org.joda.convert
Class StringConvert

java.lang.Object
  org.joda.convert.StringConvert

public final class StringConvert
extends Object

Manager for conversion to and from a String, acting as the main client interface.

Support is provided for conversions based on the StringConverter interface or the ToString and FromString annotations.

StringConvert is thread-safe with concurrent caches.

INSTANCE

public static final StringConvert INSTANCE

An immutable global instance.

This instance cannot be added to using register(java.lang.Class, org.joda.convert.StringConverter), however annotated classes are picked up. To register your own converters, simply create an instance of this class.

StringConvert

public StringConvert()

Creates a new conversion manager including the JDK converters.

The convert instance is mutable in a thread-safe manner. Converters may be altered at any time, including the JDK converters. It is strongly recommended to only alter the converters before performing actual conversions.

StringConvert

public StringConvert(boolean includeJdkConverters,
                     StringConverterFactory... factories)

Creates a new conversion manager.

The convert instance is mutable in a thread-safe manner. Converters may be altered at any time, including the JDK converters. It is strongly recommended to only alter the converters before performing actual conversions.

If specified, the factories will be queried in the order specified.

Parameters:

includeJdkConverters - true to include the JDK converters

factories - optional array of factories to use, not null

create

public static StringConvert create()

Creates a new conversion manager including the extended standard set of converters.

The returned converter is a new instance that includes additional converters:

• JDK converters
• NumericArrayStringConverterFactory
• NumericObjectArrayStringConverterFactory
• CharObjectArrayStringConverterFactory
• ByteObjectArrayStringConverterFactory
• BooleanArrayStringConverterFactory
• BooleanObjectArrayStringConverterFactory

The convert instance is mutable in a thread-safe manner. Converters may be altered at any time, including the JDK converters. It is strongly recommended to only alter the converters before performing actual conversions.

Returns:

the new converter, not null

Since:

1.5

convertToString

public String convertToString(Object object)

Converts the specified object to a String.

This uses findConverter(java.lang.Class) to provide the converter.

Parameters:

object - the object to convert, null returns null

Returns:

the converted string, may be null

Throws:

RuntimeException - (or subclass) if unable to convert

convertToString

public String convertToString(Class<?> cls,
                              Object object)

Converts the specified object to a String.

This uses findConverter(java.lang.Class) to provide the converter. The class can be provided to select a more specific converter.

Parameters:

cls - the class to convert from, not null

object - the object to convert, null returns null

Returns:

the converted string, may be null

Throws:

RuntimeException - (or subclass) if unable to convert

convertFromString

public <T> T convertFromString(Class<T> cls,
                               String str)

Converts the specified object from a String.

This uses findConverter(java.lang.Class) to provide the converter.

Type Parameters:

T - the type to convert to

Parameters:

cls - the class to convert to, not null

str - the string to convert, null returns null

Returns:

the converted object, may be null

Throws:

RuntimeException - (or subclass) if unable to convert

isConvertible

public boolean isConvertible(Class<?> cls)

Checks if a suitable converter exists for the type.

This performs the same checks as the findConverter methods. Calling this before findConverter will cache the converter.

Note that all exceptions, including developer errors are caught and hidden.

Parameters:

cls - the class to find a converter for, null returns false

Returns:

true if convertible

Since:

1.5

findConverter

public <T> StringConverter<T> findConverter(Class<T> cls)

Finds a suitable converter for the type.

This returns an instance of StringConverter for the specified class. This is designed for user code where the Class object generics is known.

The search algorithm first searches the registered converters in the class hierarchy and immediate parent interfaces. It then searches for ToString and FromString annotations on the specified class, class hierarchy or immediate parent interfaces.

Type Parameters:

T - the type of the converter

Parameters:

cls - the class to find a converter for, not null

Returns:

the converter, not null

Throws:

RuntimeException - (or subclass) if no converter found

findConverterNoGenerics

public StringConverter<Object> findConverterNoGenerics(Class<?> cls)

Finds a suitable converter for the type with open generics.

This returns an instance of StringConverter for the specified class. This is designed for framework usage where the Class object generics are unknown'?'. The returned type is declared with Object instead of '?' to allow the ToStringConverter to be invoked.

The search algorithm first searches the registered converters in the class hierarchy and immediate parent interfaces. It then searches for ToString and FromString annotations on the specified class, class hierarchy or immediate parent interfaces.

Parameters:

cls - the class to find a converter for, not null

Returns:

the converter, using Object to avoid generics, not null

Throws:

RuntimeException - (or subclass) if no converter found

Since:

1.5

registerFactory

public void registerFactory(StringConverterFactory factory)

Registers a converter factory.

This will be registered ahead of all existing factories.

No new factories may be registered for the global singleton.

Parameters:

factory - the converter factory, not null

Throws:

IllegalStateException - if trying to alter the global singleton

Since:

1.5

register

public <T> void register(Class<T> cls,
                         StringConverter<T> converter)

Registers a converter for a specific type.

The converter will be used for subclasses unless overidden.

No new converters may be registered for the global singleton.

Type Parameters:

T - the type of the converter

Parameters:

cls - the class to register a converter for, not null

converter - the String converter, not null

Throws:

IllegalArgumentException - if the class or converter are null

IllegalStateException - if trying to alter the global singleton

register

public <T> void register(Class<T> cls,
                         ToStringConverter<T> toString,
                         FromStringConverter<T> fromString)

Registers a converter for a specific type using two separate converters.

This method registers a converter for the specified class. It is primarily intended for use with JDK 1.8 method references or lambdas:

  sc.register(Distance.class, Distance::toString, Distance::parse);
 

The converter will be used for subclasses unless overidden.

No new converters may be registered for the global singleton.

Type Parameters:

T - the type of the converter

Parameters:

cls - the class to register a converter for, not null

toString - the to String converter, typically a method reference, not null

fromString - the from String converter, typically a method reference, not null

Throws:

IllegalArgumentException - if the class or converter are null

IllegalStateException - if trying to alter the global singleton

Since:

1.3

registerMethods

public <T> void registerMethods(Class<T> cls,
                                String toStringMethodName,
                                String fromStringMethodName)

Registers a converter for a specific type by method names.

This method allows the converter to be used when the target class cannot have annotations added. The two method names must obey the same rules as defined by the annotations ToString and FromString. The converter will be used for subclasses unless overidden.

No new converters may be registered for the global singleton.

For example, convert.registerMethods(Distance.class, "toString", "parse");

Type Parameters:

T - the type of the converter

Parameters:

cls - the class to register a converter for, not null

toStringMethodName - the name of the method converting to a string, not null

fromStringMethodName - the name of the method converting from a string, not null

Throws:

IllegalArgumentException - if the class or method name are null or invalid

IllegalStateException - if trying to alter the global singleton

registerMethodConstructor

public <T> void registerMethodConstructor(Class<T> cls,
                                          String toStringMethodName)

Registers a converter for a specific type by method and constructor.

This method allows the converter to be used when the target class cannot have annotations added. The two method name and constructor must obey the same rules as defined by the annotations ToString and FromString. The converter will be used for subclasses unless overidden.

No new converters may be registered for the global singleton.

For example, convert.registerMethodConstructor(Distance.class, "toString");

Type Parameters:

T - the type of the converter

Parameters:

cls - the class to register a converter for, not null

toStringMethodName - the name of the method converting to a string, not null

Throws:

IllegalArgumentException - if the class or method name are null or invalid

IllegalStateException - if trying to alter the global singleton

toString

public String toString()

Returns a simple string representation of the object.

Overrides:

toString in class Object

Returns:

the string representation, never null