How to convert date to numeric calendar date in Java?

Question

Wanted to convert the following dates format:

Mar 10th 2016
Mar 1st 2016
Mar 2nd 2016
Mar 3rd 2016
Mar 22nd 2016

into

Tried couple of things but failed to get the desired output.

For converting dates you should take a look at [SimpleDateFormat](http://docs.oracle.com/javase/8/docs/api/java/text/SimpleDateFormat.html). This question was also discussed at stackoverflow: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4216745/java-string-to-date-conversion — mnille, Mar 17 '16 at 11:17
@mnille there are no pattern for ordinals like `10th` or `2nd` — Alex Salauyou, Mar 17 '16 at 11:22
You should write your own convertor for 'Mar 10th 2016' date format. It's not common — svichkar, Mar 17 '16 at 11:24
Thanks for the suggestions, I can split the date and add ordinals just wanted to know, any simple solution is available — user2459816, Mar 17 '16 at 11:32

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 17 '16 at 11:26

0

Try string manipulation. Read the input, split based on space and write a logic for your own converter

answered Mar 17 '16 at 11:26

RadAl

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Alex Salauyou · Answer 2 · 2016-03-18T08:45:54.100

As there is no pattern in SimpleDateFormat for ordinal day numbers, you first should clean the string, then parse the date and stringify it back using two SimpleDateFormats:

static final DateFormat DF_FROM = new SimpleDateFormat("MMM d yyyy", Locale.ENGLISH);
static final DateFormat DF_TO   = new SimpleDateFormat("dd-MM-yyyy");

synchronized static String convert(String date) throws ParseException {
    date = date.replaceAll("(?<=\\d)(st|nd|rd|th)", ""); // remove ordinal suffix
    return DF_TO.format(DF_FROM.parse(date));            // convert
}

Please note usage of synchronized for method as SimpleDateFormat methods are not thread-safe.

score 0 · Answer 3 · edited Mar 17 '16 at 11:44

Try this :)

private String converter (String in) throws Exception {

    String stringMonth = in.split(" ")[0];
    Date date = new SimpleDateFormat("MMM", Locale.ENGLISH).parse(stringMonth);
    Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
    cal.setTime(date);
    int month = cal.get(Calendar.MONTH);
    int  day = Integer.valueOf(in.split(" ")[1].replaceAll("[a-z]", ""));
    int year = Integer.valueOf(in.split(" ")[2]) - 1900;

    Date result = new Date();
    result.setYear(year);
    result.setMonth(month);
    result.setDate(day);

    DateTime dt = new DateTime(result);
    return dt.toString("dd-MM-yyyy");
}

How to convert date to numeric calendar date in Java?

3 Answers3