Convert DateTime to string format("yyyyMMdd")

Question

i am having a problem converting a datetime which is in string format but iam not able to convert it to yyyyMMdd format.

my code is :

string tpoc = refSubClaim.BenefitsFolder.BenefitFolderIdNumber.ToString();
                                string[] tpocinfo = Regex.Split(tpoc,";");

                                for (int i = 0; i < tpocinfo.Length; i++)
                                {
                                    switch (i)
                                    {
                                        case 0:
                                            {
                               string[] tpoc2 = Regex.Split(tpocinfo[0], ",");
                               claimantAuxillaryRecord.TPOCDate2 = tpoc2[0].ToString();
                    claimantAuxillaryRecord.TPOCAmount2 = Convert.ToDecimal(tpoc2[1]);
                                            claimantAuxillaryRecord.FundingDelayedBeyondTPOCStartDate2 = tpoc2[2].ToString();
                                            }
                                            break;

Answer 1

To parse a DateTime, use one of the following methods:

• DateTime.Parse
• DateTime.ParseExact

You can parse date by exact format provided by you, or by culture-specific format (for details, see above links).

To return a DateTime as string in "yyyyMMdd" format, use this:

• DateTime.ToString("yyyyMMdd") (note upper-cased M's are for months and lower-cased m's for minutes) -- it will return desired string

Answer 2

You can convert your string to a DateTime value like this:

DateTime date = DateTime.Parse(something);

You can convert a DateTime value to a formatted string like this:

date.ToString("yyyyMMdd");

Answer 3

Based on the property names it looks like you are trying to convert a string to a date by assignment:

claimantAuxillaryRecord.TPOCDate2 = tpoc2[0].ToString();

It is probably due to the current UI culture and therefore it cannot interpret the date string correctly when assigned.

Answer 4

if you have a date in a string with the format "ddMMyyyy" and want to convert it to "yyyyMMdd" you could do like this:

DateTime dt = DateTime.ParseExact(dateString, "ddMMyyyy", 
                                  CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
dt.ToString("yyyyMMdd");

Answer 5

You could use DateTime.TryParse() instead of DateTime.Parse().
With TryParse() you have a return value if it was successful and with Parse() you have to handle an exception