Question

How can I compare the dates only, not the time. I am using

NSDateFormatter *dateFormatter = [[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
[dateFormatter setDateFormat:@"dd-MM-yyyy"];

NSString *tempDate = @"2-2-2012"; //Dynamic Date
NSDate *dateString = [dateFormatter dateFromString:tempDate];
NSLog(@"%@",dateString);

It logs this: 2012-02-01 18:30:00 +0000

NSDate *now = [NSDate date];//Current Date
NSLog(@"%@",now);

It logs this: 2011-04-04 14:49:45 +0000

I want to compare Dynamic date and current date, I don’t need time. I may not using the correct NSDateFormatter. Can anyone of you tell me how to do this? If I am not clear, please let me know.

Suppose I have to strings

date1 = 3-2-2011;
date2 = 4-5-2020;

I want to convert them in date, only after that I can compare them. Its not happening from my date Formatter. Please have a look.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Simplest way is to compare date by converting it into string.

Sample Code is as shown below:

    //Current Date
    NSDate *date = [NSDate date];
NSDateFormatter *formatter = nil;
formatter=[[NSDateFormatter alloc] init];
 [formatter setDateFormat:@"yyyy-MM-dd"];

NSString *dateString = [formatter stringFromDate:date];
[formatter release];

   //Other Date say date2 is of type NSDate again
   NSString *date2String = [formatter stringFromDate:date2];

  //Comparison of Two dates by its conversion into string as below
 if([date2String isEqualToString:dateString])
 {
       //Your logic if dates are Equal
 }
 else if(![date2String isEqualToString:dateString])
 {
        //Your Logic if dates are Different
 }

EDIT:

Checkout this link.

Comparing dates

http://www.iphonedevsdk.com/forum/iphone-sdk-development/64625-how-compare-2-dates.html

Hope This Helps You. 🙂