Create a Java data format where spaces is inserted inbetween

Question

I was wondering if Java Date format can do something like this 2 0 1 3 0 1 3 1, where a space is inserted between each digit. So far I can use this code to make it work.

DateFormat dateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd");
dateString = dateFormat.format(date).replace("", " ").trim();

But I was hoping I can just create a date format to do it all.

Thanks in advance.

It doesn't really look like a date format - it looks more like an int pattern — Scorpion, Jan 18 '13 at 19:27
I suggest you, to use Joda-Time library. JDK date/time librares are strange and bad desiged. — Ariel Grabijas, Jan 18 '13 at 19:27
@Noran, why do you think that JDK date/time *are strange and bad desiged*? — Andremoniy, Jan 18 '13 at 19:31
@Andremoniy See [this question](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12032051/differences-between-java-util-date-and-joda-time-apis) — ᴇʟᴇvᴀтᴇ, Jan 18 '13 at 19:34
SimpleDateFormat is not thread-safe. Someone @Sun must have been under huge time pressure when implementing it :) — Marcin Płonka, Jan 18 '13 at 19:38
@Andremoniy as Aetheria said, or for example: [link](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/13184172/wrong-default-fields-values-in-java-util-calendar) - my question about one of callendar class functionalities. — Ariel Grabijas, Jan 18 '13 at 19:38

ᴇʟᴇvᴀтᴇ · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-18T19:35:15.137

2

Your approach is about as simple as possible.

There is no way to do this within a date format specification (not even with Joda time, as someone else mentioned).

Out of interest, why do you want spaces between the digits like that? It seems unusual?

edited Jan 18 '13 at 19:35

answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:28

ᴇʟᴇvᴀтᴇ

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Well, I guess I will go with what I have then. Thanks. This format is just needed for a project. It is a bit unusual lol. – Souloikj Jan 18 '13 at 19:36
+1 it seems there isn't any way to tell to `SimpleDateFormat` format date parts in such scattered way. – Andremoniy Jan 18 '13 at 19:37
@Aetheria I didn't said that you can do it in Joda-Time. I recomed Joda-Time in general. – Ariel Grabijas Jan 18 '13 at 19:42
Sorry I didn't mean to imply that you'd implied that. And I wholeheartedly agree with your recommendation. – ᴇʟᴇvᴀтᴇ Jan 18 '13 at 19:43

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:38

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I suggest that you write a subclass of DateFormat. You will encapsulate your formatting rule.

answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:38

Aaron Kurtzhals

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This is not much better then doing it outside `DateFormat`. In your case you will have to encapsulate this code (`dateFormat.format(date).replace("", " ").trim()`) into your subclass implementation – Andremoniy Jan 18 '13 at 19:40

Snake · Answer 3 · 2013-01-20T08:57:19.130

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I use:

private final static SimpleDateFormat MSG_DATE_FORMAT = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy MM dd'T'HHmmssSSSZ");
...
String timeStamp = MSG_DATE_FORMAT.format( new Date() );

edited Jan 20 '13 at 08:57

answered Jan 18 '13 at 19:43

Snake

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`replace("", " ")` adds a space character between all the letters and also at both ends. The `trim()` removes the unwanted whitespace from the ends, retaining the spaces inside the string. – ᴇʟᴇvᴀтᴇ Jan 18 '13 at 19:44
It would be better if you will firstly check the facts, and then posting your conclusions. `replace("", " ")` works fine – Andremoniy Jan 18 '13 at 19:49
point taken and lesson learned but does my answer 'answer' his question? aetheria's accepted answer doesn't even give him an answer. – Snake Jan 18 '13 at 20:09

Create a Java data format where spaces is inserted inbetween

3 Answers3