how to insert null Datetime in database with entity framework codefirst

Question

my model includes a nullable datetime property.Im using CodeFirst

 public DateTime? GoDate { get; set; }

I would like to insert a nullvalue into that field but EF inserts the usual 00/00/0001 date instead of null, which also gives me an error.

im using microsoft sql server 2012.

DateTime? date = null;
var entity = new Model()
                {
                    GoDate = date
                };

DataContext.Models.Add(entity);
DataContext.SaveChanges();

give me the error.

The conversion of a datetime2 data type to a datetime data type resulted in an out-of-range value.\r\nThe statement has been terminated.

That is because sql server datetime cant have 00/00/0001, which EF automatically generates once it inserts a null datetime into the database.

I want to insert null into the db.

Which database are you using? SQL Server? When you say it "gives [you] an error", what error do you receive? Are you using DB first or code first? — akton
– akton, Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 0:13
Using Nullable<DateTime> or DateTime? should make it accept NULL. Is the column in the database marked as "NOT NULL"? — akton
– akton, Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 0:30
in the database the field is marked as NULL.Again the problem is that entity framework generates a datetime value of 00/00/0001 if the datetime is null and the sql server doesnt have 00/00/0001 for date.I need to stop entity generating that default value. — Aflred
– Aflred, Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 0:31
Check the generated SQL when doing SaveChanges() and post it here. — Alaa Masoud
– Alaa Masoud, Commented Oct 26, 2014 at 0:57

ta.speot.is · Accepted Answer · 2014-10-26 01:01:58Z

18

EF inserts the usual 00/00/0001 date instead of null

There's nothing usual about it. Left to its own devices, EF 6.1 inserts NULL.

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            var DataContext = new StackOverflowContext();

            DateTime? date = null;
            var entity = new Model()
            {
                GoDate = date
            };

            DataContext.Models.Add(entity);
            DataContext.SaveChanges();
        }
    }

    class Model
    {
        public int ModelId { get; set; }

        public DateTime? GoDate { get; set; }
    }

    class StackOverflowContext : DbContext
    {
        public DbSet<Model> Models { get; set; }
    }
}

enter image description here

It's most likely your mappings or database schema are wrong.

answered Oct 26, 2014 at 1:01

ta.speot.is

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Comments

Sérgio Carneiro · Accepted Answer · 2021-09-22 01:59:55Z

4

You can use something like this in your model. then sending null from your controller will work fine.

 [DataType(DataType.Date)]
        [DisplayFormat(DataFormatString = "{0:yyyy-MM-dd}", ApplyFormatInEditMode = true)]
        [Display(Name = "Date")]
        public DateTime? Date { get; set; }

Notice the ? after DateTime.

edited Sep 22, 2021 at 1:59

Sérgio Carneiro

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answered Nov 30, 2016 at 15:40

user6243946

1 Comment

loganjones16 Over a year ago

I notice the "?" after the DateTime, but not before?

Sapan Ghafuri · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-09 11:00:15Z

3

Or you can just set like this:

var entity= new Model
{
    GoDate = (DateTime?) null
}
DataContext.Models.Add(entity);
DataContext.SaveChanges();

I think it is a little bit cleaner.

answered Mar 9, 2016 at 11:00

Sapan Ghafuri

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Comments

surfmuggle · Accepted Answer · 2023-08-18 07:28:44Z

1

You Can use this :

Nullable<DateTime> date=null;
var entity = new Model()
{
    GoDate = date
};

DataContext.Models.Add(entity);
DataContext.SaveChanges();

edited Aug 18, 2023 at 7:28

surfmuggle

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answered Feb 10, 2016 at 2:13

Senior Omarsoft Taiz

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