Import excel file with comma for decimal and dates

I have an excel file of dates and water level data (attached).

The dates are in format: dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm:ss.

The water level format uses a comma as the decimal point.

When I use the import tool in Matlab I am unable to import the data as 'dates' and a column of 'water levels'.

How do I import the file so that the first column is read in as a date and the second column as the data?

I would like to plot the water level data with the date along the x-axis.

I can manually change the comma to a 'fullstop' before I import the file but I am sure that there is a way to do this without me manually editing the file beforehand.

[Friedrich]

which MATLAB version your you using?

[Jenny]

I am using 2013b

Answer 1

[Jos (10584)]

In excel and/or in Windows System settings (i do not know where) change the settings of the decimal notation to dot and to the required date-time format.

After successful import, get rid of excel and windows … ;-)

[Jenny]

These are files of data that I downloaded from the internet with no option for the format they are downloaded in. I have to work with that format.

[Ilham Hardy]

Start >> Control Panel >> Change keyboards or other input methodes >> "Formats" Tab >> Additional Settings >> "Numbers" Tab >> Change decimal symbol to dot.

You need to restart excel for the change to take effect

[Tamara del Águila]

That means there is no way of doing it from Matlab?

I agree excel and windows are insufferable, but I didn't expect this from Matlab. What a dissapointment...