How to format time with fprintf

To get the time it takes a program to execute, I set date_1 = datetime('now") at the beginning of a program, and date_2 = datetime('now) at the end of the program. Then Elapsed_time = date_2 - date_1. I would like to print the elapsed time using the fprintf command, and I would like it to be formatted to show minutes and seconds. How do I do that? Could you provide an example?

Answer 1

[Star Strider]

Try this —

date_1 = datetime('now');
for k = 1:1E+8
    rand;
end
date_2 = datetime('now');
Elapsed_time = date_2 - date_1;
Elapsed_time.Format = 'mm:ss.SSS';
fprintf('Elapsed time = %s', Elapsed_time)

Elapsed time = 00:07.641

I added the milliseconds simply for the demonstration.

.

[JDA]

That worked! Thanks

[Star Strider]

As always, my pleasure!

[JDA]

Great answer! That solved my problem. Thanks.

[Star Strider]

Thank you!

As always, my pleasure!

Answer 2

[Walter Roberson]

date_2 = datetime('now');
date_1 = date_2 - rand()^2  %days

date_1 = datetime
   28-Feb-2022 14:32:31

Elapsed_time = date_2 - date_1

Elapsed_time = duration
   05:51:40

Elapsed_time.Format = 'mm:ss'

Elapsed_time = duration
   351:40

fprintf('elapsed time was: %s\n', Elapsed_time)

elapsed time was: 351:40