trouble using datetime format in textscan

this datetime format works

datetime('2021-05-01 06:10:00','inputFormat','yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss')

so why won't

>> textscan('2021-05-01 06:10:00','%{yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss}D')

Error using textscan

Unable to read the DATETIME data with the format 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss'. If the data is not a time, use %q to get text data.

Thanks.

Answer 1

[Cris LaPierre]

The problem is because textscan uses white space as the default delimiter. Specify your delimiter or remove the space between date and time.

d1 = textscan('2021-05-01 06:10:00','%{yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss}D','Delimiter','\t')

d1 = 1×1 cell array
    {[2021-05-01 06:10:00]}

d2 = textscan('2021-05-0106:10:00','%{yyyy-MM-ddhh:mm:ss}D');
d2{1}.Format = 'yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss'

d2 = 1×1 cell array
    {[2021-05-01 06:10:00]}

[Erik]

Thanks!

Answer 2

[Simon Chan]

Detail explanation here: How do I use 'textscan' to correctly read a formatted date?