How to convert one column from string to datetime

Hi everyone

I have a n by 3 matrix. The second column is date in string format. I need to convert the second column to datetime format "YYYY-MM-DD" and return the other 2 columns untouched. I thought this would work but I am getting an error:

ABC(:,2) = datetime(ABC(:,2));

The error is:

Error using datetime

Input data must be a numeric array, a string array, a cell array containing character vectors,

or a char matrix.

How can I fix my code?

Thank you

[Stephen23]

"How can I fix my code?"

Please upload your data in a MAT file by clicking the paperclip button.

[Manny]

Here is a few entries from the second column:

>> ABC(:,2)

ans =

2443×1 table

TRADE_DATE

______________

{'2014-06-03'}

{'2014-06-11'}

{'2014-06-19'}

{'2014-06-25'}

{'2014-06-26'}

[Manny]

@Stephen23, thanks for the reply. I am new to Matlab. I am not really sure what you mean/need. Are you asking for this? The problem is CIV table.

[Dyuman Joshi]

Save the table as an excel file using writetable and upload it here using the paperclip button.

Answer 1

[Dyuman Joshi]

If you are using R2018b or a later version, you can use convertvars -

%Random data for example
ABC = table(rand(5,1), {'2014-06-03';'2014-06-11';'2014-06-19';'2014-06-25';'2014-06-26'})

ABC = 5×2 table
      Var1           Var2     
    ________    ______________

    0.018163    {'2014-06-03'}
     0.91476    {'2014-06-11'}
     0.90892    {'2014-06-19'}
     0.11466    {'2014-06-25'}
     0.94165    {'2014-06-26'}

%Convert the 2nd column data to datetime 
ABC = convertvars(ABC, 2, @(x) datetime(x, 'InputFormat', 'yyyy-MM-dd'))

ABC = 5×2 table
      Var1         Var2    
    ________    ___________

    0.018163    03-Jun-2014
     0.91476    11-Jun-2014
     0.90892    19-Jun-2014
     0.11466    25-Jun-2014
     0.94165    26-Jun-2014

[Manny]

Thank you so much! it worked

[Dyuman Joshi]

You're welcome!