Convert time to datenum

I have a folder with 10 matfiles where the first row is the time and the second raw is some data associated with the time. I want to convert all the time for the first row of each of the matfiles as a new time series using datenum. I have been able to navigate to the directory of and tried this code but it isnt working. Please is can I get some help.

mat = dir('*.mat');

for i = 1:length(mat)

load(mat(i).name);

newMat = mat(i).name(1,:);

newdate = datenum(newMat);

end

[Guillaume]

Why not use datetime instead of datenum? It's more flexible and more reliable.

Answer 1

[Stephen23]

It is not required to navigate to data directories to read data:

D = 'Path of the directory where the MAT files are saved';
S = dir(fullfile(D,'*.mat')); 
for k = 1:numel(mat) 
    T = load(fullfile(D,S(k).name));
    M = T.nameOfTheVariableInMatFileWhichYouHaveNotToldUs;
    newdate = datenum(M(1,:));
end

Or, assuming that the .mat files contain only one variable:

D = 'Path of the directory where the MAT files are saved';
S = dir(fullfile(D,'*.mat'));  
for k = 1:numel(mat) 
    T = load(fullfile(D,S(k).name));
    C = struct2cell(T);
    newdate = datenum(C{1}(1,:));
end