Using NumberFormat to validate data entry

Problem :
The user can key in an integer with comma formatting but the commas must be in the right place , leading minus is OK but no dec point allowed : 12,34 and 12 34 and 123.0 invalid. Such errors are flagged.

I can solve this by hand coding but I thought that NumberFormat would raise a ParseException instead the number is truncated to 12 12 and 123.
I know that Sun spec mentions truncation , read past JavaRanch questions and www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/library/j-numberformat/index.html
which "reveals passing warts that can be surprising".

What do Swing programmers do ?
Thank you.

What do you know about regular expressions? You can probably design one to match your input String, and throw an Exception, or clear the JTextField if it won't match.

I know how to use regex.
But it's obvious that parse() for numbers and dates will pass almost anything as valid.
66/77/8888608 88:99 is valid DateFormat.SHORT.
Without wasting my time - it only seems to raise ParseException when a non-digit is used where a digit is required and invalid field delimiters (eg ? instead of /).

The parse() methods are more of a "look at this string and do your best to convert it to the desired type" function than a validation function. You do really need to use a regex to validate the input, and if it is valid then use parse to convert.

And dates strings are really a bear to validate, especially if you want to handle localized date formats. Hence the use of calendars and date pickers - no validation necessary.

Handles valid dates ?
What is going on here ? - trim() does not seem to fix the problem.
I must be doing something wrong.

import java.util.Date ;
import java.text.* ;
public class GBTest {
public static void main(String[] args) {
String hireDate = "25/12/39 00:00" ;
// String hireDate = "25/12/39" + " 00.00" ;
// Use concatenate and prints current date : 20080712 - weird
DateFormat df = DateFormat.getInstance() ;
Date dateObj = new Date() ;

try { dateObj = df.parse (hireDate) ; }
catch (ParseException pe ) { }

SimpleDateFormat maskSDF = new SimpleDateFormat ("yyyyMMdd") ;
String s = maskSDF.format(dateObj) ;
System.out.println (s) ; // 19391225 : OK Y2K yy > 50 then 20nn
}
}

Ignore that last posting - the HH:MM was invalid 00.00
Sorry.

me too, I need more detailed info
Data Entry

Welcome to JavaRanch

Please explain your question. What sort of information?