How to convert DateTime? to DateTime

Question

I want to convert null able datetime "DateTime?" to DateTime. But i am getting error. I have done this like following:

DateTime UpdatedTime = (DateTime)_objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate == null ? DateTime.Now : _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate;

But i am getting error:

Cannot implicitly convert type 'System.DateTime?' to 'System.DateTime'. An explicit conversion exists (are you missing a cast?)

Any help??

Answer 1

You need to call the Value property of the nullable DateTime. This will return a DateTime.

Assuming that UpdatedDate is DateTime?, then this should work:

DateTime UpdatedTime = (DateTime)_objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate == null ? DateTime.Now : _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value;

To make the code a bit easier to read, you could use the HasValue property instead of the null check:

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.HasValue
                          ? _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value
                          : DateTime.Now;

This can be then made even more concise:

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate ?? DateTime.Now;

Answer 2

Try this:

DateTime UpdatedTime = (DateTime)_objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate == null ? DateTime.Now : _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.Value;

Answer 3

How about the following:

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.HasValue ? _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.value : DateTime.Now;

Answer 4

Try this

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate ?? DateTime.Now;

Answer 5

You want to use the null-coalescing operator, which is designed for exactly this purpose.

Using it you end up with this code.

DateTime UpdatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate ?? DateTime.Now;

Answer 6

MS already made a method for this, so you dont have to use the null coalescing operator. No difference in functionality, but it is easier for non-experts to get what is happening at a glance.

DateTime updatedTime = _objHotelPackageOrder.UpdatedDate.GetValueOrDefault(DateTime.Now);