Convert java.util.date default format to Timestamp in Java

Question

The default format of java.util.date is something like this "Mon May 27 11:46:15 IST 2013". How can I convert this into timestamp and calculate in seconds the difference between the same and current time?

java.util.Date date= new java.util.Date();
Timestamp ts_now = new Timestamp(date.getTime());

The above code gives me the current timestamp. However, I got no clue how to find the timestamp of the above string.

Solution 1

You can use the Calendar class to convert Date

public long getDifference()
{
    SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("EEE MMM dd kk:mm:ss z yyyy");
    Date d = sdf.parse("Mon May 27 11:46:15 IST 2013");

    Calendar c = Calendar.getInstance();
    c.setTime(d);
    long time = c.getTimeInMillis();
    long curr = System.currentTimeMillis();
    long diff = curr - time;    //Time difference in milliseconds
    return diff/1000;
}

Solution 2

Best one

String str_date=month+"-"+day+"-"+yr;
DateFormat formatter = new SimpleDateFormat("MM-dd-yyyy");
Date date = (Date)formatter.parse(str_date); 
long output=date.getTime()/1000L;
String str=Long.toString(output);
long timestamp = Long.parseLong(str) * 1000;

Comments

[swateek]

How did it convert the string I passed?

[swateek]

I want to convert "Mon May 27 11:46:15 IST 2013" this string into timestamp. And find the difference between it and the current time..that too in seconds.

[swateek]

Am s database freak...Java is confusing me.

[swateek]

While am trying to convert "Mon May 27 11:46:15 IST 2013" string to date. It gives me an unparsable string exception. Any idea how can I go about?

[Rahul Bobhate]

@Swat: Updated the answer.

[swateek]

thanks a lot @Rahul . I actually combined your answer with Salem's answer above to get this right. Thanks! :)

[swateek]

Thank you! I used your answer along with @Rahul 's to get this right.

[swateek]

Thanks @Nidhin, I found the work around with Salem and Rahul's answer below. Appreciate your quick help. :)