How to convert culture specific double using TypeConverter?

Question

Hi, I have a problem with the TypeConverter class. It works fine with CultureInvariant values but cannot convert specific cultures like English thousands separators. Below is a small test program that I cannot get to work.

Here's the problem :) - ConvertFromString throws an exception with the following message "2,999.95 is not a valid value for Double." and with the inner exception "Input string was not in a correct format.".

using System;
using System.Globalization;
using System.ComponentModel;

class Program
{
    static void Main()
    {
        try
        {
            var culture = new CultureInfo("en");
            var typeConverter = TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(typeof(double));
            double value = (double)typeConverter.ConvertFromString(
                null, 
                culture, 
                "2,999.95");

            Console.WriteLine("Value: " + value);
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Error: " + e.Message);
        }
    }
}

Edit: Link to the bug report on Connect

Answer 1

The DoubleConverter that is obtained from TypeDescriptor.GetConverter(typeof(double)) end ups calling Double.Parse with the following arguments:

Double.Parse(
    "2,999.95", 
    NumberStyles.Float, 
    (IFormatProvider)culture.GetFormat(typeof(NumberFormatInfo)));

The problem is that NumberStyles.Float does not allows thousands separators and that's why you are getting the problem. You can submit this on Microsoft Connect or see if anybody else had the same problem.

If Double.Parse is called also with NumberStyles.AllowThousands the problem would not occur.

Double.Parse(
    "2,999.95", 
    NumberStyles.Float | NumberStyles.AllowThousands, 
    (IFormatProvider)culture.GetFormat(typeof(NumberFormatInfo)));