ASP.NET inline scripting

Question

I have a DateTime object that I need to print in a custom gridlike control. The type of the data I want to print is a date in the format dd-mm-yyyy. This value can be either filled or blank. If it's filled it will be parsed into a DateTime and then printed as the default ToString.

For each row, I can use

<CellTemplate>
    <asp:Literal ID="Literal2" runat="server" Text="<%# Container.Value %>"></asp:Literal>
</CellTemplate>

But this prints the default long version of the date. I'd like the format from ToShortDateString().

So I tried modifying to:

<CellTemplate>
    <asp:Literal ID="Literal2" runat="server" Text="<%# Convert.ToDateTime(Container.Value).ToShortTimeString()%>"></asp:Literal>
</CellTemplate>

This works as intended.

Now I have a problem with empty dates,

Convert.ToDateTime()

On an empty string, it will print the default DateTime.

Is there a way that I can fashion an If-Statement in my aspx code, to only perform Convert.ToDateTime, if it's not an empty string?

Mark Cidade · Accepted Answer · 2008-11-24 14:23:18Z

2

Container.Value.Length > 0 ? Convert.ToDateTime(Container.Value).ToShortTimeString() : ""

You should also be able to pass Container.Value to any method in scope that you've defined.

answered Nov 24, 2008 at 14:23

Mark Cidade

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Comments

Bob · Accepted Answer · 2008-11-24 14:24:39Z

0

You can have a protected method in your code behind which does the checking for you

protected static string ConvertDate(object date) {
    if (date == null)
       return string.Empty;
    return Convert.ToDateTime(date).ToShortTimeString();
}

answered Nov 24, 2008 at 14:24

Bob

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7 Comments

user1228 Over a year ago

You can do this and avoid boxing by using DateTime? (nullable)

Jesper Jensen Over a year ago

This is a great idea. And ultimately my fallback solution. I would however like to learn how to do this purely inside the apsx page.

Bob Over a year ago

It depends on what type of object is returned from the data source

Jesper Jensen Over a year ago

I believe the type is a string

Bob Over a year ago

You should be able to use marxidad's answer. Try putting his script block straight into the cell template without the literal <CellTemplate> <%# Container.Value.Length > 0 ? Convert.ToDateTime(Container.Value).ToShortTimeString() : "" %> </CellTemplate>

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