Interconversions and Testing

Maurice Naftalin
@mauricenaftalin
Summary
Summary
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
Unit Testing
String Interconversion
 String Interconversion

Date/Time classes expose methods:

 String Interconversion

Date/Time classes expose methods:

• toString()
• parse(CharSequence)
 String Interconversion

Date/Time classes expose methods:

• toString()
• parse(CharSequence)

– these delegate to DateTimeFormatter

methods:
 String Interconversion

Date/Time classes expose methods:

• toString()
• parse(CharSequence)

– these delegate to DateTimeFormatter

methods:
• format(TemporalAccessor)
• parse(CharSequence)
 String Interconversion

Date/Time classes expose methods:

• toString()
• parse(CharSequence)

– these delegate to DateTimeFormatter

methods:
• format(TemporalAccessor)
• parse(CharSequence)
• parse(CharSequence,

TemporalQuery<T>)
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Predefined Instances
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods
Using format patterns
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
Predefined DateTimeFormatters
Predefined DateTimeFormatters

LocalDate

LocalTime
OffsetTime

LocalDateTime
OffsetDateTime
ZonedDateTime

Instant
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
DateTimeFormatter Factory Methods
 DateTimeFormatter Factory Methods

Arguments of type :

java.time.format.FormatStyle
The enum FormatStyle
 The enum FormatStyle

FormatStyle members:
• FULL
• LONG
• MEDIUM
• SHORT
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
Formatter Patterns
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
• e.g. the pattern for ISO_LOCAL_DATE is

"yyyy'-'MM'-'dd"
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
• e.g. the pattern for ISO_LOCAL_DATE is

"yyyy'-'MM'-'dd"

Year, output in a
field at least four
characters wide
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
• e.g. the pattern for ISO_LOCAL_DATE is

"yyyy'-'MM'-'dd"

Year, output in a
field at least four Literal "-"
characters wide
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
• e.g. the pattern for ISO_LOCAL_DATE is

"yyyy'-'MM'-'dd"

Year, output in a
field at least four
characters wide

Month, output in a
field exactly two
characters wide
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
• e.g. the pattern for ISO_LOCAL_DATE is

"yyyy'-'MM'-'dd"

Year, output in a
Day, output in a
field at least four
field exactly two
characters wide
characters wide

Month, output in a
field exactly two
characters wide
 Formatter Patterns
Patterns define string formats
• e.g. the pattern for ISO_LOCAL_DATE is

"yyyy'-'MM'-'dd"

A few other pattern symbols:

Symbol Meaning
K hour of am/pm
a am/pm of day
E day of week
Z zone offset
[ optional section start
] optional section end
er
es
 Formatter Properties

er
es
 Formatter Properties
Properties of

java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter

er
es
 Formatter Properties
Properties of

java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter

•Zone
- Used when a zone is required
but not supplied by the parse
string or date-time value


er
es
 Formatter Properties
Properties of

java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter

•Zone
- Used when a zone is required
but not supplied by the parse
string or date-time value


er•Locale
es - Used for localization

 Formatter Properties
Properties of

java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter

•Zone
- Used when a zone is required
but not supplied by the parse
string or date-time value


er•Locale
es - Used for localization


•ResolverStyle
- STRICT, LENIENT, or SMART
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
Obtaining DateTimeFormatter Instances

Factory Methods
Predefined Instances Using predefined date and time
styles

Factory Methods DateTimeFormatterBuilder

Using format patterns Most flexible way of creating
DateTimeFormatter
Builder
 • Implementation of the Builder Pattern
- Simplifies the construction of complex 

objects

DateTimeFormatter
Builder
 • Implementation of the Builder Pattern
- Simplifies the construction of complex 

objects
• Can set properties:
- zone
DateTimeFormatter - locale
Builder - resolver style
 • Implementation of the Builder Pattern
- Simplifies the construction of complex 

objects
• Can set properties:
- zone
DateTimeFormatter - locale
Builder - resolver style
• Can append existing DateTimeFormatters
 • Implementation of the Builder Pattern
- Simplifies the construction of complex 

objects
• Can set properties:
- zone
DateTimeFormatter - locale
Builder - resolver style
• Can append existing DateTimeFormatters
• Once building is complete, calling 

toFormatter() creates a 

DateTimeFormatter
DateTimeFormatterBuilder
 DateTimeFormatterBuilder
e.g. to parse LocalDates in this format: 

"2018 Aug 23"
 DateTimeFormatterBuilder
e.g. to parse LocalDates in this format: 

"2018 Aug 23"
we could use a formatter:
DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy' 'MMM' 'dd")

 DateTimeFormatterBuilder
e.g. to parse LocalDates in this format: 

