CodeProject: Date Control Better then DateTimePicker. Free source code and programming help

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16 votes for this article.

Popularity: 4.35 Rating: 3.61 out of 5

Sample Image - Better_Date_Time_Picker.gif

Background

In a database application Date data type handling is a bit difficult as compared to other data types and getting input by keyboard is required some extra efforts. Common solution to this problem is the DateTimePicker control provided by Microsoft. Unfortunately DateTimePicker is not best suited for fast data entry via keyboard that is always required in a database driven applications. I have got several complains from end users that he don�t want to use mouse for date selection or when entering date in DateTimePicker via keyboard require extra keys has to be pressed from moving cursor from one day part to next and so on. This is the motivation behind the development of a new DateTimePicker, which will enable users to enter data fast and in alternate ways either by keyboard or by using mouse.

Introduction

What I have done is, created a textbox masked control to input date via keyboard and also attached a DateTimePicker control to input date via mouse .It also has the functionality to validate user input if the date is not valid than the text color is displayed in red. Also set its property �IsValid� to false. To validate date what I have done is a trick just set the value of DateTimePicker with value entered in TextBox , DateTimePicker will generate an exception for invalid date value and the color will change to red.

Using The Control

It is quite easy to use like other controls just add to your toolbox drop on the form you want to use. I am giving you people here the over view of properties that can be used while in design time and run time

I have tried to expose properties just like DateTimePicker so that if you are going to replace DateTimePicker from your existing project with this one you don�t have to change your code.

Custom Properties, events, methods, their description and reason why I have created

the specific is as follows:

Properties

Value

Returns the value in the form of date; same as of DateTimePicker

Day

Is same as in DateTimePicker�s �Value.Day� statement, but u will get one step in advance, simply �Control1.Day�.

Month

Is same as in DateTimePicker�s �Value.Month� statement, but u will get one step in advance, simply �Control1.Month�.

Year

Is same as in DateTimePicker�s �Value.Year� statement, but u will get one step in advance, simply �Control1.Year�.

SQL Value

The specific property required when using the value of DateTimePicker with SQLServer, Because SQL Server requires a date format of �yyyy\MM\dd� to work fine .This property returns the Formated Date.

DateFormat

Specify Date Format you want to use, currently there are three supported formats DMY,MDY,YDM

IsValid

A ReadOnly property that return the state of the control. This property can be used for validating form input before submitting back to DBMS.

AllowNull

This property is being used to replace the checkbox that is displayed with default DateTimePicker, that often create problem whenever you try to check or uncheck it in code. So for now, when we need to have Null-able date column, this property will be used either to Allow null or not, it will return null if textbox is empty means user doesn�t want to enter the date.

Events

ValueChanged

You can write your custom code for the value changed event as we write for DateTimePicker.

Methods

Clear

It can be used to clear the date if AllowNull is set to true then it will set value property to Null and clear the text of the control otherwise set the control text to current date and value accordingly.

About The Author

anti.genius@yahoo.com

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

Muhammad Abubakar Dar

Member

Occupation:	Software Developer (Senior)
Company:	Systems Limited
Location:	Pakistan

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Msgs 1 to 9 of 9 (Total in Forum: 9) (Refresh)

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Recommendations to a great control

kevinlkingma

6:03 8 Dec '08

Hi:

Just some recommendations on a great control. First, add code to the GotFocus event to highlight the text in the date:

Private Sub TextBox_GotFocus(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.GotFocus
MyBase.SelectAll()
End Sub

Second: Add code to the KeyDown event that allows you to delete the highlighted text in the date control when the user presses the BACKSPACE key:

Select Case e.KeyCode
Case Keys.Back
If e.Shift Then
Me.ShiftBackSpace()
Else
'Added 12/8/2008 to allow all selected text to be deleted
If MyBase.SelectionLength > 0 AndAlso MyBase.ReadOnly = False Then
Me.DeleteSelTxt()
Else
Me.BackSpace()
End If
End If

Kevin

5.00/5 (1 vote)

.NET 2.0

Suneelan

2:56 5 Oct '07

Hi, Did you notice that when allownull set to true, if first time selected todays date its not showing that value in masked text box. if you select any other date, its showing. Do you have any idea why its doing like that? and If you have solution can you post it here. Thanks! Suneela
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C# Source File

Mary_m

8:33 14 Sep '07

Hi It is exactly what I am looking for.but I need C# source file urgent. Can Help me.and say me how use as a user control. Thanks
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.67/5 (3 votes)

DataBinding

cagla12

10:30 11 May '07

I can not bind data in sql server to betterdatetimepicker. Is there any method to solve this problem?
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (1 vote)

Password for Source?

