public class

DateFormatSymbols

extends Object
implements Serializable Cloneable
java.lang.Object
   ↳ java.text.DateFormatSymbols

Class Overview

DateFormatSymbols is a public class for encapsulating localizable date-time formatting data, such as the names of the months, the names of the days of the week, and the time zone data. DateFormat and SimpleDateFormat both use DateFormatSymbols to encapsulate this information.

Typically you shouldn't use DateFormatSymbols directly. Rather, you are encouraged to create a date-time formatter with the DateFormat class's factory methods: getTimeInstance, getDateInstance, or getDateTimeInstance. These methods automatically create a DateFormatSymbols for the formatter so that you don't have to. After the formatter is created, you may modify its format pattern using the setPattern method. For more information about creating formatters using DateFormat's factory methods, see DateFormat.

If you decide to create a date-time formatter with a specific format pattern for a specific locale, you can do so with:

 new SimpleDateFormat(aPattern, DateFormatSymbols.getInstance(aLocale)).
 

DateFormatSymbols objects are cloneable. When you obtain a DateFormatSymbols object, feel free to modify the date-time formatting data. For instance, you can replace the localized date-time format pattern characters with the ones that you feel easy to remember. Or you can change the representative cities to your favorite ones.

New DateFormatSymbols subclasses may be added to support SimpleDateFormat for date-time formatting for additional locales.

Summary

Public Constructors
DateFormatSymbols()
Construct a DateFormatSymbols object by loading format data from resources for the default locale.
DateFormatSymbols(Locale locale)
Construct a DateFormatSymbols object by loading format data from resources for the given locale.
Public Methods
Object clone()
Overrides Cloneable
boolean equals(Object obj)
Override equals
String[] getAmPmStrings()
Gets ampm strings.
static Locale[] getAvailableLocales()
Returns an array of all locales for which the getInstance methods of this class can return localized instances.
String[] getEras()
Gets era strings.
final static DateFormatSymbols getInstance()
Gets the DateFormatSymbols instance for the default locale.
final static DateFormatSymbols getInstance(Locale locale)
Gets the DateFormatSymbols instance for the specified locale.
String getLocalPatternChars()
Gets localized date-time pattern characters.
String[] getMonths()
Gets month strings.
String[] getShortMonths()
Gets short month strings.
String[] getShortWeekdays()
Gets short weekday strings.
String[] getWeekdays()
Gets weekday strings.
String[][] getZoneStrings()
Gets time zone strings.
int hashCode()
Override hashCode.
void setAmPmStrings(String[] newAmpms)
Sets ampm strings.
void setEras(String[] newEras)
Sets era strings.
void setLocalPatternChars(String newLocalPatternChars)
Sets localized date-time pattern characters.
void setMonths(String[] newMonths)
Sets month strings.
void setShortMonths(String[] newShortMonths)
Sets short month strings.
void setShortWeekdays(String[] newShortWeekdays)
Sets short weekday strings.
void setWeekdays(String[] newWeekdays)
Sets weekday strings.
void setZoneStrings(String[][] newZoneStrings)
Sets time zone strings.
[Expand]
Inherited Methods
From class java.lang.Object

Public Constructors

public DateFormatSymbols ()

Construct a DateFormatSymbols object by loading format data from resources for the default locale. This constructor can only construct instances for the locales supported by the Java runtime environment, not for those supported by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations. For full locale coverage, use the getInstance method.

Throws
MissingResourceException if the resources for the default locale cannot be found or cannot be loaded.
See Also

public DateFormatSymbols (Locale locale)

Construct a DateFormatSymbols object by loading format data from resources for the given locale. This constructor can only construct instances for the locales supported by the Java runtime environment, not for those supported by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations. For full locale coverage, use the getInstance method.

Throws
MissingResourceException if the resources for the specified locale cannot be found or cannot be loaded.

Public Methods

public Object clone ()

Overrides Cloneable

Returns
  • a clone of this instance.

public boolean equals (Object obj)

Override equals

Parameters
obj the reference object with which to compare.
Returns
  • true if this object is the same as the obj argument; false otherwise.

public String[] getAmPmStrings ()

Gets ampm strings. For example: "AM" and "PM".

Returns
  • the ampm strings.

public static Locale[] getAvailableLocales ()

Returns an array of all locales for which the getInstance methods of this class can return localized instances. The returned array represents the union of locales supported by the Java runtime and by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations. It must contain at least a Locale instance equal to Locale.US.

Returns
  • An array of locales for which localized DateFormatSymbols instances are available.

public String[] getEras ()

Gets era strings. For example: "AD" and "BC".