"2018 Aug 23"
we could use a formatter:
DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy' 'MMM' 'dd")


To create the equivalent DateTimeFormatterBuilder we would write

 DateTimeFormatterBuilder
e.g. to parse LocalDates in this format: 

"2018 Aug 23"
we could use a formatter:
DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy' 'MMM' 'dd")


To create the equivalent DateTimeFormatterBuilder we would write

DateTimeFormatterBuilder dtfBuilder = new DateTimeFormatterBuilder()

.appendValue(YEAR, 4)

.appendLiteral(" ")

.appendText(MONTH_OF_YEAR, SHORT)

.appendLiteral(" ")

.appendValue(DAY_OF_MONTH, 2);


DateTimeFormatter formatter = dtfBuilder.toFormatter();
 DateTimeFormatterBuilder
e.g. to parse LocalDates in this format: 

"2018 Aug 23"
we could use a formatter:
DateTimeFormatter.ofPattern("yyyy' 'MMM' 'dd")


To create the equivalent DateTimeFormatterBuilder we would write

DateTimeFormatterBuilder dtfBuilder = new DateTimeFormatterBuilder()

.appendValue(YEAR, 4)

.appendLiteral(" ")

Other TextStyle options:
.appendText(MONTH_OF_YEAR, SHORT)

NARROW, FULL
.appendLiteral(" ")

.appendValue(DAY_OF_MONTH, 2);


DateTimeFormatter formatter = dtfBuilder.toFormatter();
TemporalAmount classes
 TemporalAmount classes

The Class Period

 TemporalAmount classes

The Class Period

toString() – ISO-8601 format
 TemporalAmount classes

The Class Period

toString() – ISO-8601 format
parse(Period) – relaxed ISO-8601
 TemporalAmount classes

The Class Period

toString() – ISO-8601 format
parse(Period) – relaxed ISO-8601

For more flexible formatting, can

use accessors
• getYears()
• getMonths()
• getDays()
TemporalAmount classes
 TemporalAmount classes
The Class Duration
 TemporalAmount classes
The Class Duration
toString() – fixed format
parse(String) – fixed format
 TemporalAmount classes
The Class Duration
toString() – fixed format
parse(String) – fixed format

In Java 8, the only accessors are

• getSeconds()
• getNano()

 TemporalAmount classes
The Class Duration
toString() – fixed format
parse(String) – fixed format

In Java 8, the only accessors are

• getSeconds()
• getNano()


Java 9 provides new methods:

• toNanosPart()
• toMillisPart()
• toSecondsPart()
• toMinutesPart()
• toHoursPart()
• toDaysPart()
Interconversions and Testing

Interconversions with Other

Representations
• Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
Unit Testing
Demo: Testing the Methods of the Task
Scheduler
Legacy Date/Time Classes
Legacy Date/Time Classes
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
java.util.GregorianCalendar ZonedDateTime toInstant() from(ZonedDateTime)
toZonedDateTime()
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
java.util.GregorianCalendar ZonedDateTime toInstant() from(ZonedDateTime)
toZonedDateTime()
java.util.TimeZone ZoneId toZoneId() getTimeZone(ZoneId)
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
java.util.GregorianCalendar ZonedDateTime toInstant() from(ZonedDateTime)
toZonedDateTime()
java.util.TimeZone ZoneId toZoneId() getTimeZone(ZoneId)
java.sql.Date LocalDate toLocalDate() valueOf(LocalDate)
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
java.util.GregorianCalendar ZonedDateTime toInstant() from(ZonedDateTime)
toZonedDateTime()
java.util.TimeZone ZoneId toZoneId() getTimeZone(ZoneId)
java.sql.Date LocalDate toLocalDate() valueOf(LocalDate)
java.sql.Time LocalTime toLocalTime() valueOf(LocalTime)
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
java.util.GregorianCalendar ZonedDateTime toInstant() from(ZonedDateTime)
toZonedDateTime()
java.util.TimeZone ZoneId toZoneId() getTimeZone(ZoneId)
java.sql.Date LocalDate toLocalDate() valueOf(LocalDate)
java.sql.Time LocalTime toLocalTime() valueOf(LocalTime)
java.sql.Timestamp Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
toLocalDateTime()
 Legacy Date/Time Classes

java.time
Legacy Type Conversion Methods
Equivalent
java.util.Date Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
java.util.GregorianCalendar ZonedDateTime toInstant() from(ZonedDateTime)
toZonedDateTime()
java.util.TimeZone ZoneId toZoneId() getTimeZone(ZoneId)
java.sql.Date LocalDate toLocalDate() valueOf(LocalDate)
java.sql.Time LocalTime toLocalTime() valueOf(LocalTime)
java.sql.Timestamp Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
toLocalDateTime()
java.nio.file.attribute.FileTime Instant toInstant() from(Instant)
Interconversions and Testing

