Java SimpleDateFormat ParseException pattern seems to match

Question

I have used SimpleDateFormat to parse Strings into Dates many times in the past, but today I ran across an error that I cannot seem to see. I am parsing a csv, and I have this:

DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSS");
Date date = dateFormat.parse(nextLine[0]);

I get this error

java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: "2011-06-17 21:43:17.493"

It looks to me like the format matches the string when referencing the javadoc for SimpleDateFormat here: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/6/docs/api/java/text/SimpleDateFormat.html

am I missing something with SimpleDateFormat?

Stupid suggestion, but what if you trim the String? dateFormat.parse(nextLine[0].trim()); — Hovercraft Full Of Eels
– Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Commented Jul 28, 2013 at 2:30
Any way you can post a portion of your CSV, at least the offending portion? — Hovercraft Full Of Eels
– Hovercraft Full Of Eels, Commented Jul 28, 2013 at 2:36
What charset of CSV? [From doc: The format is locale independent and digits must be taken from the Basic Latin block of the Unicode standard.] — KV Prajapati
– KV Prajapati, Commented Jul 28, 2013 at 2:36

Ran Eldan · Accepted Answer · 2013-07-28 02:38:17Z

3

Nothing is worng with your code. You just have invisible symbols at this line

DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSS");

You probably copied it from a PDF file or other source that inject that symbols into your text.

Try to copy it manually and it will be fine. It work for me after I done so.

answered Jul 28, 2013 at 2:38

Ran Eldan

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Hovercraft Full Of Eels Over a year ago

Yep, I'll buy this. 1+

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