datenum (Financial Toolbox)

Create date number.

Syntax

n = datenum(ds)
n = datenum(ds, p)
n = datenum(y, mo, d)
n = datenum(y, mo, d, h, mi, s)
n = datenum(dn)

Description

n = datenum(ds) returns a serial date number n given a date string ds. Date numbers are the number of days that has passed since a base date. In MATLAB, date number 1 is January 1, 0000 A.D. If the input includes time components, the date number includes a fractional component. If the input is only a time component, the date number is only a fractional time component.

The date string ds can be any of several forms:

'19-may-1995'
'may 19, 1995'
'19-may-95'
'19-may' (current year assumed)
'5/19/95'
'5/19' (current year assumed)
'19-may-1995, 18:37'
'19-may-1995, 6:37 pm'
'5/19/95/18:37'
'5/19/95/6:37 pm'
'18:37'

Date strings with two-character years, e.g., 12-june-12, are assumed to lie within the 100-year period centered about the current year.

n = datenum(ds,p)

assumes that two-character years lie within the 100-year period beginning with the pivot year p . The default pivot year is the current year minus 50 years.

n = datenum(y, mo, d)

returns a serial date number n given year, month, and day integers y, mo, and d.

n = datenum(y, mo, d, h, mi, s)

returns a serial date number n given year, month, day, hour, minute, and second integers y, mo, d, h, mi, and s.

n = datenum(dn) returns a serial date number n given a serial date number dn.

Note:
This function now ships with basic MATLAB. It originally shipped only with the Financial Toolbox, and this description remains here for your convenience.

Examples

n = datenum('19-may-1995')
n = 728798

n = datenum('5/19/95')
n = 728798

n = datenum('19-may-1995, 6:37 pm')
n = 728798.78

n = datenum('5/19/95/18:37')
n = 728798.78

n = datenum('6:37 pm')
n = 0.78

n = datenum(1995, 5, 19)
n = 728798

n = datenum(1995, 1:6, 19)
n = [728678  728709  728737  728768  728798  728829]

n = datenum(1995, 5, 19, 18, 37, 0)
n = 728798.78

n = datenum(728798)
n = 728798

The next example demonstrates the use of the pivot year in interpreting date strings with two-character years.

n = datenum(`12-june-12')
n = 
        735032 
datestr(735032)
ans =
12-Jun-2012
 n = datenum(`12-june-12',1900)
n = 
        698507
datestr(698507)
ans =
12-Jun-1912