Set DataFormatString for MVC3 DateTime

Question

I have some issue with displaying date correctly, using the MVC3 DateTime object.

In the controller, I set Date = DateTime.Now.

In ViewModel:

[Required(ErrorMessage = "Please enter a date")]
[DisplayFormat(ApplyFormatInEditMode = true, DataFormatString = "{0:dd.mm.yyyy}")]
public DateTime Date { get; set; }

In View:

@Html.LabelFor(m => Model.Date, "Date") 
@Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => Model.Date) 
@Html.TextBoxFor(m => Model.DatoForIntervju, new { @class = "datepicker" })

Output:

<input class="datepicker" (...) value="26.09.2011 13:26:16" />

However, I want the value to be 26.09.11.

Why doesn't it work?

Solution 1

change

[DisplayFormat(ApplyFormatInEditMode = true, DataFormatString = "{0:dd.mm.yyyy}")]

to

[DisplayFormat(ApplyFormatInEditMode = true, DataFormatString = "{0:dd.MM.yy}")]

Then, instead of textboxfor, use

@Html.EditorFor(m => m.Date)

Solution 2

Your viewModel correct (only thing is you need to use "yy" if you want to show short year in C#), but I don't understand what do you do with this code

@Html.LabelFor(m => Model.Date, "Date")
@Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => Model.Date) 
@Html.TextBoxFor(m => Model.DatoForIntervju, new { @class = "datepicker" })

I show you how I add datepicker, in this example date shows and return from view in correct format:

    @Html.EditorFor(m => m.Date) 
    @Html.ValidationMessageFor(m => m.Date)

    <script type="text/javascript">
        $(document).ready(function () {
            $('#Date').datepicker({ firstDay: 1, dateFormat: 'dd.mm.yy', clickInput: true });
        });
    </script>

Comments

[Sparkle]

Good Answer! Had this problem myself with textboxfor. I find this to to be a helpful resource for string format which you may find useful for reference: maconstateit.net/tutorials/aspnet20/ASPNET02/aspnet02-07.asp‌​x

[mistertodd]

Since {0:dd.mm.yyyy} includes the time, wouldn't {0:dd.mm.yy} also?

[Suncat2000]

Yes it would. The format string should be {0:dd.MM.yyyy} or {0:dd.MM.yy}.

[Romias]

mm = minutes, MM = months