what i have to do is insert an excel table where the coordinates are in degrees, minutes and seconds and convert it to decimal degrees.
the table that is I structured in this way: 
  ellipses_points_x1  ellipses_points_y1  thickness_cm  eruptive_center_x0  eruptive_center_y0  eccentricity  volume_published_km3 
  176° 00' 45,8593     38° 51' 42,6182          200               175°59'0.1,9978       38°79'94,3831            0,74                       6 
  176° 02' 57,5069     38° 52' 19,6326          200         
  176° 06' 04,0076     38° 46' 34,9070          200         
  176° 02' 57,5069     38° 47' 09,1154          200         
  175° 56' 11,5936     38° 35' 12,6413             3         
  175° 59' 43,6924     38° 32' 26,7981             3  
data2 = T_elchichon(:,{'ellipses_points_x1'});          
angleInDegrees = dms2degrees(data2);  
I have to convert all these coordinates to be able to use them to calculate distances. I found the dms2degrees function but in any case if I select for example a column it does not give me the result. the mistake it gives me is 
Error using dms2degrees>validateInput (line 63)
DMS input array must be real-valued.
Error in dms2degrees (line 52)
validateInput(dms)
does the excel table have to be prepared in any particular way?Can anyone help me?
thanks