Need to format dates in dynamically built WPF DataGrid

Question

We are binding an unknown result set to a WPF DataGrid at run time. Some of our columns are going to contain DateTime values and we need to properly format these date time fields. Without knowing which columns are going to be DateTime fields at design time, how are we able to format the columns at runtime?

We are using a DataTable's DefaultView to bind to the WPF DataGrid.

ΩmegaMan · Accepted Answer · 2019-09-17 13:42:03Z

49

Format the binding by StringFormat:

<DataGridTextColumn Header="Fecha Entrada" 
                    Width="110"  
                    Binding="{Binding EnterDate, StringFormat={}\{0:dd/MM/yyyy hh:mm\}}"
                    IsReadOnly="True" />

I think it's better than writing code behind pieces of code

edited Sep 17, 2019 at 13:42

ΩmegaMan

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answered Aug 21, 2009 at 21:04

Junior Mayhe

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5 Comments

gideon Over a year ago

grr.. :( gives me markup errors .. works only like this : Binding="{Binding Date, StringFormat=\{0:dd-MMM-yyyy\}}

Xenan Over a year ago

This works, but only after removing the \'s: Binding="{Binding date, StringFormat={}{0:dd/MM/yyyy}}"

Jack B Nimble Over a year ago

Works for me as stated in the answer.

Erez Over a year ago

I don't understand why it's the favorite answer, the case is that the columns are dynamic and what you did is hard coded. Am I missing something ?!

Disillusioned Over a year ago

Doesn't this imply you need to know the columns at design time? ... Contrary to the requirement.

Nikhil Agrawal · Accepted Answer · 2012-06-14 12:07:33Z

33

I figured out how to do this in code...hopefully there is a way to mimic this in XAML. (Please post if you find a working XAML sample.)

To accomplish this in code, add an event handler for the Grid's AutoGeneratingColumn event, such as:

private void ResultsDataGrid_AutoGeneratingColumn(object sender, DataGridAutoGeneratingColumnEventArgs e)
{
    if (e.PropertyType == typeof(DateTime))
    {
        DataGridTextColumn dataGridTextColumn = e.Column as DataGridTextColumn;
        if (dataGridTextColumn != null)
        {
            dataGridTextColumn.Binding.StringFormat = "{0:d}";
        }
    }
}

edited Jun 14, 2012 at 12:07

Nikhil Agrawal

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answered May 11, 2009 at 20:51

FarrEver

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4 Comments

paul Over a year ago

or, if you need another date format: dataGridTextColumn.Binding.StringFormat = "{0:dd.MM.yyyy}";

stuicidle Over a year ago

((DataGridTextColumn)e.Column).Binding.StringFormat = "{0:d}";

kenjara Over a year ago

This is the answer. The rest do not deal with dynamic generation. (auto generate columns on)

PeteH Over a year ago

Just in the general case, I couldn't make this event fire when I also set AutoGenerateColumns="False". But given the name of the event, not really surprising.

Libi James · Accepted Answer · 2009-12-03 08:21:32Z

23

Hey you can set the locale culture info in the constructor of the WPF form as

this.Language = XmlLanguage.GetLanguage(CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.IetfLanguageTag);

Or you can include the xml markup xml:lang="en-GB" in the window header markup

answered Dec 3, 2009 at 8:21

Libi James

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2 Comments

Stefan Schmiedl Over a year ago

wow ... I need to find where this is documented, maybe there are more gems like this to be found

3-14159265358979323846264 Over a year ago

One of the best answer ever. EVER!

MAXE · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-01 08:14:20Z

8

<DataGridTextColumn Header="Last update"
    Width="110"
    IsReadOnly="True"
    Binding="{Binding Path=Contact.TimeUpdate, StringFormat={}\{0:dd/MM/yyyy hh:mm\}, Mode=OneWay}" />

answered Sep 1, 2011 at 8:14

MAXE

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Comments

Bryan Anderson · Accepted Answer · 2009-05-11 18:26:05Z

7

I would use a DataTemplate with a DataType of Date or DateTime (depending on which it will come through as). Place a TextBlock in the DataTemplate with a StringFormat in the binding.

Something like this should work (untested)

<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type DateTime}">
    <TextBlock Text="{Binding StringFormat={0:d}}"  />
</DataTemplate>

Or if you want it to apply just in the Grid

<wpfToolkit:DataGrid>
    <wpfToolkit:DataGrid.Resources>
        <DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type DateTime}">
            <TextBlock Text="{Binding StringFormat={0:d}}"  />
        </DataTemplate>
    </wpfToolkit:DataGrid.Resources>
    ...
</wpfToolkit:DataGrid>

edited May 11, 2009 at 18:26

answered May 11, 2009 at 16:59

Bryan Anderson

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5 Comments

FarrEver Over a year ago

Is it possible to apply this template to just the DateTime values in the Grid and not the window/application?

Bryan Anderson Over a year ago

Yes, throw it in <Grid.Resources>

FarrEver Over a year ago

Bryan - I have the code in there but the grid is still coming up with the original formatting. I even created a value converter to format any DateTime values to a specified format. I placed a breakpoint in the formatter and it never hit the code. Seems like the DateTime type is not being used as a template in the Grid. Any ideas on this? Maybe we need a DataGridColumn converter or something.

FarrEver Over a year ago

Is there a way to possibly do this in code after setting the ItemSource on the grid?

Bryan Anderson Over a year ago

What kind of DataGridColumn are you using? Try using a Custom Column and using a ContentPresenter as the template for it. This will use the supplied DataTemplate if there is one, otherwise it will use a TextBlock with the Text property bound to the object's ToString method.

Francisco Campos · Accepted Answer · 2011-06-09 20:32:25Z

3

dataGridTextColumn.Binding.StringFormat = "{0:dd/MM/yyyy}";

worked beautifuly

answered Jun 9, 2011 at 20:32

Francisco Campos

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Comments

Rashed DIP · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-26 22:23:45Z

2

i run this way. its work complete .

<TextBlock  Text="{Binding Date_start,  StringFormat=\{0:dd-MM-yyyy\}, Mode=OneWay}" />

answered Feb 26, 2015 at 22:23

Rashed DIP

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Comments

Aleksander · Accepted Answer · 2009-09-02 12:59:48Z

The answer of FarrEver, May 11 is good, but by me it doens't function. i still get American mm/dd/yyy instead my German dd/mm/yyyy. So I propose to find the regional settings of computer and use it in StringFormat

    Private Sub DGrid_AutoGeneratingColumn(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As Microsoft.Windows.Controls.DataGridAutoGeneratingColumnEventArgs)
    If e.PropertyType Is GetType(DateTime) Then
        Dim dataGridTextColumn As DataGridTextColumn = TryCast(e.Column, DataGridTextColumn)
        If dataGridTextColumn IsNot Nothing Then
            Dim ShortDatePattern As String = System.Globalization.DateTimeFormatInfo.CurrentInfo.ShortDatePattern
            dataGridTextColumn.Binding.StringFormat = "{0:" + ShortDatePattern + "}" '"{0:dd/MM/yyyy}"
        End If
    End If
End Sub

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