Getting pattern string from java SimpleDateFormat

Question

I have a SimpleDateFormat object that I retrieve from some internationalization utilities. Parsing dates is all fine and good, but I would like to be able show a formatting hint to my users like "MM/dd/yyyy". Is there a way to get the formatting pattern from a SimpleDateFormat object?

skaffman · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-03 21:51:21Z

36

SimpleDateFormat.toPattern()

Returns a pattern string describing this date format.

answered May 3, 2010 at 21:51

skaffman

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2 Comments

DLaw Over a year ago

Thanks, I guess I didn't look close enough.

ParagJ Over a year ago

Can you tell me, how to get just the date or time pattern from this string? I can use String methods like compare and contains, but is there a more elegant method than doing this?

Dmitry · Accepted Answer · 2012-01-08 05:10:33Z

If you just need to get a pattern string for the given locale, the following worked for me:

/* Obtain the time format per current locale */

public String getTimeFormat(int longfmt) {
Locale loc = Locale.getDefault();
int jlfmt = 
    (longfmt == 1)?java.text.SimpleDateFormat.LONG:java.text.SimpleDateFormat.SHORT;
    SimpleDateFormat sdf = 
    (SimpleDateFormat)SimpleDateFormat.getTimeInstance(jlfmt, loc);
return sdf.toLocalizedPattern();
}

/* Obtain the date format per current locale */

public String getDateFormat(int longfmt) {
Locale loc = Locale.getDefault();
int jlfmt = 
    (longfmt == 1)?java.text.SimpleDateFormat.LONG:java.text.SimpleDateFormat.SHORT;
    SimpleDateFormat sdf = 
    (SimpleDateFormat)SimpleDateFormat.getDateInstance(jlfmt, loc);
return sdf.toLocalizedPattern();
}

getDateInstance and getTimeInstance for the given locale are key here.

user319799 · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-03 21:50:15Z

5

Use toPattern() or toLocalizedPattern() method.

answered May 3, 2010 at 21:50

user319799

Comments

OscarRyz · Accepted Answer · 2010-05-03 21:55:07Z

4

import java.text.SimpleDateFormat;

public class Sdf {
    public static void main( String [] args ) {
        SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("MM/dd/yyyy");
        String patternToUse = sdf.toPattern();
        System.out.println( patternToUse );
    }
}

answered May 3, 2010 at 21:55

OscarRyz

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