'})
%     str =
%     this,is,a,cell,array
%
%     >> str = strjoin([1,2,2],'_')
%     str =
%     1_2_2
%
%     >> str = strjoin({1,2,2,'string'},'\t')
%     str =
%     1 2 2 string
%
% 
% Copyright (c) 2011 Kota Yamaguchi
% All rights reserved.
% 
% Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
% modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
% are met:
% 
% 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
%    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
% 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
%    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
%    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
% 3. The name of the author may not be used to endorse or promote products
%    derived from this software without specific prior written permission.
% 
% THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR ``AS IS'' AND ANY EXPRESS OR
% IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES
% OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED.
% IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT,
% INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT
% NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
% DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
% THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
% (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF
% THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.

  if nargin < 2, separator = ','; end
  assert(ischar(separator), 'Invalid separator input: %s', class(separator));
  separator = strrep(separator, '%', '%%');

  output = '';
  if ~isempty(input)
    if ischar(input)
      input = cellstr(input);
    end
    if isnumeric(input) || islogical(input)
      output = [repmat(sprintf(['%.15g', separator], input(1:end-1)), ...
                       1, ~isscalar(input)), ...
                sprintf('%.15g', input(end))];
    elseif iscellstr(input)
      output = [repmat(sprintf(['%s', separator], input{1:end-1}), ...
                       1, ~isscalar(input)), ...
                sprintf('%s', input{end})];
    elseif iscell(input)
      output = strjoin(cellfun(@(x)strjoin(x, separator), input, ...
                               'UniformOutput', false), ...
                       separator);
    else
      error('strjoin:invalidInput', 'Unsupported input: %s', class(input));
    end
  end
end