How to specify date format in RestSharp request - restsharp

Question

I have this piece of code:
var client = new RestClient(fullUri);
var request = new RestRequest(GetMethod(method));
client.UseSerializer(
() => new RestSharp.Serialization.Json.JsonSerializer { DateFormat = "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss" }
);
request.AddHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json");
if (body != null)
request.AddJsonBody(body);
var response = client.Execute(request);
if (response.ErrorException != null)
throw response.ErrorException;
return JsonConvert.DeserializeObject<ResponseData>(response.Content);
Note the
client.UseSerializer(
() => new RestSharp.Serialization.Json.JsonSerializer { DateFormat = "yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss" }
);
I have added that code because I need the date format to be yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss instead of yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss.zzzzz (the default)
RestRequest.DateFormat is obsolete.
When the calling is made, I saw that a date is passed using the default format, instead of the custom one.
How can I do it?

Answer 1

I will suggest rewrite your code. Here my comments and example:
First, if you try to use this format for DateTime yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss you will get a validation error from web API service when you try to send a request.
{
"type":"https://tools.ietf.org/html/rfc7231#section-6.5.1",
"title":"One or more validation errors occurred.",
"status":400,
"traceId":"00-a0c978c054625441b8ddf4c552b0f34c-314723fc8ce3ac4e-00",
"errors":{
"$.DateTime":[
"The JSON value could not be converted to System.DateTime. Path: $.DateTime | LineNumber: 0 | BytePositionInLine: 33."
]
}
}
This means - you use incorrect format for DateTime. You should use this format "yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss". Read more in question The JSON value could not be converted to System.DateTime.
Don't forget add T because parsers use ISO_8601
Second, I would highly recommend do not use JsonSerializer from RestSharp, because I faced different problems with it. I highly recommend to use System.Text.Json from Microsoft or Newtonsoft.Json. Read more about System.Text.Json or Newtonsoft.Json.
Third, let's code! My example of web api service.
[HttpGet]
public string Test()
{
var client = new RestClient("your url");
var request = new RestRequest(Method.POST);
var body = new SimpleRequestBody
{
DateTime = DateTime.Now
};
var json = JsonConvert.SerializeObject(body,
new JsonSerializerSettings()
{
DateFormatString = "yyyy-MM-ddTHH:mm:ss"
});
request.AddHeader("Content-Type", "application/json");
request.AddHeader("Accept", "application/json");
if (body != null)
request.AddParameter("application/json", json, null, ParameterType.RequestBody);
var response = client.Execute(request);
// response.ErrorException -> Could not handle bad request
// Better to user IsSuccessful property
if (!response.IsSuccessful)
throw new Exception(response.Content);
return response.Content;
}
public class SimpleRequestBody
{
public DateTime DateTime { get; set; }
}
Example of client web api code:
[HttpPost]
public ActionResult Post([FromBody] SimpleResponse response)
{
var result = $"OK result from another web api. DateTime {response.DateTime}";
return Ok(result);
}
public class SimpleResponse
{
public DateTime DateTime { get; set; }
}
}
Results