Rearranging dates to make them suitable for datetime format

Hi,

I have a cell array with many dates that were imported from an excel file.

Each cell array entry has differnt inputs ie 08/21/2020 (Aug), 05/26/2018 (May), 04/03/2016, 02/06/2005 (QQ).

I just neee the dates and then import them as datetime format. How can I cut the brackets out so that I can import the file into a datetime format. Remember that some of the dates above dont have brackets.

Thanks

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

>> C = {'08/21/2020 (Aug)';'05/26/2018 (May)';'04/03/2016';'02/06/2005 (QQ)'};
>> D = datetime(regexp(C,'^.{10}','match','once'),'InputFormat','MM/dd/yyyy')
D = 
   21-Aug-2020
   26-May-2018
   03-Apr-2016
   06-Feb-2005

Answer 2

[Steven Lord]

If you need to import data in multiple formats, start by trying to import all the data in one of the formats. The entries that cannot be interpreted in that format will be NaT in the resulting datetime array. Fill in those NaT entries using logical indexing.

>> C = {'08/21/2020 (Aug)';'05/26/2018 (May)';'04/03/2016';'02/06/2005 (QQ)'}
C =

  4×1 cell array

    {'08/21/2020 (Aug)'}
    {'05/26/2018 (May)'}
    {'04/03/2016'      }
    {'02/06/2005 (QQ)' }

>> dt = datetime(C, 'InputFormat', 'MM/dd/yyyy')
dt = 

  4×1 datetime array

   NaT        
   NaT        
   03-Apr-2016
   NaT        

>> dt(isnat(dt)) = datetime(C(isnat(dt)), 'InputFormat', 'MM/dd/yyyy (MMM)')
dt = 

  4×1 datetime array

   21-Aug-2020
   26-May-2018
   03-Apr-2016
   NaT        

Repeat until there are no more NaT values in the datetime array and/or no more potential input formats to try.