How to format TimeSpan in XAML

Question

I am trying to format a textblock which is bound to a TimeSpan property. It works if the property is of type DateTime but it fails if it is a TimeSpan. I can get it done using a converter. But I am trying to find out if there is any alternatives.

Sample Code:

public TimeSpan MyTime { get; set; }  public Window2() {     InitializeComponent();     MyTime = DateTime.Now.TimeOfDay;     DataContext = this; } 

Xaml

<TextBlock Text="{Binding MyTime,StringFormat=HH:mm}"/> 

I am expecting the textblock to show only hours and mintes. But it is showing as:

19:10:46.8048860

Answer 1

The format string is intended to work on a DateTime, not a TimeSpan.

You could change your code to work with DateTime.Now instead. Your xaml is fine:

<TextBlock Text="{Binding MyTime,StringFormat=HH:mm}"/> 

Update

And from .Net 4 format a TimeSpan as follows:

<TextBlock Text="{Binding MyTime,StringFormat=hh\\:mm}"/> 

Answer 2

In .NET 3.5 you could use a MultiBinding instead

<TextBlock>     <TextBlock.Text>         <MultiBinding StringFormat="{}{0}:{1}">             <Binding Path="MyTime.Hours"/>             <Binding Path="MyTime.Minutes"/>         </MultiBinding>     </TextBlock.Text> </TextBlock> 

Update
To answer the comments.

To make sure you output 2 digits even if hours or minutes is 0-9 you can use {0:00} instead of {0}. This will make sure the output for the time 12:01 is 12:01 instead of 12:1.
If you want to output 01:01 as 1:01 use StringFormat="{}{0}:{1:00}"

And Conditional formatting can be used to remove the negative sign for minutes. Instead of {1:00} we can use {1:00;00}

<TextBlock>     <TextBlock.Text>         <MultiBinding StringFormat="{}{0:00}:{1:00;00}">             <Binding Path="MyTime.Hours" />             <Binding Path="MyTime.Minutes" />         </MultiBinding>     </TextBlock.Text> </TextBlock>