How to convert string to date time format in C#

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Hi,

I have a string like below which is I am converting to datetime format. I tried in below way. Is there any other way to do it. Expected outcome of string after formatting should be like yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss ms.

What I have tried:

StringBuilder myStringBuilder = new StringBuilder("20180215031530000");
myStringBuilder = myStringBuilder.Insert(4, "-");
myStringBuilder = myStringBuilder.Insert(7, "-");
myStringBuilder = myStringBuilder.Insert(10, " ");
myStringBuilder = myStringBuilder.Insert(13, ":");
myStringBuilder = myStringBuilder.Insert(16, ":");
myStringBuilder = myStringBuilder.Insert(19, ".");
DateTime dt = Convert.ToDateTime(myStringBuilder.ToString());

Posted 14-Feb-19 22:27pm

Telstra

Updated 15-Feb-19 0:32am

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3 solutions

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Richard MacCutchan · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-14T22:37:00

Solution 1

See DateTime.TryParse Method (System) | Microsoft Docs[^] for a better method.

Posted 14-Feb-19 22:37pm

Richard MacCutchan

TheRealSteveJudge · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-14T22:49:00

In addition to solution 1 a concrete example:

var originalTimeString = "20180215031530000";

DateTime dt;

var success = DateTime.TryParseExact(originalTimeString, "yyyyMMddhhmmssfff", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out dt);

if (success)
{
    var newTimeString = dt.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd hh:mm:ss fff");
}

Nevertheless please read the suggested documentation.

OriginalGriff · Accepted Answer · 2019-02-14T22:53:00

Solution 3

Don't do that.
Use DateTime.TryParseExact[^] instead of inserting delimiters:

string input = "20180215031530000";
DateTime dt;
if (!DateTime.TryParseExact(input, "yyyyMMddHHmmssfff", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out dt))
    {
    Console.WriteLine("Problem with input date");
    return;
    }
Console.WriteLine(dt);