How can I convert a DateTime variable in a LINQ expression?

Question

Given this expression:

var q = (from c in db.ContattiTitoliStudio
                     where ...
                     orderby c.Data descending
                     select new
                     {
                         c.ID,
                         Date = c.Data.ToString("MM dd, YYYY"),
                     });

c.Data is nullable , but also with a non-nullable var is the same: " ...No overload for method 'ToString' takes 1 arguments... "

I tried nullable , not nullable, with (c.Data.=null)... , with String.Format , with DateTime.Parse , etc... But I can't format c.Date the way I want.

In SQL Server I use datetime as the type.

If I use normal Date = c.Date this will be displayed as "01/01/2011 0.0.00".

Answer 1

Make use of Nullable(ie?? operator) Operation which is exists in C#

var q = (from c in db.ContattiTitoliStudio
                     where ...
                     orderby c.Data descending
                     select new
                     {
                         c.ID,
                         Date = (c.Data ?? DateTime.MinValue).ToString("MM dd, YYYY"),
                     });

Note: DateTime.MinValue is used when the value of c.Data is null which used to avoid null

Answer 2

Have you tried this?

Date = c.Data.HasValue ? c.Data.Value.ToString("MM dd, YYYY") : string.Empty

Answer 3

Ok,finally this is the solution:

var test= from e in db.Employees.ToList() select new {Time= e.Date.ToString()};

from msdn forums:

http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/adodotnetentityframework/thread/208396f4-0406-41c6-b55f-0d8bb5d14b2c

Answer 4

You didn't tell us, but I'm guessing that ContattiTitoliStudio.Data is Nullable<DateTime> . In this case, you should say

Date = c.Data.HasValue ? "null" : c.Data.Value.ToString("MM dd, YYYY")