Time String to time representation Java

Question

I have a string like this 210115 I want to represent it as 21:01:15 any ideas?. I tried using Gregorian calendar but it adds date to it which I don't want

SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("HHmmss");
Date date = new Date();
try{
 date = sdf.parse("210115");
}
 catch(Exception e){
}

Calendar calendar = GregorianCalendar.getInstance();
calendar.setTime(date);
System.out.print(calendar.getTime());

Output is Thu Jan 01 21:01:15 UTC 1970 but what I want is just 21:01:15

Thanks.

The question is why even convert to date, if you simply want a string? Just do: String s = "210115"; String output = s.substring(0,2) + ":" + s.substring(2,2) + ":" + s.substring(4,2); — Nicolae Natea, Apr 26 '17 at 11:43
Possible duplicate of [Change date format in a Java string](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4772425/change-date-format-in-a-java-string) — Robin Topper, Apr 26 '17 at 11:44
Use `java.time.LocalTime` instead of class `java.util.Date`. Class `Date` is not suitable for holding only a time without a date. — Jesper, Apr 26 '17 at 12:06

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 26 '17 at 11:38

To output a formatted date, you use another SimpleDateFormat object with a pattern with the format you want.

In this case, it sounds like you might want to use something like

SimpleDateFormat outputFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("HH:mm:ss");
System.out.println( outputFormat.format(date) );

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 26 '17 at 11:41

2

So what you want is just a time, without time zone. I would recommend using the LocalTime class, which is exactly that, instead of the Date class.

LocalTime time = LocalTime.parse("210115", DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("HHmmss"));

answered Apr 26 '17 at 11:41

assylias

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I was just about to answer this myself. Also, the `toString()` implementation seems to guarantee the _HH:mm:ss_ output. – Magnilex Apr 26 '17 at 11:45
@Magnilex yes it does. – assylias Apr 26 '17 at 11:50

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 26 '17 at 11:47

If u r getting the date string in "210115" this format and you want it in "21:01:15" format then why are you using date format. Simply do string operation as:

  String time="210115";
        String newtime=time.substring(0,2)+":"+time.substring(2,4)+":"+time.substring(4,6);
        System.out.println(newtime);

you will get the required format.21:01:15

Time String to time representation Java

3 Answers3