How can I make a DateTimePicker display an empty string?

Question

I would like to be able to display a DateTimePicker that has a default value of nothing, i.e. no date.

For example, I have a start date dtTaskStar

Answer 1

The basic concept is the same told by others. But its easier to implement this way when you have multiple dateTimePicker.

dateTimePicker1.Value = DateTime.Now;
dateTimePicker1.ValueChanged += new System.EventHandler(this.Dtp_ValueChanged);
dateTimePicker1.ShowCheckBox=true;
dateTimePicker1.Checked=false;


dateTimePicker2.Value = DateTime.Now;
dateTimePicker2.ValueChanged += new System.EventHandler(this.Dtp_ValueChanged);
dateTimePicker2.ShowCheckBox=true;
dateTimePicker2.Checked=false;

the value changed event function

        void Dtp_ValueChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            if(((DateTimePicker)sender).ShowCheckBox==true)
            {
                if(((DateTimePicker)sender).Checked==false)
                {
                    ((DateTimePicker)sender).CustomFormat = " ";
                    ((DateTimePicker)sender).Format = DateTimePickerFormat.Custom;
                }
                else
                {
                    ((DateTimePicker)sender).Format = DateTimePickerFormat.Short;
                }
            }
            else
            {
                ((DateTimePicker)sender).Format = DateTimePickerFormat.Short;
            }
        }

When unchecked

When checked

Answer 2

In case anybody has an issue with setting datetimepicker control to blank during the form load event, and then show the current date as needed, here is an example:

MAKE SURE THAT CustomFormat = " " has same number of spaces (at least one space) in both methods

Private Sub setDateTimePickerBlank(ByVal dateTimePicker As DateTimePicker)    

    dateTimePicker.Visible = True
    dateTimePicker.Format = DateTimePickerFormat.Custom
    dateTimePicker.CustomFormat = "    " 
End Sub


Private Sub dateTimePicker_MouseHover(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As 
                    System.EventArgs) Handles dateTimePicker.MouseHover

    Dim dateTimePicker As DateTimePicker = CType(sender, DateTimePicker)
    If dateTimePicker.Text = "    " Then
        dateTimePicker.Text = Format(DateTime.Now, "MM/dd/yyyy")
    End If
End Sub