Converting text to datetime stamp in Data Table

I am using the import tool to import a CSV file and am able to import it no problem. I need to manipulate the first column of data to a date and time and it won't let me do this automatically because the generated timestamp from my test equipment is different than the formats that matlab automatically detects. Thank you for any help you can give me!

The timestamps in the dataset follow this formatting:

1 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.7)

2 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.8)

3 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.9)

4 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.0)

5 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.1)

6 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.2)

I need to convert this to a timestamp so that MATLAB will recognize and I can calculate time elapsed for my testing.

This is the autogenerated matlab script from importing the csv file: (Currently its importing the time column as "char")

%% Import data from text file

% Auto-generated by MATLAB on 07-Apr-2022 13:36:56

%% Setup the Import Options

opts = delimitedTextImportOptions("NumVariables", 25);

% Specify range and delimiter

opts.DataLines = [15, Inf];

opts.Delimiter = ",";

% Specify column names and types

opts.VariableNames = ["Label", "Channel1", "Channel2", "Channel3", "Channel4", "Channel5", "Channel6", "Channel7", "Channel8", "Channel9", "Channel10", "Channel11", "Channel12", "Channel19", "Channel20", "Channel21", "Channel22", "Channel23", "Channel24", "Channel25", "Channel26", "Channel27", "Channel28", "Channel29", "Channel30"];

opts.VariableTypes = ["char", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double", "double"];

opts = setvaropts(opts, 1, "WhitespaceRule", "preserve");

opts = setvaropts(opts, 1, "EmptyFieldRule", "auto");

opts.ExtraColumnsRule = "ignore";

opts.EmptyLineRule = "read";

% Import the data

TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48 = readtable("C:\Users\\Desktop\Q125A Aggregate Testing\Propagation TMX 2 Data File 3 TCs 25 through 48.csv", opts);

%% Clear temporary variables

clear opts

Answer 1

[Dave B]

It's a little difficult to understand exactly what's in TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48 from the code, I think the dates you pasted get copied into the table's first column exactly? If not, uploading a mat file with the table in it would be helpful.

How I understand your your starting point (skipping other values in the file):

Label={'1 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.7)';'2 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.8)';'3 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.9)';'4 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.0)';'5 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.1)';'6 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.2)'};
TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48 = table(Label)

TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48 = 6×1 table
               Label           
    ___________________________

    {'1 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.7)'}
    {'2 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.8)'}
    {'3 (4/5/2022 12:04:05.9)'}
    {'4 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.0)'}
    {'5 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.1)'}
    {'6 (4/5/2022 12:04:06.2)'}

% It's easier to work with this if you extract the bits in between the parentheses:
TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48.Label=extractBetween(TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48.Label,'(',')');

% Now specify the format that your dates have been provided
%
% NOTE: I assumed month/day/year, but your example values were somewhat
% ambiguous. You can flip around the MM and dd as you like!
TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48.Date = datetime(TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48.Label,'InputFormat','MM/dd/uuuu HH:mm:ss.s');
TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48

TMX2DataFile3TCs25through48 = 6×2 table
             Label                     Date        
    _______________________    ____________________

    {'4/5/2022 12:04:05.7'}    05-Apr-2022 12:04:07
    {'4/5/2022 12:04:05.8'}    05-Apr-2022 12:04:08
    {'4/5/2022 12:04:05.9'}    05-Apr-2022 12:04:09
    {'4/5/2022 12:04:06.0'}    05-Apr-2022 12:04:00
    {'4/5/2022 12:04:06.1'}    05-Apr-2022 12:04:01
    {'4/5/2022 12:04:06.2'}    05-Apr-2022 12:04:02