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Convert date from Hijri Calendar to Gregorian Calendar and vise versa

By , 20 Nov 2004
 

Introduction

The main objective for this class is to convert between two calendars, the main advantage of this class is that it is very rich in overloaded function. So you can choose the best format you need.

Using the code

At the beginning, I defined variable cur of type System.Web.HttpContext. This variable will show any error happen during function execution but you have to turn Trace to true (in the ASP.NET page) in order to see error.

After that, I defined arCulture of type CultureInfo.

CultureInfo class represents information about specific culture, you have to specify this culture in the class constructor by giving the culture identifier. For e.g., "ar-SA" stands for Arabic-Saudi Arabia.

Also I defined h of type HijriCalendar. This variable represents instance of HijriCalendar class.

Now, how can I specify which calendar to use for a specific culture in case there is more than one calendar in one culture?

arCul.DateTimeFormat.Calendar=h;

Also, I declared an array allFormats, which contains the main possible formats for passed date, you can add your formats as well.

Where this array works?

When I am converting the string to DateTime format, I need to provide formats to match the string with the date.

DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(hijri,allFormats,
          arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);

There are two main functions in this class which are involved in converting dates:

public string HijriToGreg(string hijri)

You have to pass the Hijri date in string format, the returned string is equivalent Gregorian date and it will be in this format "yyyyMMdd", if you want another format then use the overloaded function and pass the format as second parameter.

The second function is:

public string GregToHijri(string greg)

This function is the opposite of the above one. Also it is overloaded for format.

Now for the rest of the class, I added additional functions which I think it's important in date manipulation, I provided each function with a small and easy to understand brief.

Deployment

You have to add this class to ASP.NET C# web project in order to compile correctly, then make an instance for this class in your ASP.NET page:

Dates d=new Dates();

Good luck.

////////////////////////////////////Attention///////////
///This library has been wrote by : Anas Reslan Bahsas
///if you are going to use it please dont remove this line .        
///you have to add this class to a asp.net web project to work well.
///I will be grateful to receive any commments or 
//suggestion to anasbahsas@hotmail.com
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
using System;
using System.Web;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Data;
using System.Collections;

namespace Bahsas
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Summary description for Dates.
    /// </summary>
    public class Dates
    {
        private HttpContext cur;
        
        private const int startGreg=1900;
        private const int endGreg=2100;
        private string[] allFormats={"yyyy/MM/dd","yyyy/M/d",
            "dd/MM/yyyy","d/M/yyyy",
            "dd/M/yyyy","d/MM/yyyy","yyyy-MM-dd",
            "yyyy-M-d","dd-MM-yyyy","d-M-yyyy",
            "dd-M-yyyy","d-MM-yyyy","yyyy MM dd",
            "yyyy M d","dd MM yyyy","d M yyyy",
            "dd M yyyy","d MM yyyy"};
        private CultureInfo arCul;
        private CultureInfo enCul;
        private HijriCalendar h;
        private GregorianCalendar g;
            
        public Dates()
        {
            cur = HttpContext.Current;

            arCul=new CultureInfo("ar-SA");
            enCul=new CultureInfo("en-US");

            h=new  HijriCalendar();
            g=new GregorianCalendar(GregorianCalendarTypes.USEnglish);

            arCul.DateTimeFormat.Calendar=h;
            
        }
        
           /// <summary>
        /// Check if string is hijri date and then return true 
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="hijri"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public bool IsHijri(string hijri)
        {
            if (hijri.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("IsHijri Error: Date String is Empty");
                return false;
            }
            try
            {    
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(hijri,allFormats,
                     arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                if (tempDate.Year>=startGreg && tempDate.Year<=endGreg)
                    return true;
                else
                    return false;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("IsHijri Error :"+hijri.ToString()+"\n"+
                                  ex.Message);
                return false;
            }

