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MVC4 - Convert Blank Date TextBoxFor Field

Is there a way to format null dates (01-01-1900) in MVC4

Currently, I have:

 
@if (Model.DOB == Convert.ToDateTime("01-01-1900"))
            {
                @Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.DOB, new { @Value = "", @class = "textbox150" })
            }
            else
            {
            @Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.DOB, new { @Value = Model.DOB.ToShortDateString(), @class = "textbox150" })
            }

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But to do that for all date fields makes a lot of work.
Is there a way around this.

If so, can someone please provide a detailed example.

thanks.

Bob Learned

You could use Nullable<DateTime> (or DateTime?), and then get the value this way:

var displayDate = model.BirthDate.HasValue ? model.BirthDate.Value.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd") : "";

elmbrook

ASKER

How would that work?

I get an error message when I put in
@Html.TextBoxFor(model => model.DOB.HasValue ? model.DOB.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd") : "", new { @class = "textbox150" })

'System.DateTime' does not contain a definition for 'HasValue' and no extension method 'HasValue' accepting a first argument of type 'System.DateTime' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?)

Bob Learned

How is DOB defined in the model?

You should be able to add a ? to the DateTime declaration:

Example:

public DateTime? DOB { get; set; }

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When working with nullable value types (like int or DateTime), it can introduce other issues, but you should be able to check if the property has a value (model.DOB.HasValue).

elmbrook

ASKER

I have put the code in the View, not the controller.

This is how DOB is defined.

  [EdmScalarPropertyAttribute(EntityKeyProperty=false, IsNullable=false)]
        [DataMemberAttribute()]
        public global::System.DateTime DOB
        {
            get
            {
                return _DOB;
            }
            set
            {
                OnDOBChanging(value);
                ReportPropertyChanging("DOB");
                _DOB = StructuralObject.SetValidValue(value);
                ReportPropertyChanged("DOB");
                OnDOBChanged();
            }
        }

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Bob Learned

You need to change it to a nullable type:

public global::System.DateTime

becomes

public global::System.DateTime?

elmbrook

ASKER

It won't allow me to do that.

I am in my model designer and when I add a question mark after it, it gives me errors (see screen shot attached).
24-10-2014-9-39-48-a-m-.jpg

Bob Learned

If you are using the Entity Framework designer, then I would have thought that it generated the property type as DateTime?. If it is not Entity Framework, then what do you use to design the data model?

elmbrook

ASKER

I am using entity framework. My database table fields are all set to not null.
There are no null dates in the database, all I am trying to handle is 01-01-1900 (blank dates).
That was the only way that I could think off on handling blank dates but that means for every date I have to write that code.
I was hoping to find a better solution of handling blank dates.

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Bob Learned

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elmbrook

ASKER

Bob - The solutions provided are just that, solutions.
I think my original solution is the way to go, it just means I have to process each date manually.

thank you for your time and input.