C# datetime parse issue

Question

When trying to convert date/time from string to DateTime, I'm not getting the correct value.

DateTime testDate = DateTime.ParseExact("2012-08-10T00:51:14.146Z", "yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.fffZ",    CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.AssumeUniversal);

And my result is 2012-08-09 8:51:14 PM. Why is it being offset? I just want it to be the same value going in.

Answer 1

You are parsing the UTC date but the DateTime.Kind is local. You should parse with DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal to mark the Kind as Utc.

        DateTime testDate = DateTime.ParseExact("2012-08-10T00:51:14.146Z", "yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.fffZ", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.AssumeUniversal);

        Trace.WriteLine(testDate);  //  8/9/2012 8:51:14 PM
        Trace.WriteLine(testDate.ToString()); //  8/9/2012 8:51:14 PM
        Trace.WriteLine(testDate.ToUniversalTime()); //  8/10/2012 12:51:14 AM
        Trace.WriteLine(testDate.Kind); // Local

       testDate = DateTime.ParseExact("2012-08-10T00:51:14.146Z", "yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.fffZ", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal);

        Trace.WriteLine(testDate);//  8/10/2012 12:51:14 AM
        Trace.WriteLine(testDate.ToString());//  8/10/2012 12:51:14 AM
        Trace.WriteLine(testDate.ToUniversalTime());//  8/10/2012 12:51:14 AM
        Trace.WriteLine(testDate.Kind); // Utc

Answer 2

You should use DateTimeStyles.AdjustToUniversal. The input DateTime is already universal, and the AdjustToUniversal enum option will convert the input to local time though you will get a resultant Kind of DateTimeKind.Unspecified.