Date format for the whole context

[peer2p]

We have this code in our application Context file:

	
<bean id="dateFormatSql" class="java.text.SimpleDateFormat">
   		<constructor-arg><value>dd.MM.yyyy HH&#58;mm</value></constructor-arg>
	</bean>
	
	<bean id="customDateEditor" class="org.springframework.beans.propertyeditors.CustomDateEditor">
    		<constructor-arg index="0"><ref local="dateFormatSql"/></constructor-arg>
    		<constructor-arg index="1"><value>true</value></constructor-arg>
	</bean>

	<bean id="customEditorConfigurer" class="org.springframework.beans.factory.config.CustomEditorConfigurer">
	   <property name="customEditors">
	     <map>
	       <entry key="java.util.Date">
	         <ref bean="customDateEditor"/>
	       </entry>
	     </map>
	   </property>
	 </bean>

If we register the customDateEditor via initBinder() the Format of Date Attributes is OK.

protected void initBinder(HttpServletRequest request, ServletRequestDataBinder binder) {
	      binder.registerCustomEditor(Date.class, null, customDateEditor);
}

But what can we do to tell the whole Application (all Models) to use this Date format for binding and rendering Dates?

[Ben Alex]

Put it in an abstract parent controller and subclass.

Speaking of Dates, we're using a custom Date property editor that returns the Date.getTime() (ie a long). Then on the client-side we convert it using JavaScript to a timezone-sensitive date String. When the user changes the date (using http://www.dynarch.com/projects/calendar/), it updates the hidden form parameter containing the long representation of the Date. The property editor then of course converts that long back into a Java Date. A nice way of achieving timezone sensitive Dates using Spring's PropertyEditor approach.

[peer2p]

We have no problems with binding or modifying a date, if we register a customEditorConfigurer via initBinder.
We want to tell the context to render and bind all date attributes of all beans with the format specified in the dateFormatSql bean.