Convert a string to a date in .net

Question

I'm reading text from a flat file in c# and need to test whether certain values are dates. They could be in either YYYYMMDD format or MM/DD/YY format. What is the simplest way to do this in .Net?

Answer 1

string[] formats = {"yyyyMMdd", "MM/dd/yy"};
var Result = DateTime.ParseExact(input, formats, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, DateTimeStyles.None);

or

DateTime result;
string[] formats = {"yyyyMMdd", "MM/dd/yy"};
DateTime.TryParseExact(input, formats, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out result);

More info in the MSDN documentation on ParseExact and TryParseExact.

Answer 2

you could try also TryParseExact for set exact format. method, here's documentation: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms131044.aspx

e.g.

DateTime outDt;
bool blnYYYMMDD = 
     DateTime.TryParseExact(yourString,"yyyyMMdd"
                            ,CultureInfo.CurrentCulture,DateTimeStyles.None
                            , out outDt);

I hope i help you.

Answer 3

DateTime.TryParse method