Interconversions with Other

Representations
• Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
Unit Testing
Demo: Testing the Methods of the Task
Scheduler
 Persistence
Without JPA
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Persisting
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Persisting
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Persisting
Support

convertToDatabaseColumn(LocalDate)
 Persistence
Without JPA
Retrieving
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Retrieving
Support
 Persistence
Without JPA
Retrieving
Support

convertToEntityAttribute(Date)
interface AttributeConverter<X,Y> {
Y convertToDatabaseColumn(X)
X convertToEntityAttribute(Y)
}
@Converter(autoApply = true)

public class LocalDateAttributeConverter implements AttributeConverter<LocalDate, Date> {


interface AttributeConverter<X,Y> {
Y convertToDatabaseColumn(X)
X convertToEntityAttribute(Y)
}
@Converter(autoApply = true)

public class LocalDateAttributeConverter implements AttributeConverter<LocalDate, Date> {


@Override

public Date convertToDatabaseColumn(LocalDate localDate) {

return (localDate == null ? null : Date.valueOf(localDate));

}


interface AttributeConverter<X,Y> {
Y convertToDatabaseColumn(X)
X convertToEntityAttribute(Y)
}
@Converter(autoApply = true)

public class LocalDateAttributeConverter implements AttributeConverter<LocalDate, Date> {


@Override

public Date convertToDatabaseColumn(LocalDate localDate) {

return (localDate == null ? null : Date.valueOf(localDate));

}


@Override

public LocalDate convertToEntityAttribute(Date sqlDate) {

return (sqlDate == null ? null : sqlDate.toLocalDate());

}

}

interface AttributeConverter<X,Y> {
Y convertToDatabaseColumn(X)
X convertToEntityAttribute(Y)
}
@Converter(autoApply = true)

public class LocalDateAttributeConverter implements AttributeConverter<LocalDate, Date> {


@Override

public Date convertToDatabaseColumn(LocalDate localDate) {

return (localDate == null ? null : Date.valueOf(localDate));

}


@Override

public LocalDate convertToEntityAttribute(Date sqlDate) {

return (sqlDate == null ? null : sqlDate.toLocalDate());

}

}

interface AttributeConverter<X,Y> {
Y convertToDatabaseColumn(X)
X convertToEntityAttribute(Y)
}
@Converter(autoApply = true)

public class LocalDateAttributeConverter implements AttributeConverter<LocalDate, Date> {


@Override

public Date convertToDatabaseColumn(LocalDate localDate) {

return (localDate == null ? null : Date.valueOf(localDate));

}


@Override

public LocalDate convertToEntityAttribute(Date sqlDate) {

return (sqlDate == null ? null : sqlDate.toLocalDate());

}

}

Three conversion libraries:

https://github.com/perceptron8/datetime-jpa
https://github.com/marschall/threeten-jpa
https://bitbucket.org/montanajava/jpaattributeconverters
With JPA Support
 With JPA Support

JPA 2.2
 With JPA Support

JPA 2.2
Supported by
– DataNucleus
– EclipseLink (v2.7+)
– Hibernate (v5.3+)
 With JPA Support

JPA 2.2
JAVA TYPE JDBC TYPE
java.time.LocalDate DATE
Supported by java.time.LocalTime TIME
java.time.LocalDateTime TIMESTAMP
– DataNucleus java.time.OffsetTime TIME_WITH_TIMEZONE
– EclipseLink (v2.7+) java.time.OffsetDateTime TIMESTAMP_WITH_TIMEZONE

– Hibernate (v5.3+)
 With JPA Support

JPA 2.2
JAVA TYPE JDBC TYPE
java.time.LocalDate DATE
Supported by java.time.LocalTime TIME
java.time.LocalDateTime TIMESTAMP
– DataNucleus java.time.OffsetTime TIME_WITH_TIMEZONE
– EclipseLink (v2.7+) java.time.OffsetDateTime TIMESTAMP_WITH_TIMEZONE

– Hibernate (v5.3+)

Hibernate also supports

persistence of Duration,
Instant, and ZonedDateTime
 With JPA Support

JPA 2.2
JAVA TYPE JDBC TYPE
java.time.LocalDate DATE
Supported by java.time.LocalTime TIME
java.time.LocalDateTime TIMESTAMP
– DataNucleus java.time.OffsetTime TIME_WITH_TIMEZONE
– EclipseLink (v2.7+) java.time.OffsetDateTime TIMESTAMP_WITH_TIMEZONE
java.time.Duration BIGINT
– Hibernate (v5.3+)
java.time.Instant TIMESTAMP
java.time.ZonedDateTime TIMESTAMP

