[RESOLVED] DateTimePicker Question

[ferrethouse]

How do I make having a value in the DateTimePicker optional, i.e. I don't want there to be a default value. Is this possible?

[RobDog888]

You mean like not having a date?

[jmcilhinney]

Normally you set the ShowCheckBox property to True and use the Checked property to indicate whether there's a value or not. You can also set the CustomFormat to a single space to blank the control's text.

[RobDog888]

Yes, if thats what he means by no default date.

[ferrethouse]

Sorry, not enough info I guess. I want to have a CustomFormat specified to enforce a certain format if a date is selected. But I don't want to have a value when the form first loads. To give you some context, I have 10 DateTimePickers for users to select when they started lunch, finished lunch, started supper, finished supper, etc., etc.. Sometimes they don't take lunch so they don't put a value in that field. So by default I don't want values in the fields but they can pick a date when needed.

I don't see a "ShowTextBox" property.

Thanks for your help.

[RobDog888]

Set the Format to Custom. Then set the CustomFormat property to a space. Then change the customformat and format properties upon the first selection back to what you need.

[ferrethouse]

Marked this thread resolved to quickly. It doesn't work because the mindate and maxdate prevent you from putting anything other than a valid date in the value field.

Dozens of custom nullable datetimepicker controls have been written. I guess that is the only option.

[RobDog888]

In your form_load event you could nullify the dtp. Then upon first closeup or lostfocus you can change the style back to what you were using.