Find the closest time from a list of times

Question

So, here\'s the scenario. I have a file with a created time, and I want to choose a time from a list of times that that file\'s created time is closest or equal too...what w

Answer 1

I thought I would update this post to include a real world scenario. I wanted this sort of function as I have a blog showing news of the latest movie screenings.

However I don't want to list screening in the past (ie screening date past the current date) and as I wanted to show a record I needed some sort of ID passed to pick up the record.

I have left if simple so that you can follow the process and no doubt make it more efficient with LINQ et al.

First the model

        public class LatestScreeeningsModel
    {
        public int Id { get; set; }
        public DateTime Date { get; set; }
    }

Then the code block you can call from your controller

        private static LatestScreeeningsModel GetLatestScreening(IPublishedContent currentNode)
    {
        LatestScreeeningsModel latestScreening = new LatestScreeeningsModel();

        DateTime fileDate;

        // get a list of screenings that have not shown yet
        var screenings = currentNode.AncestorsOrSelf("siteLanguage")
                                   .FirstOrDefault().Descendants("screening")
                                   .Select(x => new LatestScreeeningsModel() { Id = x.Id, Date = x.GetPropertyValue("date") })
                                   .Where(x => x.Date > DateTime.Now).ToList();

        fileDate = DateTime.Today;

        long min = Math.Abs(fileDate.Ticks - screenings[0].Date.Ticks);
        long diff;
        foreach (var comingDate in screenings)
        {
            diff = Math.Abs(fileDate.Ticks - comingDate.Date.Ticks);
            if (diff <= min)
            {
                min = diff;
                latestScreening = comingDate;
            }
        }

        return latestScreening;

    }

I am using Umbraco to get the date items but it would work with any custom model, List et al.

Hope it helps