NSDate always return UTC

Question

I am using NSDateFormatter to convert NSString into NSDate according to local timezone. but it always returns in UTC. I am using this code:

NSString *dateString = @"28-12-2015 04:58:10 PM";
NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
// this is imporant - we set our input date format to match our input string
// if format doesn't match you'll get nil from your string, so be careful
[dateFormatter setDateFormat:@"dd-MM-yyyy hh:mm:ss a"];
dateFormatter.timeZone = [NSTimeZone localTimeZone];
NSDate *dateFromString = [[NSDate alloc] init];
// voila!
dateFromString = [dateFormatter dateFromString:dateString];

In console I am getting this:

Printing description of dateFromString:
2015-12-28 11:28:10 +0000

Please help me to resolve this issue.

My dear Sudha, you will never get NSLog in local format, it will always be in GMT. :P — Anoop Vaidya, Dec 28 '15 at 11:38
@AnoopVaidya I want UIlocalNotification according to my current time. Can you please help me out — Sudha Tiwari, Dec 28 '15 at 11:42
@AnoopVaidya I have NSString and I want to change in NSDate according to current timezone and want to pass that date as firedate in UILocalNotification — Sudha Tiwari, Dec 28 '15 at 11:45
This question has nothing to do with date formatting and appears to be a question about local notifications. — trojanfoe, Dec 28 '15 at 13:00

Arun · Accepted Answer · 2015-12-28T17:35:26.163

1

Try changing the time zone to GMT

NSString *dateString = @"28-12-2015 04:58:10 PM";
NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
[dateFormatter setDateFormat:@"dd-MM-yyyy hh:mm:ss a"];    
[dateFormatter setTimeZone:[NSTimeZone timeZoneWithName:@"GMT"]];
dateFromString = [dateFormatter dateFromString:dateString];

In console I got

2015-12-28 16:58:10 +0000

edited Dec 28 '15 at 17:35

answered Dec 28 '15 at 11:35

Arun

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Still in UTC format. I want NSDate in localtime zone – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:37
Can you try giving timezone as [NSTimeZone timeZoneWithName:@"GMT"]. It worked for me. In console I got time correct time in 24 hour format – Arun Dec 28 '15 at 11:46
Can you show me the code – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:47
But the time you are getting is in GMT not in local time zone. I think the issue is not with date here – Arun Dec 28 '15 at 11:55
I also got this but local notification is not fired – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:55
The console output what you posted in question is in GMT. When GMT+5:30 is considered it is giving the correct time. Hope you are from India :) – Arun Dec 28 '15 at 11:58

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 28 '15 at 11:41

1

Every time you print NSDate either through NSLog or print or PO or anyother way it will print in GMT, there is no way to alter NSDate to save the date in your desired way.

What you can do it change the format using NSDateFormatter and store the date as string and use it.

answered Dec 28 '15 at 11:41

Anoop Vaidya

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How can I pass NSString as a fire date in UILocalNotification – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:42
Pass NSDate itself but set the locale/timezone as well – Anoop Vaidya Dec 28 '15 at 11:45
@SudhaTiwari: There is timezone method iin UILocalNotifation, did you set it? – Anoop Vaidya Dec 28 '15 at 11:47
Yes anoop. I wrote theNotification.timeZone = [NSTimeZone localTimeZone]; – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:48
But didn't get any notification – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:48
I want to fire notification on 28-12-2015 05:23:10 PM – Sudha Tiwari Dec 28 '15 at 11:49
May be you are missing some other thing, the issue is not with the NSDate here. – Anoop Vaidya Dec 28 '15 at 11:52
Please check this one : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/7429081/need-any-example-of-uilocalnotifications – Anoop Vaidya Dec 28 '15 at 11:53

score -1 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 28 '15 at 13:04

NSDate* date = nil;
NSDateFormatter*dateformatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
[dateformatter setDateFormat:@"yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss"];
date = [dateformatter dateFromString:time];
NSInteger interval = [[NSTimeZone defaultTimeZone] secondsFromGMT];
date = [date dateByAddingTimeInterval:interval];

NSDate always return UTC

3 Answers3