title: Convert dates from Excel to Matlab
body: <p>I have a series of dates and some corresponding values. The format of the data in Excel is "Custom" <code>dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm</code>.
  When I try to convert this column into an array in Matlab, in order to use it as the x axis of a plot, I use:</p>
  
  <pre><code>a = datestr(xlsread('filename.xlsx',1,'A:A'), 'dd/mm/yyyy HH:MM');
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>But I get a Empty string: 0-by-16.</p>
  
  <p>Therefore I am not able to convert it into a date array using the function <code>datenum</code>.</p>
  
  <p>Where do I make a mistake? Edit: passing from hh:mm to HH:MM doesn't work neither. when I try only </p>
  
  <pre><code> a = xlsread('filename.xlsx',1,'A2')
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I get: a = []</p>