I parse c# object that has DateTime property with JsonNet and then I post it to the server. But it returns that the date format is wrong. It request to be with format like this:
"/Date(1327572000000-1000)/"
How can I convert c# DateTime to this format?
Since you asked how to serialize with this format using JSON.NET:
// Set the DateFormatHandling wherever you are configuring JSON.Net.
// This is usually globally configured per application.
var settings = new JsonSerializerSettings
{
DateFormatHandling = DateFormatHandling.MicrosoftDateFormat
};
// When you serialize, DateTime and DateTimeOffset values will be in this format.
string json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(yourDateTimeValue, settings);
However, I highly recommend you do NOT use this format unless you absolutely have to, usually for purposes of compatibility with old code. The ISO-8601 format is preferred (de facto) format for dates and times in JSON.
See also: On the nightmare that is JSON Dates.
This is how WCF essentially serializes DateTime values (note that non-UTC values include information about current time zone)
public static string MsJson(DateTime value)
{
long unixEpochTicks = new DateTime(1970, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, DateTimeKind.Utc).Ticks;
long ticks = (value.ToUniversalTime().Ticks - unixEpochTicks) / 10000;
if (value.Kind == DateTimeKind.Utc)
{
return String.Format("/Date({0})/", ticks);
}
else
{
TimeSpan ts = TimeZone.CurrentTimeZone.GetUtcOffset(value.ToLocalTime());
string sign = ts.Ticks < 0 ? "-" : "+";
int hours = Math.Abs(ts.Hours);
string hs = (hours < 10)
? "0" + hours
: hours.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
int minutes = Math.Abs(ts.Minutes);
string ms = (minutes < 10)
? "0" + minutes
: minutes.ToString(CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
return string.Format("/Date({0}{1}{2}{3})/", ticks, sign, hs, ms);
}
}
