Using datenum with a structure field

I'm working with a structure called data and there is a data.DATE field with values in format of 'yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM'.

When I try to replace the values in the structure field with

    data.DATE = datenum(data.DATE, 'yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM');

I get an error of

Error using datenum
Too many input arguments.

This works fine for a cell array but not for the structure field. I guess I could split the data.DATE using regexp but was hoping to get this done in one line.

Any help / suggestions would be appreciated.

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

data.DATE = datenum({data.DATE}, 'yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM')

[Dave]

I tried this, but got this error then: "Scalar structure required for this assignment."

[Walter Roberson]

temp = num2cell( datenum({data.DATE}, 'yyyy-mm-dd HH:MM') );
[data.DATE] = temp{:};

[Dave]

That did it. Thanks

Answer 2

[Peter Perkins]

As Walter pointed out, there were two things going on, both having to do with the fact that

s.Field

for a non-scalar struct is a complicated thing. Not enough to go on in your post to know for sure, but you might find that replacing your struct array with a table (or even a timetable, in 16b+) makes your like easier. Unless you have hierarchical data (and even then, some of the time), tables are usually more convenient for messing with data.

And as always, consider using datetime instead of datenum.