        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Check if string is Gregorian date and then return true 
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="greg"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public bool IsGreg(string greg)
        {
            if (greg.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("IsGreg :Date String is Empty");
                return false;
            }
            try
            {    
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(greg,allFormats,
                    enCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                if (tempDate.Year>=startGreg && tempDate.Year<=endGreg)
                    return true;
                else
                    return false;
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("IsGreg Error :"+greg.ToString()+"\n"+ex.Message);
                return false;
            }

        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Return Formatted Hijri date string 
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="date"></PARAM>
        /// <PARAM name="format"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string FormatHijri(string date ,string format)
        {
            if (date.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("Format :Date String is Empty");
                return "";
            }
            try
            {                       
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(date,
                   allFormats,arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return tempDate.ToString(format,arCul.DateTimeFormat);
                            
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("Date :\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }

        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Returned Formatted Gregorian date string
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="date"></PARAM>
        /// <PARAM name="format"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string FormatGreg(string date ,string format)
        {
            if (date.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("Format :Date String is Empty");
                return "";
            }
            try
            {
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(date,allFormats,
                    enCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return tempDate.ToString(format,enCul.DateTimeFormat);
                            
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("Date :\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }

        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Return Today Gregorian date and return it in yyyy/MM/dd format
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string GDateNow()
        {
            try
            {
                return DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd",enCul.DateTimeFormat);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("GDateNow :\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Return formatted today Gregorian date based on your format
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="format"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string GDateNow(string format)
        {
            try
            {
                return DateTime.Now.ToString(format,enCul.DateTimeFormat);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("GDateNow :\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        } 
        
        /// <summary>
        /// Return Today Hijri date and return it in yyyy/MM/dd format
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string HDateNow()
        {
            try
            {
                return DateTime.Now.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd",arCul.DateTimeFormat);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("HDateNow :\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Return formatted today hijri date based on your format
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="format"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>

        public string HDateNow(string format)
        {
            try
            {
                return DateTime.Now.ToString(format,arCul.DateTimeFormat);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("HDateNow :\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
            
        }
        
        /// <summary>
        /// Convert Hijri Date to it's equivalent Gregorian Date
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="hijri"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string HijriToGreg(string hijri)
        {
            
            if (hijri.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("HijriToGreg :Date String is Empty");
                return "";
            }
            try
            {
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(hijri,allFormats,
                   arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return tempDate.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd",enCul.DateTimeFormat);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("HijriToGreg :"+hijri.ToString()+"\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Convert Hijri Date to it's equivalent Gregorian Date
    /// and return it in specified format
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="hijri"></PARAM>
        /// <PARAM name="format"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string HijriToGreg(string hijri,string format)
        {
            
            if (hijri.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("HijriToGreg :Date String is Empty");
                return "";
            }
            try
            {
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(hijri,
                   allFormats,arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return tempDate.ToString(format,enCul.DateTimeFormat);
                
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("HijriToGreg :"+hijri.ToString()+"\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Convert Gregoian Date to it's equivalent Hijir Date
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="greg"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string GregToHijri(string greg)
        {
            
            if (greg.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("GregToHijri :Date String is Empty");
                return "";
            }
            try
            {
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(greg,allFormats,
                    enCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return tempDate.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd",arCul.DateTimeFormat);
                
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("GregToHijri :"+greg.ToString()+"\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Convert Hijri Date to it's equivalent Gregorian Date and
     /// return it in specified format
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="greg"></PARAM>
        /// <PARAM name="format"></PARAM>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string GregToHijri(string greg,string format)
        {
            
            if (greg.Length<=0)
            {
                
                cur.Trace.Warn("GregToHijri :Date String is Empty");
                return "";
            }
            try
            {
                
                DateTime tempDate=DateTime.ParseExact(greg,allFormats,
                    enCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return tempDate.ToString(format,arCul.DateTimeFormat);
                
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("GregToHijri :"+greg.ToString()+"\n"+ex.Message);
                return "";
            }
        }
        
