Convert String Date to Date Object in BIRT

Tips & Tricks

by vdodson

Posted Oct 19, 2007 (Edited Oct 19, 2007 )

(0 reviews, 7731 views)

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Computed Column for converting String Dates

If your dates are coming out of a database as a String field, then it is difficult to format or use that date in a chart so you can easily convert the date string into a real date object. There are several places this can be done like directly on the table in a BIRT report, or in this example, I created a computed column.

My date was coming in from the database as a String like this:
"2007-10-17 00:00:00"

To convert this to a Date object,

Create a new computed column in your data set.
Select "Date" for the Data Type
Add the following script modified with your field name

df = new Packages.java.text.SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");
myDate = df.parse(row["your_date_field_name"]);
myDate;

You should now be able to format the field as a date and use it correctly in expressions and charts.

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SHOUPINOU

Posted: Nov 5, 2007 3:17:59

Hi!
What about converting Date to String Date? Is it possible to write in the qeury of Data Set?or am�I obliged� to create a new Computed colomn?
Please answer me as soon as possible
Thanks

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vdodson

Posted: Dec 6, 2007 21:38:25

Hi Shoupinou,

There might be a way to format a date as a string in the SQL query but I not aware of how to do that. Within BIRT, your date field coming from the database can be displayed as a String on the report, or it can be manipulated into a String in a computed column or within an expression. If you leave the field as a Date, then you can use one of the preformatted date types, like Long Date, Short Date, etc, to display on the report.

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rpolunsky

Posted: Apr 1, 2008 8:53:24

You can convert a date type to a string type in any of the major databases. I've done that - in fact, I've converted both directions depending on what I need to do with parameters as getting a true Date parameter into a BIRT report seems to be horridly tricky.

It's an interesting choice of effiiciency what to do in the query SQL and what to do in the BIRT side. I put as much as possible into the query SQL because that way the bulk of the work is done on the server.

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