convert string to date

Question

how can i convert a date in a string to a DateTime type, even when the date does not conform to what the .net library supports.

"dec 2 2009" 
"dec 2, 2009"
"dec 2009"
"december 2009"
"dec. 2009"
"dec. 2, 2009"
and so on

is there a library for this?

assume us date format

Answer 1

Try:

MyDateTime = DateTime.ParseExact(MyString, "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm tt", null);

...or whatever the appropriate date format is...

Reference: DateTime.ParseExact

Answer 2

"even when the date does not conform to what the .net library supports."

"is there a library for this?"

So you want a library, for when the library doesn't support it?

Obviously, people have probably written other date/time string parsers before, but none of them is going to be exhaustive for anything you might ever possibly need - just find something that works with the formats you expect.

Answer 3

Check out the DateTime.ParseExact at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/w2sa9yss.aspx coupled with the custom formats at http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/8kb3ddd4.aspx.

Here's an example:

...
DateTime.TryParseExact(s, "%M %d yyyy", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out resultDateTime)
...

Answer 4

if i understand your question

you can try with

ParseExact

E.g : DateTime.ParseExact(sDate, "mm/dd/yyyy", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);