C# default datetime

Question

In a C# 2010 application I am using a linq to sql statement to obtain a start datetime. If nothing is returned from the linq statement I want to set a default date and time. However whenever I set the date to in the statement the date ends up being 01/01/0001. DateTime StartDateTime = rta.eransaction.Where(c => c.ResDate != null ).Select(c => c.ResDate).Max().GetValueOrDefault(); if (StartDateTime == null) { StartDateTime = Convert.ToDateTime(2010-08-14 12:33:36.590); } There will be times when I expect the ResDate from the query to be empty. Thus can you tell me what I can do to the code above so that the startdatetime acutally gets the value I get to it in the code?

Vulpes · Answer

The default value of an 'ordinary' DateTime variable such as StartDateTime is in fact 01/01/0001 rather than null which explains why you're getting this value when no records are returned by the query. You therefore need to change your if statement to: if (StartDateTime == default(DateTime)) { StartDateTime = Convert.ToDateTime(2010-08-14 12:33:36.590); }