new to java... "using the time and date as an int?"

Question

I have recently started learning java for creating android apps. I have spent hours and hours looking for the right code to be able to use the current time and date as an int. I'm sure it's very easy but I can't seem to find the correct coding. My first app im creating it will be crucial for a number to increase with time. Thank you for your help!

Chris

do you want the full date, as in, 01032012 for March 2nd of 2012 or just the date 1? — Niranjan, Mar 01 '12 at 03:19

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:29

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You can use it as a long, see javadocs:

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/1.5.0/docs/api/java/util/Date.html#getTime()

But why would you do it, that's another question... Choose wisely :) Nothing wrong with having dates represented as numbers per se, but any calculations are bound to hit some of the numerous corner cases - you might want to look at this SOq for one really mind-boggling examples:

Why is subtracting these two times (in 1927) giving a strange result?

and this SOq for a bunch of best practices:

Daylight saving time and time zone best practices

If you are interested in any date calculations, you may want to look at Joda Time library:

http://joda-time.sourceforge.net/

I'd say that when you have such good and well tested libraries readily available, it's rarely a good idea to go your own way.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:29

Community

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answered Mar 01 '12 at 03:07

icyrock.com

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I am honestly VERY new to the java language... Creating this app is my way of learning the language. I'm creating an app for cars and I need to be able to update the entered odometer reading by the average set miles driven. I don't want to ask really how to do everything unless there might be a simple answer to my question. Thank you for the fast response! – Cgramme Mar 01 '12 at 04:02
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Sure thing - `getTime` method on a date object will get you what you want - to quote the docs: "Returns the number of milliseconds since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT represented by this Date object.". – icyrock.com Mar 01 '12 at 04:20
So far I have been able to find tutorials to help me learn all the information I need, alot of "youtube" and "TheNewBoston" I guess I am concerned that I learn it the simplest way and the right way. And by new to the java language I have been studying it for only 3 months now on my own time as a hobby. – Cgramme Mar 01 '12 at 04:27
Actually one of the easiest is to get System.getCurrentTimeinMillis() if you don't mind getting the time as a long. You can then always pass that to either java.util.Date or java.util.GregorianCalendar as needed. – Chris Aldrich Mar 01 '12 at 20:04

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 01 '12 at 18:55

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Try to avoid the Date class and use GregorianCalendar instead. It has built-in arithmetic functions, and if you really need it, there's a getTimeInMillis() method.

answered Mar 01 '12 at 18:55

David Ehrmann

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new to java... "using the time and date as an int?"

2 Answers2