You could think of something along these lines:
(air code, as in I havent tested it)
modelNames = {'m1, m2};
varNames = {'a','b'};
for mInd = 1:numel(modelNames)
fileName = modelnames{mInd};
for vInd = 1:numel(varNames)
if(exist(fileName,'f')) % please see doc, I think there is a syntax option to check for the existence of a file using its name
try
varName = varNames{vInd};
data = ncread(fileName,varName);
catch ALL % better to see one failure when the variable does not exist, use lasterr and check for the specific exception issued.
disp(['Could not read ' filname' for ' varName]);
end
end
end
end
