Java simple date formatter for string to date

Question

Can anyone point out what seems to be the problem here?

try {
    Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:13:00 EET").parse("EEE, dd MMM yyyy hh:mm:ss z");
} catch (ParseException e) {
    e.printStackTrace();
}

and the stacktrace:

java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: "Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:13:00 EET" (at offset 26)

I'm suspecting something with the locale that I'm using but I can't be sure. Seems that "z" for timezone not working.

Edit: Sorry the exception was funny earlier, I changed it but forgot to update here.

try {
            Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("EEE, dd MMM yyyy hh:mm:ss z", Locale.US).parse("Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:13:00 EET");
        } catch (ParseException e) {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }

You have the arguments backwards. pass the format string to SimpleDateFormat contructor and the actual date string to parse — DBug
– DBug, Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 17:39
Sorry about that, I forgot to update the code earlier, here's the real one with that exception. The old one was giving some kinda funny exception like "no pattern 'o' " or something — Barışcan Kayaoğlu
– Barışcan Kayaoğlu, Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 17:41
What I meant is that I get the unparseable date exception with the right order — Barışcan Kayaoğlu
– Barışcan Kayaoğlu, Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 17:42
Have you tried with Locale.ENGLISH ? what is the Locale in your system ? The string is parsed into a date just fine in my system — Manos Nikolaidis
– Manos Nikolaidis, Commented Nov 20, 2015 at 17:44

DBug · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-20 17:45:03Z

1

After looking at javadoc for SimpleDateFormat, you are using "hh" for hour, which is assumed to be a 12-hour time. Use HH for 24-hour time. Your example as 15 for the hour.

answered Nov 20, 2015 at 17:45

DBug

2,5661 gold badge14 silver badges26 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

3 Comments

Barışcan Kayaoğlu Over a year ago

Yea I changed that one, thank you for declaring but that's not the problem. I think when you use hh it mods your value since the problem is at offset 26, and it still is after i changed it to HH.

DBug Over a year ago

Then I'm back to the timezone EET not being recognized by Java, even if it's a valid timezone. Try replacing EET with EST.

Barışcan Kayaoğlu Over a year ago

Yea seems its working with EST. Too bad it's a feed and can't change it. Guess I'll split and hope that feed won't change. Thank you :)

JFPicard · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-20 17:42:48Z

0

I think you're missing 'z' here.

Try:

Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:13:00 EET").
        parse("EEE, dd MMM yyyy hh:mm:ss zzz")

Since your timezone is with three characters.

answered Nov 20, 2015 at 17:42

JFPicard

5,1973 gold badges22 silver badges47 bronze badges

1 Comment

Barışcan Kayaoğlu Over a year ago

I don't think that's the case. In oracle documentation they gave this example "K:mm a, z" 0:08 PM, PDT. But not that it matters, I tried every combination from 1 to 4 z just to make sure earlier capital or lower :)

Manos Nikolaidis · Accepted Answer · 2015-11-20 17:57:57Z

0

Such an exception can come from parsing a date with the wrong Locale. For example this date formatter :

SimpleDateFormat df = new SimpleDateFormat("EEE, dd MMM yyyy hh:mm:ss z", Locale.US);

will successfully parse the example date :

Date date = df.parse("Mon, 02 Nov 2015 15:13:00 EET");

But the following will give the exception you are getting

SimpleDateFormat df = new SimpleDateFormat("EEE, dd MMM yyyy hh:mm:ss z", Locale.FRENCH);

I would expect the Locale in Android to be chosen according to the language set by the user.

answered Nov 20, 2015 at 17:57

Manos Nikolaidis

22.3k12 gold badges76 silver badges82 bronze badges

1 Comment

Barışcan Kayaoğlu Over a year ago

But I'm already creating the simpleDateFormatter instance with Locale.US, would it not be the case to use Locale.getDefault() to get the exception?

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

Java simple date formatter for string to date

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

3 Answers 3

3 Comments

1 Comment

1 Comment

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related