System Namespace   DateTime Structure

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Converts the specified string representation of a date and time to its DateTime equivalent. The format of the string representation must match a specified format exactly.

1. Converts the specified string representation of a date and time to its DateTime equivalent using the specified format and culture-specific format information. The format of the string representation must match the specified format exactly.

2. Converts the specified string representation of a date and time to its DateTime equivalent using the specified format, culture-specific format information, and style. The format of the string representation must match the specified format exactly.

3. Converts the specified string representation of a date and time to its DateTime equivalent using the specified array of formats, culture-specific format information, and style. The format of the string representation must match at least one of the specified formats exactly.

The below code snippet demonstrates using the ParseExact method.

NOTE: This example shows how to use one of the overloaded versions of ParseExact. For other examples that might be available, see the individual overload topics.

[ VB ]
Dim strMyDateTime As String
strMyDateTime = "2/16/1992 12:15:12"

' myDateTime gets Feburary 16, 1992, 12 hours, 15 min and 12 sec.
Dim myDateTime As System.DateTime
myDateTime = System.DateTime.Parse ( strMyDateTime )

Dim format As New System.Globalization.CultureInfo ( "fr-FR", True )

' Reverse month and day to conform to a different format.
Dim strMyDateTimeFrench As String
strMyDateTimeFrench = "    16/02/1992 12:15:12"

' myDateTimeFrench gets Feburary 16, 1992, 12 hours,
' 15 min and 12 sec.
Dim myDateTimeFrench As System.DateTime
myDateTimeFrench = System.DateTime.Parse ( _
                           strMyDateTimeFrench, _
                           format, _
                           System.Globalization. _
                              DateTimeStyles.NoCurrentDateDefault )

Dim expectedFormats As String ( ) = { "G", "g", "f", "F" }
' myDateTimeFrench gets Feburary 16, 1992, 12 hours,
' 15 min and 12 sec.
myDateTimeFrench = System.DateTime.ParseExact ( _
                              strMyDateTimeFrench, _
                              expectedFormats, _
                              format, _
                              System.Globalization. _
                                 DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces )

[ C# ]
string strMyDateTime = "2/16/1992 12:15:12";

// myDateTime gets Feburary 16, 1992, 12 hours, 15 min and 12 sec.
System.DateTime myDateTime =
   System.DateTime.Parse ( strMyDateTime );

System.IFormatProvider format =
   new System.Globalization.CultureInfo ( "fr-FR", true );

// Reverse month and day to conform to a different format.
string strMyDateTimeFrench = "    16/02/1992 12:15:12";

// myDateTimeFrench gets Feburary 16, 1992, 12 hours,
// 15 min and 12 sec.
System.DateTime myDateTimeFrench =
   System.DateTime.Parse ( strMyDateTimeFrench,
                    format,
                    System.Globalization.
                     DateTimeStyles.NoCurrentDateDefault );

string [ ] expectedFormats = { "G", "g", "f" ,"F" };
// myDateTimeFrench gets Feburary 16, 1992, 12 hours,
// 15 min and 12 sec.
myDateTimeFrench =
   System.DateTime.ParseExact ( strMyDateTimeFrench,
                        expectedFormats,
                        format,
                        System.Globalization.
                        DateTimeStyles.AllowWhiteSpaces );

DateTime Members

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