Returns
  • the era strings.

public static final DateFormatSymbols getInstance ()

Gets the DateFormatSymbols instance for the default locale. This method provides access to DateFormatSymbols instances for locales supported by the Java runtime itself as well as for those supported by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations.

Returns
  • a DateFormatSymbols instance.

public static final DateFormatSymbols getInstance (Locale locale)

Gets the DateFormatSymbols instance for the specified locale. This method provides access to DateFormatSymbols instances for locales supported by the Java runtime itself as well as for those supported by installed DateFormatSymbolsProvider implementations.

Parameters
locale the given locale.
Returns
  • a DateFormatSymbols instance.
Throws
NullPointerException if locale is null

public String getLocalPatternChars ()

Gets localized date-time pattern characters. For example: 'u', 't', etc.

Returns
  • the localized date-time pattern characters.

public String[] getMonths ()

Gets month strings. For example: "January", "February", etc.

Returns
  • the month strings.

public String[] getShortMonths ()

Gets short month strings. For example: "Jan", "Feb", etc.

Returns
  • the short month strings.

public String[] getShortWeekdays ()

Gets short weekday strings. For example: "Sun", "Mon", etc.

Returns
  • the short weekday strings. Use Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc. to index the result array.

public String[] getWeekdays ()

Gets weekday strings. For example: "Sunday", "Monday", etc.

Returns
  • the weekday strings. Use Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc. to index the result array.

public String[][] getZoneStrings ()

Gets time zone strings. Use of this method is discouraged; use TimeZone.getDisplayName() instead.

The value returned is a two-dimensional array of strings of size n by m, where m is at least 5. Each of the n rows is an entry containing the localized names for a single TimeZone. Each such row contains (with i ranging from 0..n-1):

  • zoneStrings[i][0] - time zone ID
  • zoneStrings[i][1] - long name of zone in standard time
  • zoneStrings[i][2] - short name of zone in standard time
  • zoneStrings[i][3] - long name of zone in daylight saving time
  • zoneStrings[i][4] - short name of zone in daylight saving time
The zone ID is not localized; it's one of the valid IDs of the TimeZone class that are not custom IDs. All other entries are localized names. If a zone does not implement daylight saving time, the daylight saving time names should not be used.

If setZoneStrings has been called on this DateFormatSymbols instance, then the strings provided by that call are returned. Otherwise, the returned array contains names provided by the Java runtime and by installed TimeZoneNameProvider implementations.

Returns
  • the time zone strings.

public int hashCode ()

Override hashCode. Generates a hash code for the DateFormatSymbols object.

Returns
  • a hash code value for this object.

public void setAmPmStrings (String[] newAmpms)

Sets ampm strings. For example: "AM" and "PM".

Parameters
newAmpms the new ampm strings.

public void setEras (String[] newEras)

Sets era strings. For example: "AD" and "BC".

Parameters
newEras the new era strings.

public void setLocalPatternChars (String newLocalPatternChars)

Sets localized date-time pattern characters. For example: 'u', 't', etc.

Parameters
newLocalPatternChars the new localized date-time pattern characters.

public void setMonths (String[] newMonths)

Sets month strings. For example: "January", "February", etc.

Parameters
newMonths the new month strings.

public void setShortMonths (String[] newShortMonths)

Sets short month strings. For example: "Jan", "Feb", etc.

Parameters
newShortMonths the new short month strings.

public void setShortWeekdays (String[] newShortWeekdays)

Sets short weekday strings. For example: "Sun", "Mon", etc.

Parameters
newShortWeekdays the new short weekday strings. The array should be indexed by Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc.

public void setWeekdays (String[] newWeekdays)

Sets weekday strings. For example: "Sunday", "Monday", etc.

Parameters
newWeekdays the new weekday strings. The array should be indexed by Calendar.SUNDAY, Calendar.MONDAY, etc.

public void setZoneStrings (String[][] newZoneStrings)

Sets time zone strings. The argument must be a two-dimensional array of strings of size n by m, where m is at least 5. Each of the n rows is an entry containing the localized names for a single TimeZone. Each such row contains (with i ranging from 0..n-1):

  • zoneStrings[i][0] - time zone ID
  • zoneStrings[i][1] - long name of zone in standard time
  • zoneStrings[i][2] - short name of zone in standard time
  • zoneStrings[i][3] - long name of zone in daylight saving time
  • zoneStrings[i][4] - short name of zone in daylight saving time
The zone ID is not localized; it's one of the valid IDs of the TimeZone class that are not custom IDs. All other entries are localized names.

Parameters
newZoneStrings the new time zone strings.
Throws
IllegalArgumentException if the length of any row in newZoneStrings is less than 5
NullPointerException if newZoneStrings is null
See Also