Convert a specific format dateTime string to DateTime in C#

Question

I have a formatted datetime string and I want to convert it back to DateTime but when I parse or convert that string to DateTime it throws exceptio that string is not a valid dateTime.

Here is how DateTime string is created

string temp = dt.Year.ToString("D4") + 
              dt.Month.ToString("D2") + 
              dt.Day.ToString("D2") + 
              dt.Hour.ToString("D2") + 
              dt.Minute.ToString("D2") + 
              dt.Second.ToString("D2");

and here is how i am parsing it back to DateTime

 DateTime dtchk = DateTime.Parse(temp);

Looks like your `dt` _already_ a `DateTime`? Why don't you use it instead? What is your `temp` looks like when you debug your code? — Soner Gönül, Jun 17 '15 at 06:54
possible duplicate of [Parse string to DateTime in C#](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/5366285/parse-string-to-datetime-in-c-sharp) — Andrey Korneyev, Jun 17 '15 at 06:54
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/21906935/how-to-initialize-a-datetime-field/21906992#21906992 — thomas, Jun 17 '15 at 06:55
(OT) you could also use `string temp = dt.ToString("yyyyMMddHHmmss");` to create that string. Which is also the format you need to parse. — Hans Keﬆing, Jun 17 '15 at 07:27

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 17 '15 at 07:10

Yes it is but this is happening in a different module.

I don't even understand what is that mean. I think you just need;

DateTime dtchk = dt;

Nothing more. But anyway.. I try to explain;

Since "D" format specifier generates string representation with leading zeros if your string length is less than precision specifier, your temp will be the combination of these wider formats of months, day, hour etc..

And DateTime.Parse parses your string successfully if this string is a standard date and time format of your CurrentCulture. In your case, it is not.

You need to parse your string with ParseExact to specify your formats exactly.

DateTime dtchk = DateTime.ParseExact(temp, "yyyyMMddHHmmss", null);

Convert a specific format dateTime string to DateTime in C#

1 Answers1