CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#asp.netdatetimedate
Whimsical
Whimsical

Reputation: 6355

Setting dateTime.ToString() format centrally

How do i set the DateTime format centrally so that at any time if I use a DateTime.ToString() in my code I get string in the ISO format(eg:2008-2-19 01:00:00) or (2008-2-19)

Upvotes: 3

Views: 10232

Answers (6)

codingbadger
codingbadger

Reputation: 44042

You should use CultureInfo to control the format when using DateTime.ToString()

Once you have set the CurrentCulture on your Current Thread then try the following:

DateTimeFormatInfo format = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat;
string dateTime = DateTime.Now.ToString(format.FullDateTimePattern);

Upvotes: 3

Oren A
Oren A

Reputation: 5900

I think the requested format i.e. DateTIme.Now.ToString() will have a very bad influence on your code readability (and maintainability..). Trying to override a well known behavior with a custom one is bad practice.
What I do consider a good way to use it is like so: DateTIme.Now.ToString(IsDefaultFormat).
Now all you need to do is add an extension method to DateTime Which receives a bool, and if that bool is set to true, returns the DateTime using your "default format"

Upvotes: 0

Whimsical
Whimsical

Reputation: 6355

With the help of Albin and Barry's answers iv got the following piece to code to set the Time format centrally in the Global.asax.

using System.Globalization;
using System.Threading;

protected void Application_BeginRequest()
        {
            CultureInfo standardizedCulture = (CultureInfo)CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Clone();
            standardizedCulture.DateTimeFormat.DateSeparator = "-";
            standardizedCulture.DateTimeFormat.LongDatePattern = "yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss";
            standardizedCulture.DateTimeFormat.FullDateTimePattern = "yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss";           
            standardizedCulture.DateTimeFormat.ShortDatePattern  = "yyyy-MM-dd"; 
            Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = standardizedCulture;
            Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentUICulture = standardizedCulture;
        }

Upvotes: 3

Albin Sunnanbo
Albin Sunnanbo

Reputation: 47068

You should update the System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture property.

This affects all DateTime.ToString() in the current thread.

Upvotes: 2

Iain
Iain

Reputation: 6472

You can add the time format as parameter to the tostring, i always use this for reference

Dim d = DateTime.Parse("2008-2-19 01:00:00")
Assert.AreEqual("2008-2-19 01:00:00", d.ToString("yyyy-M-dd HH:mm:ss"))

http://www.geekzilla.co.uk/View00FF7904-B510-468C-A2C8-F859AA20581F.htm

Regards

Iain

Upvotes: 2

Retired_User
Retired_User

Reputation: 1595

You can use extension methods to extend datetime and create a ToISOString().

check out http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb383977.aspx on ways to accomplish it. In the extension method you can use parameters to format the string the way you need, then you can use DateTime.ToISOString(); You could also use cultureinfo as Barry said, but I don't know if it will fit your needs.

Upvotes: 1

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