[Solved] Problem converting string to DateTime after changing System's DateTime format

Question

4.00/5 (2 votes)

See more:

Hello All,

I am facing a problem while converting a string to DateTime.
I am doing it like this:

DateTime dt = Convert.ToDateTime(strDate)

I was getting correct result.

But as soon as I changed my system's short date format from 'MM/dd/yy' to 'dd-MMM-yy', I am getting an error as "string is not a valid DateTime format.

I debugged and checked value of strDate and it is a valid DateTime format.
Can anyone tell me how can I handle this change in system's DateTime format.

Additional Code:
I am saving my DateTimePicker value as a string to database and then on form load i am assigning same value to my DateTimePicker..... but if in between i change my system's datetime format i am getting error

//ScheduleEveryStart is a string which is getting saved in to database
clsGlobal.Configuration.ScheduleEveryStart = Convert.ToString(dtpStart.Value);

//load form code
dtpStart.Value = (clsGlobal.Configuration.ScheduleEveryStart == "") ? System.DateTime.Now : Convert.ToDateTime(clsGlobal.Configuration.ScheduleEveryStart);

Thanks,
Nagendra.

Posted 17-Apr-11 19:33pm

nagendrathecoder

Updated 18-Apr-11 23:52pm

v4

Add a Solution

Comments

Pong D. Panda 18-Apr-11 1:54am

Did mahen25's solution work? If not, post your other code. I dont see any problem with your current code, unless you store your date data in your database as varchar with your old format.

nagendrathecoder 18-Apr-11 2:26am

Well, you are correct.
I am doing all this in a configuration settings form.
I am saving a DateTimePicker value into database as a string and on form load i am again assigning that database value to DateTimePicker, this is where error is coming.

Pong D. Panda 18-Apr-11 2:48am

can you add the datetime data that causes an error?

nagendrathecoder 18-Apr-11 2:57am

Value of ScheduleEveryStart in database is "3/24/2011 12:07:48 PM".
My system's short data format is dd-MMM-yy means today's date is getting displayed as "18-Apr-11".

Dalek Dave 18-Apr-11 3:34am

Edited for Grammar and Readability.

4 solutions

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Kim Togo · Answer 1 · 2011-04-17T23:21:00

The best way (I think) is to store Date/Time in database as a Date/Time type column.
When you then retrieve the Date/Time from the database and what to display it for the user. Then you can do DateTime.ToString(...).

Always save you Date/Time in a DateTime class, and when it is time to display it in UI to the user, then convert it.
Do not convert back and forth.

But if you have to save a Date/Time to a string and save it to a database. Then call

DateTime.ToString("s")

The Sortable ("s") Format Specifier[^]

dtpStart.Value = (clsGlobal.Configuration.ScheduleEveryStart == "") ? System.DateTime.Now : DateTime.ParseExact(clsGlobal.Configuration.ScheduleEveryStart, "s", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

Pong D. Panda · Answer 2 · 2011-04-17T21:04:00

Solution 3

If you dont need the time you can call your code like this.

string[] strs = s.Split(' ');

if (strs.Length > 1) {
   DateTime dt = Convert.ToDateTime(strs[0]);
}

The idea is strip out the time that causing the conversion error.

OR try this approach

C#

string dateString = "01/31/2011";
string pattern = "d/M/yyy h:mm:ss tt"; //more info below
DateTime parsedDate = DateTime.Now;

if (DateTime.TryParseExact(dateString, pattern, null, DateTimeStyles.None, out parsedDate)){
   //parsedDate
   //ready to be used
   //....
}

Pattern to use[^]

Hope this works.

Posted 17-Apr-11 21:04pm

Pong D. Panda

Updated 17-Apr-11 23:31pm

v2

Comments

Dalek Dave 18-Apr-11 3:35am

Seems reasonable.

nagendrathecoder 18-Apr-11 3:40am

Thanks for answering...... i'll check this solution but i guess i need time component also.

Pong D. Panda 18-Apr-11 3:45am

if you need the time component, you can always add it to your converted DateTime by calling strs[1], remember that the converted date will default to 0:00:00

Pong D. Panda 18-Apr-11 5:31am

check my update solution

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 18-Apr-11 4:39am

Why not? 5+

nagendrathecoder 19-Apr-11 5:52am

Hey Pong, thanks for your help, i found out a way to avoid errors.
I am now saving dates in the form of ticks in database and it is not showing any error while reading and converting to DateTime.

Pong D. Panda 19-Apr-11 5:59am

Sweet! Good job!

Ciumac Sergiu · Answer 3 · 2011-04-17T20:34:00

Solution 2

Hi,
have you tried DateTime.Parse method. Theoretically, the method should take care in recognizing the right format - http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/1k1skd40.aspx[^]
Regards

Posted 17-Apr-11 20:34pm

Ciumac Sergiu

Comments

nagendrathecoder 18-Apr-11 2:38am

Yes, i even tried DateTime.Parse but its giving same error.
The documentation shows culture specific examples.
Mine problem is i am not changing my culture, i am just changing my datetime format.

Dalek Dave 18-Apr-11 3:34am

Good Answer.

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 18-Apr-11 4:38am

d'accord! 5+

Mahendra.p25 · Answer 4 · 2011-04-17T19:37:00

Solution 1

try this link

ClickHere[^]

Posted 17-Apr-11 19:37pm

Mahendra.p25

Comments

nagendrathecoder 18-Apr-11 2:24am

Hi Mahen, thanks for your answer. But this will work only if i know my system's datatime format in advance.
Here, i can change my datetime format to anything, in this case the solution will fail.

Dalek Dave 18-Apr-11 3:34am

Good Link

Manfred Rudolf Bihy 18-Apr-11 4:38am

Nice link! 5+

[Solved] Problem converting string to DateTime after changing System's DateTime format

4 solutions

Solution 4

Solution 3

Solution 2

Solution 1

Add your solution here

Preview 0

Existing Members

...or Join us