how do I change the way a DateTime object is displayed in a DataGridView

Question

I would like to change the way a DateTime object is displayed in a DataGridView. Specifically, I would like to have seconds displayed with the time.

c# .net 2.0

Answer 1

dataGridView1.Columns[0].DefaultCellStyle.Format = "MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm:ss";

For specific formatting, check out these links:

• Standard Date and Time Format Strings
• Custom Date and Time Format Strings

Answer 2

Here's examples of 3 different ways:

• format string on the cell template
• cell-formatting event
• custom type converter

Any use?

using System;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Windows.Forms;
public class MyData
{
    public DateTime A { get; set; }
    public DateTime B { get; set; }
    public DateTime C { get; set; }
    [TypeConverter(typeof(CustomDateTimeConverter))]
    public DateTime D { get; set; }
}
class CustomDateTimeConverter : DateTimeConverter
{
    public override object ConvertTo(ITypeDescriptorContext context, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture, object value, Type destinationType)
    {
        if (destinationType == typeof(string))
        {
            return ((DateTime)value).ToString("dd-MM-yyyy HH:mm:ss");
        }
        return base.ConvertTo(context, culture, value, destinationType);
    }
}
static class Program {
    [STAThread]
    static void Main()
    {
        DateTime when = DateTime.Now;
        var data = new BindingList<MyData>
        {
            new MyData { A = when, B = when, C = when }
        };
        using (var form = new Form())
        using (var grid = new DataGridView {
            AutoGenerateColumns = false,
            DataSource = data, Dock = DockStyle.Fill })
        {
            form.Controls.Add(grid);
            grid.Columns.Add(
                new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn {
                    HeaderText = "Vanilla",
                    AutoSizeMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.AllCells,
                    DataPropertyName = "A",
                });
            grid.Columns.Add(
                new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn {
                    HeaderText = "Format",
                    AutoSizeMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.AllCells,
                    DataPropertyName = "B",
                    DefaultCellStyle = { Format = "dd/MM/yyyy HH:mm:ss" }
                });
            grid.Columns.Add(
                new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn {
                    HeaderText = "CellFormatting",
                    AutoSizeMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.AllCells,
                    DataPropertyName = "C",
                });
            grid.CellFormatting += (sender, args) =>
            {
                if (args.Value != null && args.ColumnIndex == 2
                    && args.DesiredType == typeof(string))
                {
                    args.Value = ((DateTime)args.Value).ToString("dd MM yyyy HH:mm:ss");
                }
            };
            grid.Columns.Add(
                new DataGridViewTextBoxColumn {
                    HeaderText = "TypeConverter",
                    AutoSizeMode = DataGridViewAutoSizeColumnMode.AllCells,
                    DataPropertyName = "D",
                });
            Application.Run(form);
        }
    }

}