DisplayFormat data annotation using resource string

Question

I'd like to format my model data using the DisplayFormat data annotation, but I want to use the format string stored in resource file. I have been able to pass the resource type and name to some data annotations such as when specifying error messages. How do I tell DisplayFormat to get the format string from one of my resource files?

Darin Dimitrov · Accepted Answer · 2012-02-22 07:46:26Z

8

The standard DisplayFormat attribute doesn't allow you to do that. You could write a custom attribute to achieve this functionality:

[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property, AllowMultiple = false)]
public class LocalizedDisplayFormatAttribute : Attribute, IMetadataAware
{
    public string DataFormatStringResourceName { get; set; }
    public bool ApplyFormatInEditMode { get; set; }

    public void OnMetadataCreated(ModelMetadata metadata)
    {
        if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(DataFormatStringResourceName))
        {
            if (ApplyFormatInEditMode)
            {
                metadata.EditFormatString = MyMessages.ResourceManager.GetString(DataFormatStringResourceName);
            }
            metadata.DisplayFormatString = MyMessages.ResourceManager.GetString(DataFormatStringResourceName);
        }
    }
}

and then:

public class MyViewModel
{   
    [LocalizedDisplayFormat(DataFormatStringResourceName = "DobFormat", ApplyFormatInEditMode = true)]
    public DateTime Dob { get; set; }
}

and inside MyResources.resx you could have a DobFormat string value: {0:dd-MM-yyyy}.

edited Feb 22, 2012 at 7:46

answered Feb 22, 2012 at 7:39

Darin Dimitrov

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2 Comments

Matt Esch Over a year ago

I suspected I would have to do this myself. Thanks

CME64 Over a year ago

MyMessages should be MyResources right? it would have been perfect if it was passed as a type too

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