Class ConvertUtilsBean

java.lang.Object
org.apache.commons.beanutils.ConvertUtilsBean
Direct Known Subclasses:
ConvertUtilsBean2

public class ConvertUtilsBean extends Object

Utility methods for converting String scalar values to objects of the specified Class, String arrays to arrays of the specified Class. The actual Converter instance to be used can be registered for each possible destination Class. Unless you override them, standard Converter instances are provided for all of the following destination Classes:

  • java.lang.BigDecimal (no default value)
  • java.lang.BigInteger (no default value)
  • boolean and java.lang.Boolean (default to false)
  • byte and java.lang.Byte (default to zero)
  • char and java.lang.Character (default to a space)
  • java.lang.Class (no default value)
  • double and java.lang.Double (default to zero)
  • float and java.lang.Float (default to zero)
  • int and java.lang.Integer (default to zero)
  • long and java.lang.Long (default to zero)
  • short and java.lang.Short (default to zero)
  • java.lang.String (default to null)
  • java.io.File (no default value)
  • java.net.URL (no default value)
  • java.sql.Date (no default value)
  • java.sql.Time (no default value)
  • java.sql.Timestamp (no default value)

For backwards compatibility, the standard Converters for primitive types (and the corresponding wrapper classes) return a defined default value when a conversion error occurs. If you prefer to have a ConversionException thrown instead, replace the standard Converter instances with instances created with the zero-arguments constructor. For example, to cause the Converters for integers to throw an exception on conversion errors, you could do this:

   // No-args constructor gets the version that throws exceptions
   Converter myConverter =
    new org.apache.commons.beanutils.converter.IntegerConverter();
   ConvertUtils.register(myConverter, Integer.TYPE);    // Native type
   ConvertUtils.register(myConverter, Integer.class);   // Wrapper class
 

Converters generally treat null input as if it were invalid input, ie they return their default value if one was specified when the converter was constructed, and throw an exception otherwise. If you prefer nulls to be preserved for converters that are converting to objects (not primitives) then register a converter as above, passing a default value of null to the converter constructor (and of course registering that converter only for the .class target).

When a converter is listed above as having no default value, then that converter will throw an exception when passed null or an invalid value as its input. In particular, by default the BigInteger and BigDecimal converters have no default (and are therefore somewhat inconsistent with the other numerical converters which all have zero as their default).

Converters that generate arrays of each of the primitive types are also automatically configured (including String[]). When passed null or invalid input, these return an empty array (not null). See class AbstractArrayConverter for the supported input formats for these converters.

Since:
1.7
Version:
$Id$
  • Constructor Summary

    Constructors
    Constructor
    Description
    Construct a bean with standard converters registered
  • Method Summary

    Modifier and Type
    Method
    Description
    convert(Object value)
    Convert the specified value into a String.
    convert(Object value, Class<?> targetType)
    Convert the value to an object of the specified class (if possible).
    convert(String[] values, Class<?> clazz)
    Convert an array of specified values to an array of objects of the specified class (if possible).
    convert(String value, Class<?> clazz)
    Convert the specified value to an object of the specified class (if possible).
    void
    Remove all registered Converters, and re-establish the standard Converters.
    void
    deregister(Class<?> clazz)
    Remove any registered Converter for the specified destination Class.
    boolean
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Boolean.TYPE and Boolean.class instead
    byte
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Byte.TYPE and Byte.class instead
    char
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Character.TYPE and Character.class instead
    double
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Double.TYPE and Double.class instead
    float
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Float.TYPE and Float.class instead
    int
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Integer.TYPE and Integer.class instead
    long
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Long.TYPE and Long.class instead
    short
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Short.TYPE and Short.class instead
    protected static ConvertUtilsBean
    Get singleton instance
    lookup(Class<?> clazz)
    Look up and return any registered Converter for the specified destination class; if there is no registered Converter, return null.
    lookup(Class<?> sourceType, Class<?> targetType)
    Look up and return any registered Converter for the specified source and destination class; if there is no registered Converter, return null.
    void
    register(boolean throwException, boolean defaultNull, int defaultArraySize)
    Register the provided converters with the specified defaults.
    void
    register(Converter converter, Class<?> clazz)
    Register a custom Converter for the specified destination Class, replacing any previously registered Converter.
    void
    setDefaultBoolean(boolean newDefaultBoolean)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Boolean.TYPE and Boolean.class instead
    void
    setDefaultByte(byte newDefaultByte)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Byte.TYPE and Byte.class instead
    void
    setDefaultCharacter(char newDefaultCharacter)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Character.TYPE and Character.class instead
    void
    setDefaultDouble(double newDefaultDouble)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Double.TYPE and Double.class instead
    void
    setDefaultFloat(float newDefaultFloat)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Float.TYPE and Float.class instead
    void
    setDefaultInteger(int newDefaultInteger)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Integer.TYPE and Integer.class instead
    void
    setDefaultLong(long newDefaultLong)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Long.TYPE and Long.class instead
    void
    setDefaultShort(short newDefaultShort)
    Deprecated.
    Register replacement converters for Short.TYPE and Short.class instead

    Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object

    clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait
  • Constructor Details

    • ConvertUtilsBean

      Construct a bean with standard converters registered
  • Method Details

    • getInstance

      protected static ConvertUtilsBean getInstance()
      Get singleton instance
      Returns:
      The singleton instance
    • getDefaultBoolean

      @Deprecated public boolean getDefaultBoolean()
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Boolean.TYPE and Boolean.class instead
      Gets the default value for Boolean conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Boolean value
    • setDefaultBoolean

