WPF XAML StringFormat DateTime: Output in wrong culture?

user_62910 0
Viewed 75141

I'm having some trouble with the output of a DateTime value. My computer's current culture is set to de-AT (Austria).

The following code

string s1 = DateTime.Now.ToString("d");
string s2 = string.Format("{0:d}", DateTime.Now);

results in s1 and s2 both having the correct value of "30.06.2009".

But when using the same format in XAML

    <TextBlock Text="{Binding Source={x:Static sys:DateTime.Now}, StringFormat=d}"/>

the output is `"6/30/2009". It seems the XAML StringFormat ignores the current culture settings. This happens on both Vista and XP.

I don't want to specify a custom format, because the output should be formatted in the user's preferred culture setting.

Anybody with the same problem? Is this a bug in WPF?

datetime xaml wpf c#
6 Answers
Anders_220920
Nir_35090

you could use a IValueConverter (which takes in a culture parameter) and format the value as you wish, something I like is this nullable converter by Matt Hamilton

class NullableDateTimeConverter : ValidationRule, IValueConverter
{
public override ValidationResult Validate(object value, CultureInfo cultureInfo)
{
    if (value == null || value.ToString().Trim().Length == 0) return null;

    return new ValidationResult( 
        ConvertBack(value, typeof(DateTime?), null, cultureInfo) != DependencyProperty.UnsetValue,
        "Please enter a valid date, or leave this value blank");
}

#region IValueConverter Members
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
    if (value == null) return "";
    DateTime? dt = value as DateTime?;
    if (dt.HasValue)
    {
        return parameter == null ? dt.Value.ToString() : dt.Value.ToString(parameter.ToString());
    }
    return ""; 
} 

public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
    if (value == null || value.ToString().Trim().Length == 0) return null;
    string s = value.ToString();

    if (s.CompareTo("today") == 0) return DateTime.Today;
    if (s.CompareTo("now") == 0) return DateTime.Now;
    if (s.CompareTo("yesterday") == 0) return DateTime.Today.AddDays(-1);
    if (s.CompareTo("tomorrow") == 0) return DateTime.Today.AddDays(1);

    DateTime dt; 
    if (DateTime.TryParse(value.ToString(), out dt)) return dt; 

    return DependencyProperty.UnsetValue; 
}  
#endregion

}

heres the original

user_1044240
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