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When attempting to store date and time in a SQL Server table, the time does not correspond with the local time zone. What should I do to rectify the time?
Here is the code I’ve used.

public class Stage1Model
{
    
    [Key]
    public int JobID { get; set; }
    public int EmpID { get; set; }

    public string? CustomerName { get; set; }
    public string? OrderDetails { get; set; }
    public DateTime DispatchDate { get; set; }
    public DateTime CreateDateTime { get; set; }// this is where I take time for sql
    public string S1Status { get; set; }
   
}

This is my model

[EnableCors("AllowAll")]
[ApiController]
[Route("[controller]")]
public class OrderTrackingController : ControllerBase
{
    private readonly ITracking _tracking;

    public OrderTrackingController( ITracking tracking)
    {
        _tracking = tracking;
    }

    [HttpPost]
    public async Task<IActionResult> AddEntity([FromBody] Stage1Model model)
    {
        if (model == null)
        {
            return BadRequest("Invalid data");
        }
        model.CreateDateTime = DateTime.UtcNow;

        await _tracking.AddEntity(model);

        // Return the model with CreateDateTime converted to local time
        model.CreateDateTime = model.CreateDateTime.ToLocalTime();
        return Ok(model);
        //return CreatedAtAction(nameof(GetEntityById), new { id = model.Id }, model);
    }
}`

This is my controller
Response body
Download

{
  "jobID": 5,
  "empID": 12,
  "customerName": "hello",
  "orderDetails": "pan",
  "dispatchDate": "2023-11-23T06:49:03.367Z",
  "createDateTime": "2023-11-23T12:19:29.2882111+05:30",
  "s1Status": "completed"
}

Response headers
 content-type: application/json; charset=utf-8 
 date: Thu,23 Nov 2023 06:49:29 GMT 
 server: Kestrel

This is my API result where the times is taken as ‘date: Thu,23 Nov 2023 06:49:29’ GMT from Response headers in SQL Server table but my expected time is in Response body as "createDateTime": "2023-11-23T12:19:29.2882111+05:30" which is not taken into account by the SQL Server.

2

Answers


  1. I’m not sure if this exactly the answer you are looking for, but both of those timestamps are the same. Both timestamps contain time zone identifiers which gives you the calculation you need to convert the times between time zones.

    2023-11-23T06:49:03.367Z is the local time in a UTC+0:0 time zone (the Z indicates UTC).

    2023-11-23T12:19:29.2882111+05:30 is the local time in a UTC+5:30 time zone (+5:30 indicates the time zone).

    Notice that if you take 5h 30m (+5:30) from 2023-11-23 12:19:29 you get 2023-11-23 6:49:29 which gives you the UTC(+0) time zone local time.

    I think the above answers your question hopefully.

    However a second issue might arise when storing these timestamps in the database. Depending on the engine, it might not store the value with it’s appropriate time zone identifier.

    Therefore storing 2023-11-23T12:19:29.2882111+05:30 in the database and then retrieving it might return 2023-11-23T12:19:29.2882111 which DateTime won’t know what the time zone is from that string value.

    That value could instead mean 2023-11-23T12:19:29.2882111 UTC which is actually 2023-11-23T17:49:29.2882111+5:30 in UTC(+5:30).

    Which is why in general, when storing values in the database you store it as it’s UTC value (as you have done in the post). Then when you retrieve it you can convert it to local time, knowing that the value is UTC.

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  2. Time Zone Mismatch in SQL Server: Understanding and Resolving Issues

    When working with SQL Server, it’s not uncommon to encounter time zone mismatches, which can cause errors and inconsistencies in your data and queries. In this answer, we’ll explore what time zone mismatches are, how they can occur in SQL Server, and how to resolve them.

    What is a Time Zone Mismatch?
    A time zone mismatch occurs when two or more systems or components involved in a database operation are using different time zones. This can happen when data is being transferred between systems or when queries are being executed across different time zones.

    In SQL Server, time zone mismatches can occur in several ways, including:

    1. Incorrect Time Zone Settings
      If the time zone settings on the server or client are not correctly configured, it can lead to time zone mismatches. For example, if the server is configured to use UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) and the client is configured to use a different time zone, it can cause issues.

    2. Incorrect Date and Time Formats
      Incorrect date and time formats can also cause time zone mismatches. For example, if the date and time format on the server is different from the client, it can lead to errors.

    3. Cross-Region or Cross-Country Queries
      When executing queries across different regions or countries, time zone differences can cause issues. For example, if a query is executed in the United States and the data is being retrieved from a server in Europe, the time zone difference can cause errors.

    4. Incorrect Time Zone Conversions
      Incorrect time zone conversions can also lead to time zone mismatches. For example, if a query is executed with a time zone conversion that is not correct, it can cause issues.

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