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultBoolean(boolean newDefaultBoolean)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Boolean.TYPE and Boolean.class instead
      Sets the default value for Boolean conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultBoolean - The default Boolean value
    • getDefaultByte

      @Deprecated public byte getDefaultByte()
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Byte.TYPE and Byte.class instead
      Gets the default value for Byte conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Byte value
    • setDefaultByte

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultByte(byte newDefaultByte)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Byte.TYPE and Byte.class instead
      Sets the default value for Byte conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultByte - The default Byte value
    • getDefaultCharacter

      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Character.TYPE and Character.class instead
      Gets the default value for Character conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Character value
    • setDefaultCharacter

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultCharacter(char newDefaultCharacter)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Character.TYPE and Character.class instead
      Sets the default value for Character conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultCharacter - The default Character value
    • getDefaultDouble

      @Deprecated public double getDefaultDouble()
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Double.TYPE and Double.class instead
      Gets the default value for Double conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Double value
    • setDefaultDouble

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultDouble(double newDefaultDouble)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Double.TYPE and Double.class instead
      Sets the default value for Double conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultDouble - The default Double value
    • getDefaultFloat

      @Deprecated public float getDefaultFloat()
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Float.TYPE and Float.class instead
      Gets the default value for Float conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Float value
    • setDefaultFloat

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultFloat(float newDefaultFloat)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Float.TYPE and Float.class instead
      Sets the default value for Float conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultFloat - The default Float value
    • getDefaultInteger

      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Integer.TYPE and Integer.class instead
      Gets the default value for Integer conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Integer value
    • setDefaultInteger

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultInteger(int newDefaultInteger)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Integer.TYPE and Integer.class instead
      Sets the default value for Integer conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultInteger - The default Integer value
    • getDefaultLong

      @Deprecated public long getDefaultLong()
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Long.TYPE and Long.class instead
      Gets the default value for Long conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Long value
    • setDefaultLong

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultLong(long newDefaultLong)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Long.TYPE and Long.class instead
      Sets the default value for Long conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultLong - The default Long value
    • getDefaultShort

      @Deprecated public short getDefaultShort()
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Short.TYPE and Short.class instead
      Gets the default value for Short conversions.
      Returns:
      The default Short value
    • setDefaultShort

      @Deprecated public void setDefaultShort(short newDefaultShort)
      Deprecated.
      Register replacement converters for Short.TYPE and Short.class instead
      Sets the default value for Short conversions.
      Parameters:
      newDefaultShort - The default Short value
    • convert

      public String convert(Object value)
      Convert the specified value into a String. If the specified value is an array, the first element (converted to a String) will be returned. The registered Converter for the java.lang.String class will be used, which allows applications to customize Object->String conversions (the default implementation simply uses toString()).
      Parameters:
      value - Value to be converted (may be null)
      Returns:
      The converted String value or null if value is null
    • convert

      public Object convert(String value, Class<?> clazz)
      Convert the specified value to an object of the specified class (if possible). Otherwise, return a String representation of the value.
      Parameters:
      value - Value to be converted (may be null)
      clazz - Java class to be converted to (must not be null)
      Returns:
      The converted value
      Throws:
      ConversionException - if thrown by an underlying Converter
    • convert

      public Object convert(String[] values, Class<?> clazz)
      Convert an array of specified values to an array of objects of the specified class (if possible). If the specified Java class is itself an array class, this class will be the type of the returned value. Otherwise, an array will be constructed whose component type is the specified class.
      Parameters:
      values - Array of values to be converted
      clazz - Java array or element class to be converted to (must not be null)
      Returns:
      The converted value
      Throws:
      ConversionException - if thrown by an underlying Converter
    • convert

      public Object convert(Object value, Class<?> targetType)
      Convert the value to an object of the specified class (if possible). If no converter for the desired target type is registered, the passed in object is returned unchanged.
      Parameters:
      value - Value to be converted (may be null)
      targetType - Class of the value to be converted to (must not be null)
      Returns:
      The converted value
      Throws:
      ConversionException - if thrown by an underlying Converter
    • deregister

      public void deregister()
      Remove all registered Converters, and re-establish the standard Converters.
    • register

      public void register(boolean throwException, boolean defaultNull, int defaultArraySize)
      Register the provided converters with the specified defaults.
      Parameters:
      throwException - true if the converters should throw an exception when a conversion error occurs, otherwise false if a default value should be used.
      defaultNull - trueif the standard converters (see registerStandard(boolean, boolean)) should use a default value of null, otherwise false. N.B. This values is ignored if throwException is true
      defaultArraySize - The size of the default array value for array converters (N.B. This values is ignored if throwException is true). Specifying a value less than zero causes a null value to be used for the default.
    • deregister

      public void deregister(Class<?> clazz)
      Remove any registered Converter for the specified destination Class.
      Parameters:
      clazz - Class for which to remove a registered Converter
    • lookup

      public Converter lookup(Class<?> clazz)
      Look up and return any registered Converter for the specified destination class; if there is no registered Converter, return null.
      Parameters:
      clazz - Class for which to return a registered Converter
      Returns:
      The registered Converter or null if not found
    • lookup

      public Converter lookup(Class<?> sourceType, Class<?> targetType)
      Look up and return any registered Converter for the specified source and destination class; if there is no registered Converter, return null.
      Parameters:
      sourceType - Class of the value being converted
      targetType - Class of the value to be converted to
      Returns:
      The registered Converter or null if not found
    • register

      public void register(Converter converter, Class<?> clazz)
      Register a custom Converter for the specified destination Class, replacing any previously registered Converter.
      Parameters:
      converter - Converter to be registered
      clazz - Destination class for conversions performed by this Converter