Need saveMtx function for Matlab

[bklare-zz]

Similar to the loadMtx file, a saveMtx file needs to be added to allow Matlab users to save similarity matrices for analysis in openbr.

[jklontz]

Sounds good. I think the approach should be to extend $br -convert to allow conversion to/from the other supported matrix formats (.mtx, .csv). Sounds like Matlab also uses the .mtx extension for a binary matrix? Is there another extension we could use to distinguish between the current .mtx format and the matlab format? Like .mat?

[jklontz]

Actually, step 0 should be to add it to plugins/format.cpp. See csvFormat for an example.

[bklare-zz]

I think the approach should be to extend $br -convert to allow conversion to/from the other supported matrix formats (.mtx, .csv).

Agreed.

Sounds like Matlab also uses the .mtx extension for a binary matrix? Is there another extension we could use to distinguish between the current .mtx format and the matlab format? Like .mat?

Matlab files to store binaries of objects (e.g., a matrix) have a default extension of .mat (so, good guess). The file structure is at the link below. I am not sure if there already exists a Qt-based implementation of this this format. If not, we should definitely code it into a -convert command.

In the meantime we can use the matlab functions loadMat() and saveMat() for a weaker amount of matlab support.

http://www.mathworks.com/help/pdf_doc/matlab/matfile_format.pdf

[jklontz]

Matlab matrices are now first class citizens in OpenBR. The newly added formats are .mat (as described in matfile_format.pdf) and .bin (simple binary format).

You can use br -convert input_file output_file to convert to/from matricies with any of the following formats:

• .bin
• .csv
• .mat
• .mask
• .mtx
• .jpg/.png/...

This should obviate the need for loadMat() and saveMat().

Relevant code is in sdk/plugins/format.cpp

[bklare-zz]

Bravo sir! Looks very elegant too!

[bklare-zz]

An update on how to use this command: br -convert Format input_file output_file

[jklontz]

for example:
br -convert Format myScores.mtx myScores.mat
or
br -convert Gallery myTemplates.gal myTemplateMetadata.csv