/* * File : $Source: /alkacon/cvs/alkacon/com.alkacon.opencms.v8.feeder/src/com/alkacon/opencms/v8/feeder/CmsFeedContentMapping.java,v $ * Date : $Date: 2008/12/13 13:23:24 $ * Version: $Revision: 1.3 $ * * This file is part of the Alkacon OpenCms Add-On Module Package * * Copyright (c) 2007 Alkacon Software GmbH (http://www.alkacon.com) * * The Alkacon OpenCms Add-On Module Package is free software: * you can redistribute it and/or modify * it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or * (at your option) any later version. * * The Alkacon OpenCms Add-On Module Package is distributed * in the hope that it will be useful, * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the * GNU General Public License for more details. * * You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License * along with the Alkacon OpenCms Add-On Module Package. * If not, see http://www.gnu.org/licenses/. * * For further information about Alkacon Software GmbH, please see the * company website: http://www.alkacon.com. * * For further information about OpenCms, please see the * project website: http://www.opencms.org. */ package com.alkacon.opencms.v8.feeder; import com.alkacon.opencms.v8.formgenerator.database.CmsFormDataAccess; import com.alkacon.opencms.v8.formgenerator.database.CmsFormDataBean; import com.alkacon.opencms.v8.formgenerator.database.CmsFormDatabaseFilter; import org.opencms.file.CmsObject; import org.opencms.file.CmsRequestContext; import org.opencms.file.collectors.CmsDateResourceComparator; import org.opencms.main.CmsException; import org.opencms.main.OpenCms; import org.opencms.util.CmsHtmlExtractor; import org.opencms.util.CmsMacroResolver; import org.opencms.util.CmsStringUtil; import org.opencms.xml.content.CmsXmlContent; import org.opencms.xml.content.I_CmsXmlContentHandler; import org.opencms.xml.types.CmsXmlHtmlValue; import org.opencms.xml.types.I_CmsXmlContentValue; import java.util.ArrayList; import java.util.Arrays; import java.util.Collections; import java.util.Date; import java.util.HashMap; import java.util.Iterator; import java.util.List; import java.util.Locale; import java.util.Map; import java.util.Set; import com.sun.syndication.feed.synd.SyndContent; import com.sun.syndication.feed.synd.SyndContentImpl; import com.sun.syndication.feed.synd.SyndEntry; import com.sun.syndication.feed.synd.SyndEntryImpl; /** * Describes the mapping from an OpenCms XML content to a syndication feed entry.<p> * * @author Alexander Kandzior * @author Michael Moossen * * @version $Revision: 1.3 $ */ public class CmsFeedContentMapping { /** * Describes one individual mapping from an XML content field to a field of the syndication feed.<p> */ class CmsFeedFieldMapping { /** The default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found. */ private String m_defaultValue; /** The field in the feed to map the XML content to. */ private String m_feedField; /** The maximum length the field is allowed to have. */ private int m_maxLenght; /** The fields in the XML content to map. */ private List m_xmlFields; /** * Creates a new feed field mapping to a list of XML fields with default value and max length.<p> * * @param xmlFields the List of field in the XML content to map (String with xpath) * @param feedField the field in the feed to map the XML content to * @param maxLength the maximum length the field is allowed to have * @param defaultValue the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found */ public CmsFeedFieldMapping(List xmlFields, String feedField, int maxLength, String defaultValue) { m_xmlFields = xmlFields; m_feedField = feedField; m_defaultValue = defaultValue; m_maxLenght = maxLength; } /** * Creates a new feed field mapping without default value.<p> * * @param xmlField the field in the XML content to map * @param feedField the field in the feed to map the XML content to */ public CmsFeedFieldMapping(String xmlField, String feedField) { this(xmlField, feedField, null); } /** * Creates a new feed field mapping with default value and max length.<p> * * @param xmlField the field in the XML content to map * @param feedField the field in the feed to map the XML content to * @param maxLength the maximum length the field is allowed to have * @param defaultValue the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found */ public CmsFeedFieldMapping(String xmlField, String feedField, int maxLength, String defaultValue) { this(new ArrayList(Collections.singletonList(xmlField)), feedField, maxLength, defaultValue); } /** * Creates a new feed field mapping with default value.<p> * * @param xmlField the field in the XML content to map * @param feedField the field in the feed to map the XML content to * @param defaultValue the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found */ public CmsFeedFieldMapping(String xmlField, String feedField, String defaultValue) { this(xmlField, feedField, 0, defaultValue); } /** * Adds another fields in the XML content to map.<p> * * @param xmlField the additional field in the XML content to map */ public void addXmlField(String xmlField) { if (!m_xmlFields.contains(xmlField)) { m_xmlFields.add(xmlField); } } /** * This is a special implementation that also returns true if the object compared to * is a String equal to {@link #getFeedField()}.<p> * * @see java.lang.Object#equals(java.lang.Object) */ public boolean equals(Object obj) { String feedField = null; if (obj instanceof CmsFeedFieldMapping) { feedField = ((CmsFeedFieldMapping)obj).m_feedField; } if (obj instanceof String) { feedField = (String)obj; } return m_feedField.equals(feedField); } /** * Returns the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found.<p> * * @return the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found */ public String getDefaultValue() { return m_defaultValue; } /** * Returns the field in the feed to map the XML content to.