how to store c# datetime in text database field

Question

I have built a dynamic form system, that accepts types of textfields, dropdowns and datetimes.

The form answers are also dynamic, everything is stored as text, or a text version of the id to the dropdown answer.

For datetimes, I want to know what the best format to serialise a c# datetime to text is, purely to use for seralisation. I already have to and from Unix tics extension working, which I could use for this as well as my javascript calls. But I feel there is a better option.

Obviously DateTime.Parse will be used on the way back, but what to use on the way out?

Do you need only dates or also times? Do you need to execute queries on these fields or not? — Steve
– Steve, Commented Jul 7, 2012 at 14:22

Jon Skeet · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-07 14:17:04Z

4

You'd just use ToString with an appropriate standard or custom date/time format string.

However, you need to be very careful about this:

I'd suggest using CultureInfo.InvariantCulture to perform the conversion (and likewise when parsing) to avoid culture-specific values
You need to consider whether to also serialize the Kind of the DateTime. Are these always local, universal or unspecified DateTime values? Should you actually use DateTimeOffset and serialize the offset too?
What precision do you need?
What else will be reading this data? A "standard" format such ISO-8601 might be a good idea, potentially extended to maintain the same precision as DateTime itself. (The standard o or O format string will produce ISO-8601 strings.)

answered Jul 7, 2012 at 14:17

Jon Skeet

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to StackOverflow · Accepted Answer · 2012-07-07 14:22:57Z

0

For round-tripping DateTime values the obvious solution is to use the "o" format specifier.

Unless you have constraints on the length of the string, and are prepared to sacrifice either precision, the Kind property (UTC or Local), or both. In this case use a custom format string that meets your needs.

answered Jul 7, 2012 at 14:22

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