Search code examples
asp.netlinqdateformatglobalization

ASP date format using client culture code-behind

I have an ASP.NET web application and data in a SQLServer DB.

What is the best way to display a date (extracted with LINQ) in the client's culture format, from code-behind.

I mean I have users from USA and from Europe, they want different formats: MM/dd/yyyy (US) or dd/MM/yyyy (UK)?

What I would like is something like:

from myData in dbContext.myFile 
         Where .../... 
   Select myFile.birthDate.ToString.(**some magic formating here**)

Update: Thanks to Darin for quick answer!

Tip: if using IE, don't forget to check what is the preferred lang in use: Look in Tools / Internet options / Languages

Solution

  • You could set the culture to auto in the <globalization> element of your web.config:

    <globalization culture="auto" uiCulture="auto" />

    which will use the culture of the client browser. Then simply use .ToString():

    <%= DateTime.Now.ToString() %>

    or ToShortDateString depending on the format you want.