dataset_vertcat_fill_vars.m

function ds_out = dataset_vertcat_fill_vars( varargin )
% DATASET_VERTCAT_FILL_VARS - create a new dataset by vertically concatenating
% all input arguments, preserving all variables present in any input.
%
% FIXME - Deprecated. This function is being superseded by 
% 'table_vertcat_fill_vars.m'
%
% ds_out has all variables present anywhere in input datasets.  When an input
% dataset is missing an output variable, the variable is added and to the
% dataset and populated with NaN.
%
% USAGE
%    ds_out = dataset_vertcat_fill_vars( ds1, ds2, ... );
%
% INPUTS
%    variable; two or more dataset arrays
%
% OUTPUTS
%    ds_out: dataset array; the concatenated input datasets with all
%        variables filled as described above.
%
% SEE ALSO
%    dataset
%
% author: Timothy W. Hilton, UNM, Feb 2012

warning( 'This function ( dataset_vertcat_fill_vars.m ) is deprecated' );

all_vars = varargin{1}.Properties.VarNames;
for i = 2:numel( varargin )
    all_vars = union( all_vars, varargin{i}.Properties.VarNames );
end

for i = 1:numel( varargin )
    new_vars = setdiff( all_vars, varargin{i}.Properties.VarNames );
    for j = 1:numel( new_vars )
        varargin{ i }.( new_vars{ j } ) = ...
            repmat( NaN, ...
            size( varargin{ i }, 1 ), 1 );
    end
end

% now all datasets have the same variables
ds_out = vertcat( varargin{ : } );
save('data.mat')