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# Instance Methods
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Methods available on individual datetimepicker instances for programmatic control and value access.
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## Capabilities
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### Get Current Value
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Retrieve the current datetime value from the picker instance.
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```javascript { .api }
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/**
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 * Get the current datetime value from the picker
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 * @returns Current datetime as Date object or null if no value
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 */
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getValue(): Date | null;
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```
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**Usage Examples:**
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```javascript
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// Get picker instance and retrieve value
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var picker = $('#myinput').datetimepicker().data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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var currentValue = picker.getValue();
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if (currentValue) {
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    console.log('Selected date:', currentValue.toISOString());
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} else {
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    console.log('No date selected');
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}
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// Get value after user selection
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$('#myinput').datetimepicker({
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    onSelectDate: function(current_time, input) {
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        var picker = $(input).data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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        var value = picker.getValue();
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        console.log('Date selected:', value);
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    }
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});
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```
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### Update Options
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Update picker configuration options after initialization.
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```javascript { .api }
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/**
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 * Update picker options after initialization
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 * @param options - New options to apply
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 * @returns void
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 */
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setOptions(options: Partial<DateTimePickerOptions>): void;
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```
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**Usage Examples:**
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```javascript
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// Initialize picker
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var picker = $('#myinput').datetimepicker().data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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// Update options dynamically
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picker.setOptions({
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    format: 'Y-m-d',
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    timepicker: false
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});
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// Change constraints based on other inputs
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$('#startDate').on('change', function() {
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    var startDate = $(this).val();
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    var endPicker = $('#endDate').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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    endPicker.setOptions({
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        minDate: startDate
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    });
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});
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// Toggle between date and datetime modes
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$('#modeToggle').on('change', function() {
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    var isDateOnly = $(this).is(':checked');
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    var picker = $('#myinput').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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    picker.setOptions({
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        timepicker: !isDateOnly,
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        format: isDateOnly ? 'Y-m-d' : 'Y-m-d H:i'
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    });
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});
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```
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### Accessing Instance Methods
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Different ways to access and use instance methods.
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**Usage Examples:**
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```javascript
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// Method 1: Get instance from data attribute
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var instance = $('#myinput').datetimepicker().data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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var value = instance.getValue();
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instance.setOptions({ step: 15 });
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// Method 2: Chain access during initialization
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$('#myinput').datetimepicker({
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    onShow: function() {
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        var picker = $(this).data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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        console.log('Current value:', picker.getValue());
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    }
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});
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// Method 3: Access in event callbacks
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$('#myinput').datetimepicker({
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    onChangeDateTime: function(currentTime, input) {
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        var picker = $(input).data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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        // Update other pickers based on this value
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        if (currentTime) {
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            var nextDay = new Date(currentTime);
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            nextDay.setDate(nextDay.getDate() + 1);
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            $('#endDate').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker').setOptions({
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                minDate: nextDay
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            });
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        }
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    }
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});
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// Method 4: Store reference for later use
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var myPicker = $('#myinput').datetimepicker().data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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// Use stored reference
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$('#updateBtn').click(function() {
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    myPicker.setOptions({
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        maxDate: new Date()
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    });
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});
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$('#getValueBtn').click(function() {
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    var value = myPicker.getValue();
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    $('#display').text(value ? value.toString() : 'No value');
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});
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```
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### Instance Method Patterns
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Common patterns for working with instance methods.
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**Usage Examples:**
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```javascript
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// Validation with instance methods
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function validateDateRange() {
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    var startPicker = $('#startDate').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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    var endPicker = $('#endDate').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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    var startValue = startPicker.getValue();
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    var endValue = endPicker.getValue();
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    if (startValue && endValue && startValue > endValue) {
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        alert('Start date must be before end date');
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        return false;
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    }
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    return true;
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}
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// Dynamic option updates based on business logic
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function updatePickerConstraints(userRole) {
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    var picker = $('#appointmentDate').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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    if (userRole === 'admin') {
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        picker.setOptions({
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            minDate: false,
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            maxDate: false,
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            disabledDates: []
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        });
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    } else {
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        picker.setOptions({
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            minDate: new Date(),
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            maxDate: new Date(Date.now() + 30*24*60*60*1000), // 30 days
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            disabledWeekDays: [0, 6] // No weekends
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        });
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    }
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}
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// Sync multiple pickers
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function createLinkedPickers() {
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    $('#startTime').datetimepicker({
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        format: 'Y-m-d H:i',
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        onChangeDateTime: function(currentTime, input) {
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            if (currentTime) {
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                var endPicker = $('#endTime').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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                endPicker.setOptions({
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                    minDateTime: currentTime
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                });
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            }
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        }
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    });
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    $('#endTime').datetimepicker({
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        format: 'Y-m-d H:i',
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        onChangeDateTime: function(currentTime, input) {
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            if (currentTime) {
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                var startPicker = $('#startTime').data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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                startPicker.setOptions({
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                    maxDateTime: currentTime
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                });
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            }
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        }
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    });
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}
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```
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### Error Handling
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Handle cases where instance methods might fail.
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**Usage Examples:**
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```javascript
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// Safe instance access
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function safeGetValue(selector) {
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    try {
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        var picker = $(selector).data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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        if (picker && typeof picker.getValue === 'function') {
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            return picker.getValue();
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        }
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    } catch (e) {
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        console.warn('Could not get value from picker:', e);
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    }
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    return null;
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}
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// Safe option updates
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function safeSetOptions(selector, options) {
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    try {
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        var picker = $(selector).data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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        if (picker && typeof picker.setOptions === 'function') {
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            picker.setOptions(options);
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            return true;
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        }
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    } catch (e) {
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        console.warn('Could not update picker options:', e);
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    }
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    return false;
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}
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// Check if picker is initialized
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function isPickerInitialized(selector) {
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    var picker = $(selector).data('xdsoft_datetimepicker');
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    return picker && typeof picker.getValue === 'function';
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}
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```