The Date Picker Control

The date picker control provides a convenient way to enter data that is of a date data type. A date picker control provides two ways to enter a date ”either into what looks like a text box (in which case the user needs to understand the allowed date formats) or by using a calendar that the user can navigate to select a date. Figure 4.21 shows a date picker.

Figure 4.21. A date picker control.

By default, if the type is not already defined by a schema, a date picker control has a date type (see Figure 4.22).

Figure 4.22. The Default data type in a date picker control.

A date and time data type is also available, if that level of precision is necessary. Unfortunately, if you choose this data type, the calendar part of the date picker provides no way to enter the time part of the data.

In form-filling or preview mode, a date can be inserted by typing in a date or by using the calendar, which is part of the date picker control (see Figure 4.23).

Figure 4.23. The calendar, which is part of the date picker control.