Patterns in PDF - XFA Date Format and Java SimpleDateFormat patterns

In this article we take a look at the difference between XFA supported DateTimeField date pattern and Java SimpleDateFormat.

DateTime Field in XFA forms requires date time pattern for data input and data output. These patterns are defined in <picture> tags in field tag. Input date time format picture tag is defined as a child tag which is located inside <ui> tag, however ouput date time format picture tag is defined inside <format> tag which is a child tag of <field> (please note this is not a children of UI tag).

As you might already know java SimpleDateFormat class uses these abbreviations ….

dd/MM/yyyy = 16/06/2012

dd-MMM-yyyy = 15-Jan-2013

EEEE, dd/MMM/yy = Monday, 21/Oct/13

However the same examples are represented in XFA as this format

DD/MM/YYYY = 16/06/2012 { Note date and year characters are in capital }

DD-MM-YYYY = 15-Jan-2013 { same as above date and year are in capital )

EEEE, DD/MMM/YY = Monday, 21/Oct/13 { same as above but no changes to day of the week }

So all you need to do is replace lower case d and y to convert into SimpleDateFormat supported String.

However XFA forms support additional strings and words to represent default date time behaviours.

XFA wording	XFA Format	Simple Date Format (Java)
date.default{}	DD MMM YYYY	dd MMM yyyy
date.short{}	DD/MM/YYYY	dd/MM/yyyy
date.medium{}	DD MMM YYYY	dd MMM yyyy
date.long{}	DD MMMM YYYY	dd MMMM yyyy
date.full{}	EEEE, DD MMMM YYYY	EEEE, dd MMMM yyyy