Java DATE Parsing

Question

I´m having a stupid problem with java.util.Date.

I have this line of code, but I don´t understand why this date is unparseable with this format.

public class TestTime {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        final String DATE_FORMAT = "EEE MMM dd HH:mm:ss zzz yyyy";

        String date = "Sat Dec 31 10:00:00 CET 2011";
        SimpleDateFormat dFormat = new SimpleDateFormat(DATE_FORMAT);

        Date lDate = null;
        try {
            lDate = dFormat.parse(date);
        } catch (ParseException e1) {
            // TODO Auto-generated catch block
            e1.printStackTrace();
        }
    }
}

Check your default locale, is it en_US, etc. or something 'obscure'? — home
– home, Commented Dec 9, 2011 at 16:28
Be careful using SimpleDateFormat. It is not thread safe. codefutures.com/weblog/andygrove/2007/10/… — Gray
– Gray, Commented Dec 9, 2011 at 16:31
What character is that in your "I'm" and "don't" (for apostrophe)? — Bhesh Gurung
– Bhesh Gurung, Commented Dec 9, 2011 at 16:47

stacker · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-09 16:30:38Z

10

If your system uses a locale other than English you need to use this constructor:

SimpleDateFormat(DATE_FORMAT,Locale.ENGLISH);

If this is not the problem, you should format a date using the same formatter and compare the output to your input string.

answered Dec 9, 2011 at 16:30

stacker

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ziesemer · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-09 16:27:40Z

5

I don't see anything wrong with this. It executes for me without error, and returns:

Sat Dec 31 09:00:00 GMT 2011

answered Dec 9, 2011 at 16:27

ziesemer

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2 Comments

ziesemer Over a year ago

Without a stack trace, it was a valid effort - and at a minimum, it shows that there is nothing that is "completely incorrect" with the code, and must be something environment-specific. +1 for the locale suggestions.

migueloop Over a year ago

Thanks a lot!, It was a Locale Problem!!

Olivier Croisier · Accepted Answer · 2011-12-09 16:31:34Z

1

Seems to be a Locale-related problem.

If I set a French locale, the pattern does not work. If I set the Locale to be US in the SimpleDateFormat constructor, it does works.

SimpleDateFormat dFormat = new SimpleDateFormat(DATE_FORMAT, Locale.US);

answered Dec 9, 2011 at 16:31

Olivier Croisier

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1 Comment

migueloop Over a year ago

Thanks Olivier, it finally was a Locale problem.

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