How can I load data from a .csv as a string?

I'm trying to import data from a .csv in two columns. The first column has dates in mm/dd/yyyy format, and the second has regular numbers. I'm trying to plot this dataset, with the dates on the x axis and numbers on the y. The problem is, when I try to import the first column, it treats the "/" marks as mathematical operators, so I am unable to use it as a date. I can't find a way to load the data as a string, and especially not how to plot it. This is the code I have so far.

totalData = load('FED-RXI_US_N_B_UK.csv'); 
dates=totalData(1:length(totalData),1);
rates=totalData(2:length(totalData),2);
dateNumber=datenum(dates,'mm/dd/yyyy')

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

Use the xlsread function with at least two (and at best all three) outputs:

[totalData,str,raw] = xlsread('FED-RXI_US_N_B_UK.csv');

The ‘str’ variable should have your dates as a cell array of strings that you can use as an argument to datenum to convert them to date numbers. From there, you can do anything with them you want. The ‘raw’ variable has everything as a cell array in case you need to take the data in the file apart yourself.

[Will Campbell]

Awesome, thank you so much. Just a quick followup - is there any way for the x-axis to display the dates themselves, rather than the point in time from January 0, 2000?

[Star Strider]

My pleasure.

Yes. See the datetick function.

If you have R2014b or later, also see datetime, a collection of functions to work with and plot dates and times.