DateTime.ToLongTimeString Method

Definition

Converts the value of the current DateTime object to its equivalent long time string representation.

public:
 System::String ^ ToLongTimeString();
public string ToLongTimeString ();
member this.ToLongTimeString : unit -> string
Public Function ToLongTimeString () As String

Returns

A string that contains the long time string representation of the current DateTime object.

Examples

The following example demonstrates the ToLongTimeString method.

using System;
using System.Threading;
using System.Globalization;

public class Sample
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      // Create an array of culture names.
      String[] names = { "en-US", "en-GB", "fr-FR", "de-DE" };
      // Initialize a DateTime object.
      DateTime dateValue = new System.DateTime(2013, 5, 28, 10, 30, 15);

      // Iterate the array of culture names.
      foreach (var name in names) {
         // Change the culture of the current thread.
         Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(name);
         // Display the name of the current culture and the date.
         Console.WriteLine("Current culture: {0}", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Name);
         Console.WriteLine("Date: {0:G}", dateValue);

         // Display the long time pattern and the long time.
         Console.WriteLine("Long time pattern: '{0}'",
                           DateTimeFormatInfo.CurrentInfo.LongTimePattern);
         Console.WriteLine("Long time with format string:     {0:T}", dateValue);
         Console.WriteLine("Long time with ToLongTimeString:  {0}\n",
                           dateValue.ToLongTimeString());
      }
   }
}
// The example displays the following output:
//       Current culture: en-US
//       Date: 5/28/2013 10:30:15 AM
//       Long time pattern: 'h:mm:ss tt'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15 AM
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15 AM
//
//       Current culture: en-GB
//       Date: 28/05/2013 10:30:15
//       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
//
//       Current culture: fr-FR
//       Date: 28/05/2013 10:30:15
//       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
//
//       Current culture: de-DE
//       Date: 28.05.2013 10:30:15
//       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
open System
open System.Threading
open System.Globalization

// Create a list of culture names.
let names = [ "en-US"; "en-GB"; "fr-FR"; "de-DE" ]

// Initialize a DateTime object.
let dateValue = DateTime(2013, 5, 28, 10, 30, 15)

// Iterate the array of culture names.
for name in names do
    // Change the culture of the current thread.
    Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture <- CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture name
    // Display the name of the current culture and the date.
    printfn $"Current culture: {CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Name}"
    printfn $"Date: {dateValue:G}"

    // Display the long time pattern and the long time.
    printfn $"Long time pattern: '{DateTimeFormatInfo.CurrentInfo.LongTimePattern}'"
    printfn $"Long time with format string:     {dateValue:T}"
    printfn $"Long time with ToLongTimeString:  {dateValue.ToLongTimeString()}\n"


// The example displays the following output:
//       Current culture: en-US
//       Date: 5/28/2013 10:30:15 AM
//       Long time pattern: 'h:mm:ss tt'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15 AM
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15 AM
//
//       Current culture: en-GB
//       Date: 28/05/2013 10:30:15
//       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
//
//       Current culture: fr-FR
//       Date: 28/05/2013 10:30:15
//       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
//
//       Current culture: de-DE
//       Date: 28.05.2013 10:30:15
//       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
//       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
//       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
Imports System.Threading
Imports System.Globalization

Public Class Example
   Public Shared Sub Main() 
      ' Create an array of culture names.
      Dim names() As String = { "en-US", "en-GB", "fr-FR", "de-DE" }
      ' Initialize a DateTime object.
      Dim dateValue As New DateTime(2013, 5, 28, 10, 30, 15)
        
      ' Iterate the array of culture names.
      For Each name In names
         ' Change the culture of the current thread.
         Thread.CurrentThread.CurrentCulture = CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture(name)
         ' Display the name of the current culture and the date.
         Console.WriteLine("Current culture: {0}", CultureInfo.CurrentCulture.Name)
         Console.WriteLine("Date: {0:G}", dateValue)        

         ' Display the long time pattern and the long time.
         Console.WriteLine("Long time pattern: '{0}'", DateTimeFormatInfo.CurrentInfo.LongTimePattern)
         Console.WriteLine("Long time with format string:     {0:T}", dateValue)
         Console.WriteLine("Long time with ToLongTimeString:  {0}", dateValue.ToLongTimeString())
         Console.WriteLine()
      Next
   End Sub 
End Class 
' The example displays the following output:
'       Current culture: en-US
'       Date: 5/28/2013 10:30:15 AM
'       Long time pattern: 'h:mm:ss tt'
'       Long time with format string:     10:30:15 AM
'       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15 AM
'       
'       Current culture: en-GB
'       Date: 28/05/2013 10:30:15
'       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
'       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
'       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
'       
'       Current culture: fr-FR
'       Date: 28/05/2013 10:30:15
'       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
'       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
'       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15
'       
'       Current culture: de-DE
'       Date: 28.05.2013 10:30:15
'       Long time pattern: 'HH:mm:ss'
'       Long time with format string:     10:30:15
'       Long time with ToLongTimeString:  10:30:15

Remarks

The value of the current DateTime object is formatted using the pattern defined by the DateTimeFormatInfo.LongTimePattern property associated with the current culture. The return value is identical to the value returned by specifying the "T" standard date and time format string with the ToString(String) method.

Note

The string returned by the ToLongTimeString method is culture-sensitive. It reflects the pattern defined by the current culture's DateTimeFormatInfo.LongTimePattern property. For example, for the en-US culture, the standard long time pattern is "h:mm:ss tt"; for the de-DE culture, it is "HH:mm:ss"; for the ja-JP culture, it is "H:mm:ss". Note that its value can vary depending on the .NET implementation and its version, the operating system and its version, and user customization.

For more information about the current thread culture, see the CultureInfo.CurrentCulture and Thread.CurrentCulture properties. For more information about format characters, format patterns, and the output they produce, see Standard date and time format strings and Custom date and time format strings. For more information about changing the format pattern associated with a format character, see the DateTimeFormatInfo class.

Applies to

See also