How to parse string into date?

CONVERT(datetime, '24.04.2012', 104)

Should do the trick. See here for more info: CAST and CONVERT (Transact-SQL)

Assuming that the database is MS SQL Server 2012 or greater, here's a solution that works. The basic statement contains the in-line try-parse:

SELECT TRY_PARSE('02/04/2016 10:52:00' AS datetime USING 'en-US') AS Result;

Here's what we implemented in the production version:

UPDATE dbo.StagingInputReview
 SET ReviewedOn = 
     ISNULL(TRY_PARSE(RTrim(LTrim(ReviewedOnText)) AS datetime USING 'en-US'), getdate()),
 ModifiedOn = (getdate()), ModifiedBy = (suser_sname())
 -- Check for empty/null/'NULL' text
 WHERE not ReviewedOnText is null 
   AND RTrim(LTrim(ReviewedOnText))<>''
   AND Replace(RTrim(LTrim(ReviewedOnText)),'''','') <> 'NULL';

The ModifiedOn and ModifiedBy columns are just for internal database tracking purposes.

See also these Microsoft MSDN references:

• CAST and CONVERT (Transact-SQL)
• PARSE (Transact-SQL)

Microsoft SQL Date Formats

CONVERT(DateTime, DateField, 104)