Daryl_Saunders

18:14 26 Jan '07

What's the password for the source? It works great but I want to add more functions to it.
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (1 vote)

Not quite there

l2l2

23:53 16 Nov '06

Had to make a few changes to account for 8 char dates (02/02/06)

Change this function dtpDate_TextChanged to the following.

Private Sub dtpDate_TextChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles dtpDate.TextChanged
		Try

			Select Case Me.DateFormat
				Case DateFormatTypes.DMY
					Me.txtDate.Text = getDTPFormatedValue(Me.dtpDate.Value.ToString("dd/MM/yyyy"))
					Me.strValue = Me.dtpDate.Value.ToString("dd/MM/yyyy")

				Case DateFormatTypes.MDY
					Me.txtDate.Text = getDTPFormatedValue(Me.dtpDate.Value.ToString("MM/dd/yyyy"))
					Me.strValue = Me.dtpDate.Value.ToString("MM/dd/yyyy")

				Case DateFormatTypes.YMD
					Me.txtDate.Text = getDTPFormatedValue(Me.dtpDate.Value.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd"))
					Me.strValue = Me.dtpDate.Value.ToString("yyyy/MM/dd")
			End Select

			Me.strValue = Me.dtpDate.Value
			'Error Property cleared because calender always returns a valid Date
			Me.txtDate.ForeColor = Color.Black
			Me.ValidInput = True

		Catch ex As Exception
			MsgBox(ex.Message, MsgBoxStyle.Exclamation, Me.Text)
		End Try
	End Sub

change this function getDTPFormatedValue to the following


	Private Function getDTPFormatedValue(ByVal val As String) As String
		Dim strFormatedString As String = ""

		If val.ToString.Length = 10 Then
			strFormatedString = val.ToString

		ElseIf val.ToString.Length < 9 And val.ToString.Length <> 8 Then
			strFormatedString = val.ToString.Insert(0, "0")
			strFormatedString.Insert(3, "0")

		ElseIf val.ToString.Length < 10 Then
			If val.ToString.Split("/")(0).Length = 1 Then
				strFormatedString = val.ToString.Insert(0, "0")

			ElseIf val.ToString.Split("/")(1).Length = 1 Then
				strFormatedString = val.ToString.Insert(3, "0")
			End If
		End If

		If strFormatedString = "" Then
			strFormatedString = val
		End If

		Return strFormatedString

	End Function

Data Binding

hwdevelop

8:42 16 Nov '06

Great control, can certainly use it for one of my project. However, it doesn't support data binding. Any chance you will update the control with DataBinding capabilities? Regards han
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.00/5 (2 votes)

Great control

Pinx

12:03 13 Nov '06

I am going to try this control. It is exactly what I am looking for. We build planning software, so there's a lot of dates involved. It looks like you put a lot of effort in making it not only user-friendly, but also 'developer-friendly'. Thanks
Sign In·View Thread·PermaLink	1.57/5 (3 votes)

Excellent for superfast date entry!

CygNuZ

23:50 9 Oct '06

I honestly can't believe nobody commented on this control before.

It is exactly what i was looking for:

you type 10102006 and you get 10/10/2006

you go to the beginning and type 11122006 and you get 11/12/2006

you can still choose a date from a calendar view

you want to chance month 12 to 09 -> you put cursor just before the 12 and type 09 or you put cursor just after the 12 and do Shift+Backspace two times and type 09

Kudos to you for this superfast date entry control!

2.00/5 (3 votes)

Last Visit: 21:57 7 Nov '09 Last Update: 21:57 7 Nov '09

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