Error while converting string to datetime in c#

Question

I have a DateTime, i'm trying to convert it to string, then convert it back to DateTime to format it. But i keep getting "string isn't recognized as valid datetime string". Any ideas?

var data = list_2.Entries.Select(c => new clients { code = cli_code, last_backup = c.Name, last_backup_date = c.AsFile.ClientModified.ToLocalTime() }).LastOrDefault(); 
var last_backup_date = data.last_backup_date;
var last_backup_date_string = Convert.ToString(last_backup_date);
var last_backup_date_formatted = DateTime.ParseExact(last_backup_date_string, "dd/MM/yyyy HH:MM:ss", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
var today_date = DateTime.Today;

i can put the output from the data.last_backup_date if you'd like — Matthew Almeida
– Matthew Almeida, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 15:18
we need to see an example of how last_backup_date looks like — Daniele Sartori
– Daniele Sartori, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 15:20
What is the actual datatype of var last_backup_date = data.last_backup_date; since you need to convert it to string with this line Convert.ToString(last_backup_date); ? — Rand Random
– Rand Random, Commented Jun 23, 2020 at 15:21

mm8 · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-23 15:25:57Z

3

Since you already have a DateTime, you could just format it:

string s = last_backup_date.ToString("dd/MM/yyyy", System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);

There is no need to first convert it to a string and then try to convert it back to a DateTime. A DateTime object itself has no specific format by the way.

answered Jun 23, 2020 at 15:25

mm8

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6 Comments

Matthew Almeida Over a year ago

yeah, but that leaves my datetime as a string and thus i can't order it on my datagrid

mm8 Over a year ago

What do you mean? How would convert it to and back from a string make any difference?

Rand Random Over a year ago

@MatthewAlmeida - than you need to apply the format of the datetime object on your datagridcolumn in winforms eg. stackoverflow.com/questions/4033113/…

mm8 Over a year ago

You could format it in the DataGrid only if that's what you want.

Greg Over a year ago

@mm8 Straight forward, beat me to it. Good answer.

|

redevilliers · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-23 15:23:52Z

0

Can you try this?

Var last_backup_date_string = last_backup_date.ToString("dd/MM/yyyy HH:MM:ss", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture)

answered Jun 23, 2020 at 15:23

redevilliers

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2 Comments

Matthew Almeida Over a year ago

the string formatted, but the datetime continues the same

mm8 Over a year ago

@MatthewAlmeida: A DateTime object has no specific format...

Greg · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-23 15:34:23Z

Based on the information you have, the conversion should not be an issue. However, the problem area is probably in your ParseExact. Your current date format starts with month not the day. You should be able to do the format to display in your preferred manner.

Console.WriteLine($"{date.ToString("dd/MM/yyyy")}");
Console.WriteLine($"{date.ToString("MMMM dd, yyyy")}");
Console.WriteLine($"{date.ToString("MM-dd-yyyy")}");

Otherwise you could use the DateTime.Parse method or DateTime.TryParse so you do not have to specify the culture variation.

Example:

DateTime date;
var current = DateTime.Now.ToString();
if(DateTime.TryParse(current, out date))
     Console.WriteLine(date);

DateTime date;
var current = "6/22/2020 10:03:40 AM";
if(DateTime.TryParse(current, out date))
     Console.WriteLine($"{date:dd/MM/yyyy}");

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