parsing dates in java

Question

I have a date stored in my database as a string 14/08/2010. I want to parse it into a date in order to compare it with the current date. This is what I did but it doesn't compile I don't know why:

try{
      date = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MMM/yyyy").parse(rs.getString(2));
      System.out.println(rs.getString(2));
}catch(ParseException s){
      s.printStackTrace();
}

It prints this error:

java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: "14/08/2010"

I tried changing the date format to dd/MM/yyyy but I have the same problem.

Why are you storing the date as a string to start with? And the code does compile - it doesn't work at execution time. It's important to differentiate between compile-time errors and exceptions. — Jon Skeet
– Jon Skeet, Commented Aug 18, 2014 at 16:30
In SimpleDateFormat pattern for month is 'M'. Description==> Month: boldIf the number of pattern letters is 3 or more, the month is interpreted as text; otherwise, it is interpreted as a number.**bold** docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/text/… Use 'MM' instead of 'MMM' — Abhishek
– Abhishek, Commented Aug 18, 2014 at 16:52

Braj · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-18 16:29:29Z

3

You should use dd/MM/yyyy as per the Date string 14/08/2010

MMM matches Month name such as Jan , Feb

Read more about SimpleDateFormat Patterns

I tried

Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MMM/yyyy").parse("14/08/2010");

that results into

Exception in thread "main" java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: "14/08/2010"
    at java.text.DateFormat.parse(Unknown Source)

answered Aug 18, 2014 at 16:29

Braj

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5 Comments

Abdelaziz Dabebi Over a year ago

when I use dd/MM/yyyy it prints this error: java.sql.SQLException: No data found

Braj Over a year ago

As per 14/08/2010 date string.

Braj Over a year ago

Test Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy").parse("14/08/2010");

Hajo Thelen Over a year ago

SQLException? java.sql.Date != java.util.Date

Abdelaziz Dabebi Over a year ago

Yest this works: Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy").parse("14/08/2010"); @user3218114 thanks :D

duffymo · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-18 19:10:38Z

You don't know if the problem is with your date parser or the SQL ResultSet.

A debugger will tell you quickly where the problem lies.

I strongly agree with those people who argue that you should not save a DATE in a CHAR column.

I'd write it this way to give myself a chance.

private static final DateFormat DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT;

static {
    DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy");
    DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT.setLenient(false);
}


// Your method snippet
try {
    while (rs.next()) {
        String dateAsStr = rs.getString(2);
        Date date = DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT.parse(dateAsStr);
        System.out.println(DEFAULT_DATE_FORMAT.format(date));
    }
} catch(ParseException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
} finally {
    // Don't forget to close your resources in finally block.
    close(rs);
    close(statement);
}

Hajo Thelen · Accepted Answer · 2014-08-18 16:43:12Z

-1

Depending on field definition and Database it is possible that you get "14/08/2010____" instead of "14/08/2010".

On Oracle for instance returns a string filled with spaces when the DB field ist defined as CHAR.

With CHAR(24) you will always get a string with the length of 24 characters.

Try trim.

answered Aug 18, 2014 at 16:43

Hajo Thelen

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2 Comments

Braj Over a year ago

As per the exception there are no spaces. Date string is enclosed inside double quotes.

Braj Over a year ago

Test Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("dd/MM/yyyy").parse(" 14/08/2010 "); Works fine for me.

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