%CONVERT_STRING_ARRAY
% 
% USAGE:
% newColumn = convert_string_array(column)
%
% This function takes a cell array containing single string elements, and
% returns a numeric vector.  Behaviour is undefined if any element in the
% input array cannot be parsed by num2str.
%
% INPUT ARGUMENTS:
% column: An array of strings containing numeric data.
%
% OUTPUT:
% newColumn: A numeric vector containing the numbers from column.
%
% Author: Robert Wagner
% Date: 5th March 2009
% Last Modified: 12th March 2009


function newColumn = convert_string_array(column)

for n = 1:length(column)
    if isempty(column{n})
        newColumn(n) = NaN;
    else
        newColumn(n) = str2num(column{n});
    end
end