[c#] How to compare only Date without Time in DateTime types in Linq to SQL with Entity Framework?

Is there a way to compare two DateTime variables in Linq2Sql but to disregard the Time part.

The app stores items in the DB and adds a published date. I want to keep the exact time but still be able to pull by the date itself.

I want to compare 12/3/89 12:43:34 and 12/3/89 11:22:12 and have it disregard the actual time of day so both of these are considered the same.

I guess I can set all the times of day to 00:00:00 before I compare but I actually do want to know the time of day I just also want to be able to compare by date only.

I found some code that has the same issue and they compare the year, month and day separately. Is there a better way to do this?

DateTime dt1 = DateTime.Now.Date;
DateTime dt2 = Convert.ToDateTime(TextBox4.Text.Trim()).Date;
if (dt1 >= dt2)
{
    MessageBox.Show("Valid Date");
}
else
{
    MessageBox.Show("Invalid Date... Please Give Correct Date....");
}

This is how I do this in order to work with LINQ.

DateTime date_time_to_compare = DateTime.Now;
//Compare only date parts
context.YourObject.FirstOrDefault(r =>
                EntityFunctions.TruncateTime(r.date) == EntityFunctions.TruncateTime(date_to_compare));

If you only use dtOne.Date == dtTwo.Date it wont work with LINQ (Error: The specified type member 'Date' is not supported in LINQ to Entities)

If you're using Entity Framework < v6.0, then use EntityFunctions.TruncateTime If you're using Entity Framework >= v6.0, then use DbFunctions.TruncateTime

Use either (based on your EF version) around any DateTime class property you want to use inside your Linq query

Example

var list = db.Cars.Where(c=> DbFunctions.TruncateTime(c.CreatedDate) 
                                       >= DbFunctions.TruncateTime(DateTime.UtcNow));

DateTime econvertedDate = Convert.ToDateTime(end_date);
DateTime sconvertedDate = Convert.ToDateTime(start_date);

TimeSpan age = econvertedDate.Subtract(sconvertedDate);
Int32 diff = Convert.ToInt32(age.TotalDays);

The diff value represents the number of days for the age. If the value is negative the start date falls after the end date. This is a good check.

DateTime? NextChoiceDate = new DateTime();
DateTIme? NextSwitchDate = new DateTime();
if(NextChoiceDate.Value.Date == NextSwitchDate.Value.Date)
{
Console.WriteLine("Equal");
}

You can use this if you are using nullable DateFields.

        int o1 = date1.IndexOf("-");
        int o2 = date1.IndexOf("-",o1 + 1);
        string str11 = date1.Substring(0,o1);
        string str12 = date1.Substring(o1 + 1, o2 - o1 - 1);
        string str13 = date1.Substring(o2 + 1);

        int o21 = date2.IndexOf("-");
        int o22 = date2.IndexOf("-", o1 + 1);
        string str21 = date2.Substring(0, o1);
        string str22 = date2.Substring(o1 + 1, o2 - o1 - 1);
        string str23 = date2.Substring(o2 + 1);

        if (Convert.ToInt32(str11) > Convert.ToInt32(str21))
        {
        }
        else if (Convert.ToInt32(str12) > Convert.ToInt32(str22))
        {
        }
        else if (Convert.ToInt32(str12) == Convert.ToInt32(str22) && Convert.ToInt32(str13) > Convert.ToInt32(str23))
        {
        }

In your join or where clause, use the Date property of the column. Behind the scenes, this executes a CONVERT(DATE, <expression>) operation. This should allow you to compare dates without the time.

DateTime dt1=DateTime.ParseExact(date1,"dd-MM-yyyy",null);
DateTime dt2=DateTime.ParseExact(date2,"dd-MM-yyyy",null);

int cmp=dt1.CompareTo(dt2);

   if(cmp>0) {
       // date1 is greater means date1 is comes after date2
   } else if(cmp<0) {
       // date2 is greater means date1 is comes after date1
   } else {
       // date1 is same as date2
   }

You can use Equals or CompareTo.

Equals: Returns a value indicating whether two DateTime instances have the same date and time value.

CompareTo Return Value:

1. Less than zero : If this instance is earlier than value.
2. Zero : If this instance is the same as value.
3. Greater than zero : If this instance is later than value.

DateTime is nullable:

DateTime? first = new DateTime(1992,02,02,20,50,1);
DateTime? second = new DateTime(1992, 02, 02, 20, 50, 2);

if (first.Value.Date.Equals(second.Value.Date))
{
    Console.WriteLine("Equal");
}

or

DateTime? first = new DateTime(1992,02,02,20,50,1);
DateTime? second = new DateTime(1992, 02, 02, 20, 50, 2);


var compare = first.Value.Date.CompareTo(second.Value.Date);

switch (compare)
{
    case 1:
        Console.WriteLine("this instance is later than value.");
        break;
    case 0:
        Console.WriteLine("this instance is the same as value.");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("this instance is earlier than value.");
        break;
}

DateTime is not nullable:

DateTime first = new DateTime(1992,02,02,20,50,1);
DateTime second = new DateTime(1992, 02, 02, 20, 50, 2);

if (first.Date.Equals(second.Date))
{
    Console.WriteLine("Equal");
}

or

DateTime first = new DateTime(1992,02,02,20,50,1);
DateTime second = new DateTime(1992, 02, 02, 20, 50, 2);


var compare = first.Date.CompareTo(second.Date);

switch (compare)
{
    case 1:
        Console.WriteLine("this instance is later than value.");
        break;
    case 0:
        Console.WriteLine("this instance is the same as value.");
        break;
    default:
        Console.WriteLine("this instance is earlier than value.");
        break;
}

For a true comparison, you can use:

dateTime1.Date.CompareTo(dateTime2.Date);

You can try

if(dtOne.Year == dtTwo.Year && dtOne.Month == dtTwo.Month && dtOne.Day == dtTwo.Day)
  ....