Set the Default Date of WPF Date Picker to Current Date

Question

I have a WPF Datagrid in which one of the columns is a Date Column.

So i have used a DataTemplateColumn as Follows

Answer 1

Unless you have a property in your DataContext called Now, your Bindings will fail. Instead, you should be using the {x:Static} syntax like so:

<DataTemplate x:Key="addrEffDate">
    <my:DatePicker x:Name="dpEffDate" Text="{Binding Path=effectiveDate,Mode=TwoWay}"
                   SelectedDate="{x:Static sys:DateTime.Now}" DisplayDateStart="{x:Static sys:DateTime.Now}"
                   CalendarStyle="{DynamicResource CalenderControlTemplate}" />
</DataTemplate>

Since DateTime isn't in the standard XAML namespace, you need to add a xmlns declaration to the root element:

<UserControl xmlns:sys="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" ...

Answer 2

I think you need to replace

DisplayDateStart

with

DisplayDate

Because DisplayDateStart: (from the MSDN)

Gets or sets the first date to be displayed.

not the date to display.

Answer 3

On top of Abe Heidebrecht's Answer I am providing an example. I think Abe's answer is correct. I had the same issue with new object and class binding and solved the problem in the way mentioned below:

 get
 {
  return (ClassDate - DateTime.MinValue).TotalDays == 0 ? DateTime.Now :ClassDate;
 }

cheers :)