Parse exact custom time format?

Question

I can\'t seem to get the custom format right for my TimeSpan.ParseExact():

Time samples to be expected:

1:23:45.6
23:45.6
23:45
1:23:45
         


        

Answer 1

I would simply use DateTime.ParseExact instead because it's more powerful:

string[] strings = new[] { "1:23:45.6", "23:45.6", "23:45", "1:23:45" };
string[] formats = new[] { "H:mm:ss.f", "H:mm.f", "H:mm", "H:mm:ss" };
TimeSpan[] timespans = strings
    .Select(str =>
    {
        TimeSpan? ts = null;
        DateTime dt;
        if (DateTime.TryParseExact(str, formats, CultureInfo.InvariantCulture, DateTimeStyles.None, out dt))
            ts = dt.TimeOfDay;
        return ts;
    })
    .Where(ts => ts.HasValue)
    .Select(ts => ts.Value)
    .ToArray();

Demonstration