Parse C# string to DateTime

Question

I have a string like this: 250920111414

I want to create a DateTime object from that string. As of now, I use substring and do it like this:

string date = 250920111414;

int year = Convert.ToInt32(date.Substring(4, 4));
int month = Convert.ToInt32(date.Substring(2, 2));
...
DateTime dt = new DateTime(year, month, day ...);

Is it possible to use string format, to do the same, without substring?

Even if it were, I don't think you'd gain anything - this looks like an entirely reasonable and readable approach. — Jeremy McGee
– Jeremy McGee, Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 9:08
@JeremyMcGee I dont find it that readable actually, i'd prefer Jons approach — user604613
– user604613, Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 9:10
It's readable for me, but were several people on the project. — hogni89
– hogni89, Commented Sep 28, 2011 at 9:21

Justin · Accepted Answer · 2014-09-17 17:24:40Z

26

Absolutely. Guessing the format from your string, you can use ParseExact

string format = "ddMMyyyyHHmm";

DateTime dt = DateTime.ParseExact(value, format, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

or TryParseExact:

DateTime dt;
bool success = DateTime.TryParseExact(value, format, 
                     CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out dt);

The latter call will simply return false on parse failure, instead of throwing an exception - if you may have bad data which shouldn't cause the overall task to fail (e.g. it's user input, and you just want to prompt them) then this is a better call to use.

EDIT: For more details about the format string details, see "Custom Date and Time Format Strings" in MSDN.

edited Sep 17, 2014 at 17:24

Justin

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answered Sep 28, 2011 at 9:08

Jon Skeet

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9 Comments

Tadeusz Over a year ago

Do you really remember all those simple but useful solutions by heart or you have a big big big dictionary near your hand? :)

Jon Skeet Over a year ago

@Praetor12: For basics like DateTime.ParseExact I remember the method names, but sometimes get the parameters wrong - as I did here, first time :)

Kangkan Over a year ago

Jon Skeet is simply awesome! Sometimes I feel like having a +1000 button as well.

Tadeusz Over a year ago

@Jon Skeet I told not about methods names, but about format strings. In C# there are so many "formats". May be there is a total list of them. Msdn has only sparse examples in different articles :(

Zeph Over a year ago

Sometimes stackoverflow gives me that warm & cozy feeling. Like when I need to find info on reversing a custom DateTime.ToString() and I know that Jon Skeet will have answered it. And he did...

|

Marco · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-28 09:09:22Z

4

You could use:

DateTime dt = DateTime.ParseExact(
                  date, 
                  "ddMMyyyyHHmm",
                  CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

answered Sep 28, 2011 at 9:09

Marco

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Comments

Arturo Vázquez · Accepted Answer · 2019-06-24 16:35:21Z

0

string iDate = "05/05/2005";
DateTime oDate = Convert.ToDateTime(iDate);
DateTime oDate = DateTime.ParseExact(iString, "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm tt",null);

DateTime Formats

answered Jun 24, 2019 at 16:35

Arturo Vázquez

1

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