Problem with function "datenum"

Hello all,

I use a script where datenum is used, but it works randomly:

>> datenum('17:54:24.752','HH:MM:SS.FFF')
??? Error using ==> datenum at 174
DATENUM failed.

Caused by:
    Error using ==> dtstr2dtnummx
    Failed on converting date string to date number.

>> datenum('17:54:24.752','HH:MM:SS.FFF')

ans =

    7.3597e+005

What could cause that? The date format was used planty of times before.

[per isakson]

Most likely the problem is caused by an erroneous value of an input argument. See Debug a MATLAB Program

[Stephen23]

Could there be non-printing characters in the string? These often pop up in online sourced data or from spreadsheets, and could easily cause an error without being visible themselves.

Answer 1

[Peter Perkins]

What version/platform of MATLAB is this? This sounds like a bug that was fixed in R2013a.

The bug report includes a patch for earlier versions.

[Eveline B]

MATLAB 2009a Do you know how I can find that patch?

[Peter Perkins]

Click on the bug report I linked to.

[Walter Roberson]

Unfortunately the bug report does not appear to include patches for R2009a or R2009b.