exceltime

Convert MATLAB datetime to Excel date number

Syntax

e = exceltime(t)

e = exceltime(t,dateType)

Description

e = exceltime(t) returns a double array containing Excel^® serial date numbers equivalent to the datetime values in t. Excel serial date numbers are the number of days and fractional days since 0-January-1900 00:00:00, and do not take into account time zone and leap seconds.

e = exceltime(t,dateType) returns the type of Excel serial date numbers specified by dateType. For example, you can convert datetime values to the number of days since 1-January-1904 00:00:00.

Examples

Convert Datetime Array to Excel Date Numbers

Create a datetime array. Then, convert the dates to the equivalent Excel® serial date numbers.

t = datetime('now') + calmonths(1:3)

t = 1×3 datetime
   09-Sep-2025 11:58:06   09-Oct-2025 11:58:06   09-Nov-2025 11:58:06

e = exceltime(t)

e = 1×3
104 ×

    4.5909    4.5939    4.5970

Input Arguments

t — Input date and time

datetime array

Input date and time, specified as a datetime array.

dateType — Type of Excel serial date numbers

'1900' (default) | '1904'

Type of Excel serial date numbers, specified as either '1900' or '1904'.

• If dateType is '1900', then exceltime converts the datetime values in t to the equivalent the number of days and fractional days since 0-January-1900 00:00:00.

• If dateType is '1904', then exceltime converts the datetime values in t to the equivalent the number of days and fractional days since 1-January-1904 00:00:00.

exceltime does not account for time zone.

Output Arguments

e — Excel serial date numbers

scalar | vector | matrix | multidimensional array

Excel serial date numbers, returned as a scalar, vector, matrix, or multidimensional array of type double. Excel serial date numbers are not defined prior to their epoch (0-January-1900 or 1-January-1904). Excel serial date numbers treat 1900 as a leap year. Therefore, dates after February 28, 1900 are offset by one day relative to MATLAB^® serial date numbers, and there is a discontinuity of one day between February 28, 1900 and March 1, 1900.

Extended Capabilities

Tall Arrays

Calculate with arrays that have more rows than fit in memory.

The exceltime function fully supports tall arrays. For more information, see Tall Arrays.

Thread-Based Environment

Run code in the background using MATLAB® backgroundPool or accelerate code with Parallel Computing Toolbox™ ThreadPool.

This function fully supports thread-based environments. For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions in Thread-Based Environment.

Distributed Arrays

Partition large arrays across the combined memory of your cluster using Parallel Computing Toolbox™.

This function fully supports distributed arrays. For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions with Distributed Arrays (Parallel Computing Toolbox).

Version History

Introduced in R2014b