I am trying to restrict a user from entering a new record if the date requested already exits. I was trying to do a count to see if the table that the record would be placed in already has that date 1 or not 0. I have a calendar extender attached to a text box which has the date. I keep getting either a: String was not recognized as a valid DateTime. or Unable to cast object of type 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.TextBox' to type 'System.IConvertible'. depending on the different things I have tried. Here is my code. TextBox startd = (TextBox)(DetailsView1.FindControl("TextBox5")); TextBox endd = (TextBox)(DetailsView1.FindControl("TextBox7")); DropDownList lvtype = (DropDownList)(DetailsView1.FindControl("DropDownList6")); DateTime scheduledDate = DateTime.ParseExact(startd.Text, "dd/MM/yyyy", null); DateTime endDate = DateTime.ParseExact(endd.Text, "dd/MM/yyyy", null); DateTime newstartDate = Convert.ToDateTime(startd.Text); DateTime newendDate = Convert.ToDateTime(endd.Text); //foreach (DataRow row in sd.Tables[0].Rows) DateTime dt = newstartDate; while (dt <= newendDate) { //for retreiving from table Decimal sd = SelectCountDate(dt, lvtype.SelectedValue, countDate); String ndt = Convert.ToDateTime(dt).ToShortDateString(); // //start = string.CompareOrdinal(scheduledDate, ndt); // // end = string.CompareOrdinal(endDate, ndt); //trying to make say when leavetpe is greater than count 1 then throw error. if (sd > 0) { Response.Write("<script>alert('Date Already Requested');</script>"); } dt.AddDays(1); } ^^^ This version throws the: "String was not recognized as valid date type" error But if i replace the string with either of these : /*-----------------------Original------------------------------------ string scheduledDate = Convert.ToDateTime(endd).ToShortDateString(); string endDate = Convert.ToDateTime(endd).ToShortDateString(); -------------------------------------------------------------------*/ /*----------10-30--------------------------------------- DateTime scheduledDate = DateTime.Parse(startd.Text); DateTime endDate = DateTime.Parse(endd.Text); ------------------------------------------------------*/ I get the "Unable to cast object of type 'System.Web.UI.WebControls.TextBox' to type 'System.IConvertible'." error. I am just trying to stop a user from entering a record date that already exits. <InsertItemTemplate> <asp:TextBox ID="TextBox5" runat="server" Height="19px" Text='<%# Bind("lstdate", "{0:MM/dd/yyyy}") %>' Width="67px"></asp:TextBox> <asp:CalendarExtender ID="TextBox5_CalendarExtender" runat="server" Enabled="True" TargetControlID="TextBox5"> </asp:CalendarExtender> <asp:RequiredFieldValidator ID="RequiredFieldValidator2" runat="server" ControlToValidate="TextBox5" ErrorMessage="*Leave Date Required" ForeColor="Red"></asp:RequiredFieldValidator> <br /> <asp:CompareValidator ID="CompareValidator18" runat="server" ControlToCompare="TextBox7" ControlToValidate="TextBox5" ErrorMessage="Leave date cannot be after start date" ForeColor="Red" Operator="LessThanEqual" ToolTip="Must choose start date before end date"></asp:CompareValidator> </InsertItemTemplate>