Convert a string to a date in .net

Question

I'm reading text from a flat file in c# and need to test whether certain values are dates. They could be in either YYYYMMDD format or MM/DD/YY format. What is the simplest way to do this in .Net?

score 30 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 29 '20 at 11:16

30

string[] formats = {"yyyyMMdd", "MM/dd/yy"};
var Result = DateTime.ParseExact(input, formats, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, DateTimeStyles.None);

or

DateTime result;
string[] formats = {"yyyyMMdd", "MM/dd/yy"};
DateTime.TryParseExact(input, formats, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out result);

More info in the MSDN documentation on ParseExact and TryParseExact.

edited Dec 29 '20 at 11:16

Kols

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answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:40

Paul van Brenk

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This is better than mine. Didn't know you could do a string array for formats. Very nice! – John Sheehan Sep 23 '08 at 19:42
Even better! Just what I needed. – JoshL Sep 23 '08 at 19:57
Make sure you check the return value of DateTime.TryParseExact(...) as that will be the only way you can tell if it succeeded or not. – Adrian Clark Sep 24 '08 at 00:11

Steven A. Lowe · Answer 2 · 2008-09-25T18:37:43.463

4

DateTime.TryParse method

edited Sep 25 '08 at 18:37

answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:35

Steven A. Lowe

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Since I can't edit your answer, I thought it might help to provide a link to the MSDN article for that method. http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ch92fbc1.aspx – Sean Hanley Sep 23 '08 at 19:39
[@Yadyn]: i figured the intellisense would be enough, but ok i added the link to be thorough - thanks! – Steven A. Lowe Sep 25 '08 at 18:38

score 4 · Answer 3 · answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:47

4

you could try also TryParseExact for set exact format. method, here's documentation: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms131044.aspx

e.g.

DateTime outDt;
bool blnYYYMMDD = 
     DateTime.TryParseExact(yourString,"yyyyMMdd"
                            ,CultureInfo.CurrentCulture,DateTimeStyles.None
                            , out outDt);

I hope i help you.

answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:47

stefano m

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Dude! That is so useful, I lost nearly an hour over this, even though I know I've done it before somewhere. – NeedHack Mar 31 '09 at 08:46

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:43

0

You can also do Convert.ToDateTime

not sure the advantages of either

answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:43

Sara Chipps

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score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:46

0

Using TryParse will not throw an exception if it fails. Also, TryParse will return True/False, indicating the success of the conversion.

Regards...

answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:46

Josh Stodola

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score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Sep 23 '08 at 19:49

You can use the TryParse method to check validity and parse at same time.

DateTime output;
string input = "09/23/2008";
if (DateTime.TryParseExact(input,"MM/dd/yy", DateTimeFormatInfo.InvariantInfo, DateTimeStyles.None, out output) || DateTime.TryParseExact(input,"yyyyMMdd", DateTimeFormatInfo.InvariantInfo, DateTimeStyles.None, out output))
{
    //handle valid date
}
else
{
    //handle invalid date
}

Convert a string to a date in .net

6 Answers6

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