How to get client date and time in ASP.NET?

Question

When I use DateTime.Now I get the date and time from the server point of view. Is there any way to get the client date and time in ASP.NET?

Answer 1

I like the idea of either using the browser/system time and time zone or letting them select their time zone. In a past project I used something like this:

<script language="javascript"> function checkClientTimeZone() {     // Set the client time zone     var dt = new Date();     SetCookieCrumb("ClientDateTime", dt.toString());      var tz = -dt.getTimezoneOffset();     SetCookieCrumb("ClientTimeZone", tz.toString());      // Expire in one year     dt.setYear(dt.getYear() + 1);     SetCookieCrumb("expires", dt.toUTCString()); }  // Attach to the document onload event checkClientTimeZone(); </script> 

And then on the server:

/// <summary> /// Returns the client (if available in cookie) or server timezone. /// </summary> public static int GetTimeZoneOffset(HttpRequest Request) {     // Default to the server time zone     TimeZone tz = TimeZone.CurrentTimeZone;     TimeSpan ts = tz.GetUtcOffset(DateTime.Now);     int result = (int) ts.TotalMinutes;     // Then check for client time zone (minutes) in a cookie     HttpCookie cookie = Request.Cookies["ClientTimeZone"];     if (cookie != null)     {         int clientTimeZone;         if (Int32.TryParse(cookie.Value, out clientTimeZone))             result = clientTimeZone;     }     return result; } 

Or you can pass it in as a URL parameter and handle it in the Page_Load:

http://host/page.aspx?tz=-360 

Just remember to use minutes, since not all time zones are whole hours.