Here is the helper function that, for every '\' in the path, it makes sure it is \\ so that printf works correctly...

parse_dir_add_slash.m

function [ret] = parse_dir_add_slash(dir_in)

% Search for the '\' character in the string
temp = strfind(dir_in, '\');

% For every \ in the string, make sure it is \\ so that it will print correctly
ret = '';
if ~isempty(temp)
    for ii = 1 : length(temp)
        if ii == 1
            ret = [ret dir_in(1 : (temp(ii) - 1)) '\\'];
        else
            ret = [ret dir_in((temp(ii - 1) + 1) : (temp(ii) - 1)) '\\'];
        end
    end
end

% If the input string doesn't end with a \, add the rest of the string
if temp(end) < length(dir_in)
    ret = [ret dir_in((temp(end) + 1) : end)];
end