Hibernate also supports

persistence of Duration,
Instant, and ZonedDateTime
Interconversions and Testing

Interconversions with Other

Representations
• Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
Unit Testing
Demo: Testing the Methods of the Task
Scheduler
 Methods of
the Class Clock
 Factory Methods

Methods of
the Class Clock
 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)

Methods of
the Class Clock
 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)
tickSeconds(ZoneId)

Methods of tickMinutes(ZoneId)

the Class Clock

 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)
tickSeconds(ZoneId)

Methods of tickMinutes(ZoneId)
fixed(Instant, ZoneId)
the Class Clock
 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)
tickSeconds(ZoneId)

Methods of tickMinutes(ZoneId)
fixed(Instant, ZoneId)
the Class Clock
Accessors
 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)
tickSeconds(ZoneId)

Methods of tickMinutes(ZoneId)
fixed(Instant, ZoneId)
the Class Clock
Accessors
instant()
 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)
tickSeconds(ZoneId)

Methods of tickMinutes(ZoneId)
fixed(Instant, ZoneId)
the Class Clock
Accessors
instant()
millis()
 Factory Methods
systemDefaultZone()

systemUTC()

system(ZoneId)
tickSeconds(ZoneId)

Methods of tickMinutes(ZoneId)
fixed(Instant, ZoneId)
the Class Clock
Accessors
instant()
millis()
getZone()
private Calendar cal;
private ZonedDateTime start;
@Before
public void setup() {
cal = new Calendar();
start = ZonedDateTime.now()
}
@Test
public void testNoWorkPeriods() {
cal.addEvent(Event.of(start, start.plusHours(1),""));
NavigableSet<WorkPeriod> combined = cal.overwritePeriodsByEvents(ZoneId.systemDefault());
assertTrue(combined.isEmpty());
}

Testing without
a Clock
private Calendar cal;
private ZonedDateTime start;
@Before
public void setup() {
cal = new Calendar();
start = ZonedDateTime.now()
}
@Test
public void testNoWorkPeriods() {
cal.addEvent(Event.of(start, start.plusHours(1),""));
NavigableSet<WorkPeriod> combined = cal.overwritePeriodsByEvents(ZoneId.systemDefault());
assertTrue(combined.isEmpty());
}

Testing without
a Clock
private Clock clock;
private Calendar cal;
private ZonedDateTime start;
@Before
public void setup() {
cal = new Calendar();
clock = Clock.fixed(Instant.EPOCH, ZoneOffset.UTC);
start = ZonedDateTime.now(clock);
}
@Test
public void testNoWorkPeriods() {
cal.addEvent(Event.of(start, start.plusHours(1),""));
NavigableSet<WorkPeriod> combined = cal.overwritePeriodsByEvents(clock.getZone());
assertTrue(combined.isEmpty());
}

Testing with
a Clock
 Using a Mocking Framework to
Simulate Changed Time in a Method
private Instant currentTime;












@Test
public void myTest() {
testObject.methodThatAcceptsAnInstant(clock.instant());
currentTime = currentTime.plus(1, ChronoUnit.DAYS); // simulate passage of time
testObject.methodThatAcceptsAnInstant(clock.instant());
}

Using a Mocking Framework to

Simulate Changed Time in a Method
private Instant currentTime;












@Test
public void myTest() {
testObject.methodThatAcceptsAnInstant(clock.instant());
currentTime = currentTime.plus(1, ChronoUnit.DAYS); // simulate passage of time
testObject.methodThatAcceptsAnInstant(clock.instant());
}

Using a Mocking Framework to

Simulate Changed Time in a Method
private Instant currentTime;

private Clock clock = Mockito.mock(Clock.class);

 @Before

 public void setup() {

 currentTime = Instant.EPOCH; // or other initialisation

 when(clock.instant()).thenAnswer(invocation -> currentTime);

 }
@Test
public void myTest() {
testObject.methodThatAcceptsAnInstant(clock.instant());
currentTime = currentTime.plus(1, ChronoUnit.DAYS); // simulate passage of time
testObject.methodThatAcceptsAnInstant(clock.instant());
}

Using a Mocking Framework to

Simulate Changed Time in a Method
Interconversions and Testing

Interconversions with Other

Representations
• Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
Unit Testing
Demo: Testing the Methods of the Task
Scheduler
Summary
Summary
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
 Interconversions with Other
Representations
Summary • Strings – Formatting and Parsing
• Other JDK Date/Time Classes
• Database Persistence
Unit Testing