Using the DateTimeFormatInfo to retrieve Culture Specific Date Values

This Blog entry discusses how to use the System.Threading.Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat object to access culture specific date values.

Retrieving Culture Specific Day Names

Access the DayNames property or AbbreviatedDayNames property to access a list of day names for the particular culture.

Example:

DateTimeFormatInfo d = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat;

foreach (string abbreviatedDayName in d.AbbreviatedDayNames)

Console.WriteLine (abbreviatedDayName);

Retrieving Culture Specific Month Names

Access the MonthNames property or AbbreviatedMonthNames property to access a list of month names for the particular culture.

Example:

DateTimeFormatInfo d = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat;

foreach (string abbreviatedMonthName in d.AbbreviatedMonthNames)

Console.WriteLine (abbreviatedDayName);

Play with it:

This tutorial allows you to retrieve culture specific date values in French:

1.       Set the CurrentCulture to French (Canada)

Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = new CultureInfo("FR-CA");

2.       Declare a DateTimeFormatInfo and set it to the CurrentThread’s DateTimeFormat property

DateTimeFormatInfo d = Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture.DateTimeFormat;           

3.       Write the day names for French (Canada)

foreach (string dayName in d.DayNames)

Console.WriteLine(dayName);

4.       Write the month names for French (Canada)

foreach (string monthName in d.MonthNames )

Console.WriteLine(monthName);