        /// <summary>
        /// Return Gregrian Date Time as digit stamp
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string GTimeStamp()
        {
            return GDateNow("yyyyMMddHHmmss");
        }
        /// <summary>
        /// Return Hijri Date Time as digit stamp
        /// </summary>
        /// <returns></returns>
        public string HTimeStamp()
        {
            return HDateNow("yyyyMMddHHmmss");
        }

                
        /// <summary>
        /// Compare two instaces of string date 
    /// and return indication of thier values 
        /// </summary>
        /// <PARAM name="d1"></PARAM>
        /// <PARAM name="d2"></PARAM>
        /// <returns>positive d1 is greater than d2,
    /// negative d1 is smaller than d2, 0 both are equal</returns>
        public int Compare(string d1,string d2)
        {
            try
            {
                DateTime date1=DateTime.ParseExact(d1,allFormats,
                    arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                DateTime date2=DateTime.ParseExact(d2,allFormats,
                    arCul.DateTimeFormat,DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces);
                return DateTime.Compare(date1,date2);
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                cur.Trace.Warn("Compare :"+"\n"+ex.Message);
                return -1;
            }

        }

        
    }
}

License

This article has no explicit license attached to it but may contain usage terms in the article text or the download files themselves. If in doubt please contact the author via the discussion board below.

A list of licenses authors might use can be found here

About the Author

Anas Bahsas
Web Developer
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
Member
he is working now as Analyst Developer for Ebbon-Dacs, ,he implemnted projects for Goverment and Companys using C# , XML WebService , ASP.NET ,MSSQL 2000.
 
he also like to read about Security , Network programming specially in C#...
 
he is focusing now on software engineering and design patterns in C#.

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Comments and Discussions

 
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GeneralMy vote of 5membermohamedenew25 Jan '13 - 22:44 
thanks
QuestionThank you,memberReaper Liu16 Aug '12 - 5:30 
Thank you,It's so smart
QuestionThank YoumemberKushannc8 May '12 - 20:07 
Hi!!
 
I'm developing a software system for a mosque these days. I was frustrated in manipulating Hijri dates. But I found your project named "Convert date from Hijri Calendar to Gregorian Calendar and vise versa". I went through your class file and It was very comprehensive. Now I have developed the system even with all the functionalists which I wanted to put there using your class file. I have no words to thank you. I really admire your grateful effort. My E-mail address is kushan.nc2@gmail.com. If you may need any help and hope that I can help you, please send me a E-mail. I would like to help you. Thanks again.
 

Kushan Randima.
Software Engineer (DigiteQ Solutions PVT LTD)
QuestionThank you very muchmemberAhmedMido858 Apr '12 - 23:21 
Thank you very much
GeneralThank youmemberMember 829810412 Feb '12 - 18:45 
Thank you for this useful class. I changed it a little bit for more accuracy, but the seed is your for sure. Thanks.
GeneralMy vote of 5membereslam.badawy23 Oct '11 - 12:09 
nice class, thanks man
Questionwrong calculationmemberAbdul Sami_8 Oct '11 - 1:27 
Salam aliakum,
 
If you convert if from one date to another format it shows wrong calculated date. For example if today is 10 Zilqud, it will not show you this date on mentioning '10-08-2011'. It is showing a different date.
Abdul Sami

GeneralMy vote of 5membersalemsalah27 Sep '11 - 5:43 
Reealy it takes things in mined and it good idea
GeneralMy vote of 4membere-life23 Jul '11 - 20:23 
thanks i used your code with some modification...
Mouhanad Alkhaldi
QuestionNeed little helpmemberBeaudeep31 Oct '09 - 12:57 
Dear Anas
 
Actually well done Thumbs Up | :thumbsup: ,and I converted it to Vb.net and it works good , all Hijri dates show in textbox and grid view too Big Grin | :-D
 
but when I run using iis web server ,some dates show and some not Frown | :( , and I tried to change date format on PC regional option and still doesn't work
 
so any idea?
can anybody help?
 
,, thank you ,,

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