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Working with Dates

Default Microsoft Excel date numbers represent the number of days that have passed since January 1, 1900; for example, May 15, 1996 is represented as 35200 in the Excel software.

However, MATLAB date numbers represent the number of days that have passed since January 1, 0000, so May 15, 1996 is represented as 729160 in the MATLAB software. Therefore, the difference in dates between the Excel software and the MATLAB software is a constant, 693960 (729160 minus 35200).

To use date numbers in MATLAB calculations, apply the 693960 constant as follows:

• Add it to Excel date numbers that are read into the MATLAB software.

• Subtract it from MATLAB date numbers that are read into the Excel software.

  Note   If you use the optional Excel 1904 date system, the constant is 695422.

Dates are stored internally in the Excel software as numbers and are unaffected by locale.

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