Date validation on search input/textbox for a razor view MVC - asp.net-mvc-3

Question

I would like to add a textbox (date) and button to my report, which filters the data.
The below mvc is working, but the input must still be validated (must be a DATE) on client side (and server side if possible)
My Model looks like this :
public class DailyReport
{
public int DailyReportID { get; set; }
public DateTime? ReportDate { get; set; }
}
View :
#model IEnumerable<project_name.Models.DailyReport>
#* text box and button: *#
#using (Html.BeginForm("Index", "DailyReport", FormMethod.Get))
{ <p>
Title: #Html.TextBox("SearchDateString")
<input type="submit" value="Filter" />
</p>
}
#* display dates*#
#foreach (var item in Model)
{ #Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.ReportDate)
}
my controller:
public ViewResult Index(String SearchDateString)
{
var dailyreport = db.DailyReport.Include(d => d.Site);
if (!String.IsNullOrEmpty(SearchDateString))
{
DateTime search_date = Convert.ToDateTime(SearchDateString);
dailyreport = dailyreport.Where(r => r.ReportDate == search_date);
}
return View(dailyreport.ToList());
}
Can someone help me please?
How do I make sure a valid date is entered in the textbox?
Should I create a another model with a date field for this input?

Answer 1

Utilize the DataTypeAttribute from the DataAnnotations namespace in your Model, like so:
public class DailyReport
{
public int DailyReportID { get; set; }
public DateTime? ReportDate { get; set; }
}
public class DrViewModel
{
[DataType(DataType.Date)]
public string DateTimeSearch { get; set; }
List<DailyReport> DailyReports { get; set; }
}
In your View, have something like:
#model project_name.Models.DrViewModel
#using (Html.BeginForm("Index", "DailyReport", FormMethod.Get))
{
<p>
Title: #Html.TextBoxFor(m => m.DateTimeSearch)
<input type="submit" value="Filter" />
</p>
}
#foreach (var item in Model.DailyReports)
{
#Html.DisplayFor(m => item.ReportDate)
}

Answer 2

#Shark Shark pointed me in the right direction to use a viewmodel, this is the end result that is now working. JS validation added as well.
(DBSet was not necessary because DrViewModel is a viewmodel.)
controllers :
public ActionResult Index(DrViewModel dvm)
{
var dailyreport = db.DailyReport.Include(d => d.Site);
if (dvm.DateTimeSearch != null)
{
dailyreport = dailyreport.Where(r => r.ReportDate == dvm.DateTimeSearch);
}
dvm.DailyReport = dailyreport.ToList();
return View(dvm);
}
models :
public class DrViewModel
{
public DateTime? DateTimeSearch { get; set; }
public List<DailyReport> DailyReport { get; set; }
}
public class DailyReport
{
public int DailyReportID { get; set; }
public DateTime? ReportDate { get; set; }
}
view :
#model myproject.Models.DrViewModel
#{
ViewBag.Title = "Index";
}
<h2>Index</h2>
<script src="#Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery.validate.min.js")" type="text/javascript"> </script>
<script src="#Url.Content("~/Scripts/jquery.validate.unobtrusive.min.js")" type="text/javascript"></script>
#using (Html.BeginForm("Index","DailyReport", FormMethod.Get ))
{
#Html.ValidationSummary(true)
<div class="editor-label">
#Html.LabelFor(model => model.DateTimeSearch)
</div>
<div class="editor-field">
#Html.EditorFor(model => model.DateTimeSearch)
#Html.ValidationMessageFor(model => model.DateTimeSearch)
<input type="submit" value="Filter" />
</div>
}
#foreach (var item in Model.DailyReport)
{
#Html.DisplayFor(modelItem => item.ReportDate)
}