<p> * * @return the field in the feed to map the XML content to */ public String getFeedField() { return m_feedField; } /** * Returns the maximum length the field is allowed to have.<p> * * A value of <code>0</code> or less indicates that the field length is unlimited.<p> * * @return the maximum length the field is allowed to have */ public int getMaxLenght() { return m_maxLenght; } /** * Returns the fields in the XML content to map.<p> * * @return the fields in the XML content to map */ public List getXmlFields() { return m_xmlFields; } /** * Returns <code>true</code> in case a default value for the feed field is available.<p> * * @return <code>true</code> in case a default value for the feed field is available */ public boolean hasDefaultValue() { return m_defaultValue != null; } /** * @see java.lang.Object#hashCode() */ public int hashCode() { return m_feedField.hashCode(); } /** * Returns <code>true</code> in case the maximum length of the field has been set.<p> * * @return <code>true</code> in case the maximum length of the field has been set */ public boolean hasMaxLenghtLimit() { return m_maxLenght > 0; } } /** * Macro resolver for generating rss entry fields.<p> * * It provides access to xml content fields, resource properties, data form fields and more.<p> */ class CmsFeedMacroResolver extends CmsMacroResolver { /** Macro prefix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_CONVERT_DATE = "convertToDate."; /** Macro prefix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_DATA = "data."; /** Macro suffix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_DATE = "DATE"; /** Macro name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_DESC_FORMAT = "desc.format"; /** Macro suffix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_ID = "ID"; /** Macro prefix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_LINK = "link."; /** Macro null result constant. */ public static final String MACRO_NULL = "_NULL_"; /** Macro suffix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_URI = "URI"; /** Macro prefix name constant. */ public static final String MACRO_XML = "xml."; /** The cms context. */ private CmsObject m_cms; /** The xml content to make available with macros. */ private CmsXmlContent m_content; /** The optional data form data to make available with macros. */ private CmsFormDataBean m_dataBean; /** The type (plain/html) of the last accessed xml content field. */ private String m_descType = null; /** The locale to read the xml content fields from. */ private Locale m_locale; /** * Default constructor.<p> * * @param cms the cms context * @param content the xml content to make available with macros * @param locale the locale to read the xml content fields from * @param dataBean the optional data form data to make available with macros */ public CmsFeedMacroResolver(CmsObject cms, CmsXmlContent content, Locale locale, CmsFormDataBean dataBean) { m_content = content; m_locale = locale; m_cms = cms; m_dataBean = dataBean; setCmsObject(cms); setKeepEmptyMacros(false); } /** * @see org.opencms.util.CmsMacroResolver#getMacroValue(java.lang.String) */ public String getMacroValue(String macro) { String ret = null; if (macro.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_DESC_FORMAT)) { return m_descType; } else if (macro.startsWith(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_CONVERT_DATE)) { String dateMacro = macro.substring(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_CONVERT_DATE.length()); try { // try to parse the date as long ret = "" + Long.valueOf(dateMacro).longValue(); } catch (NumberFormatException e) { ret = "-1"; // no luck parsing, so we have no date - try using other options... if (CmsStringUtil.isNotEmptyOrWhitespaceOnly(dateMacro)) { List items = CmsStringUtil.splitAsList(dateMacro, '|', true); ret = "" + CmsDateResourceComparator.calculateDate(m_cms, m_content.getFile(), items, -1); } } } else if (macro.startsWith(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_LINK)) { String linkMacro = macro.substring(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_LINK.length()); ret = OpenCms.getLinkManager().getServerLink(m_cms, linkMacro); } else if (macro.startsWith(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_XML)) { String xmlMacro = macro.substring(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_XML.length()); if (xmlMacro.startsWith("_") && xmlMacro.endsWith("_") && (xmlMacro.length() > 2)) { xmlMacro = xmlMacro.substring(1, xmlMacro.length() - 1); if (xmlMacro.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_URI)) { ret = m_cms.getSitePath(m_content.getFile()); } } else { I_CmsXmlContentValue xmlValue = m_content.getValue(xmlMacro, m_locale); if (xmlValue == null) { return CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_NULL; } else { // save the last for the desc.format macro if (xmlValue instanceof CmsXmlHtmlValue) { // the content is HTML m_descType = CONTENT_TYPE_HTML; } else { // assume default "text/plain" m_descType = CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT; } return xmlValue.getStringValue(m_cms); } } } else if (macro.startsWith(I_CmsXmlContentHandler.MAPTO_PROPERTY)) { String propertyMacro = macro.substring(I_CmsXmlContentHandler.MAPTO_PROPERTY.length()); try { ret = m_cms.readPropertyObject(m_content.getFile(), propertyMacro, true).getValue(); if (ret == null) { ret = ""; } } catch (CmsException ex) { // if property could not be read, populate the value with text from the default value field ret = CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_NULL; } } else if (macro.startsWith(I_CmsXmlContentHandler.MAPTO_ATTRIBUTE)) { macro.substring(I_CmsXmlContentHandler.MAPTO_ATTRIBUTE.length()); } else if (macro.startsWith(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_DATA)) { String dataMacro = macro.substring(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_DATA.length()); if (dataMacro.startsWith("_") && dataMacro.endsWith("_") && (dataMacro.length() > 2)) { dataMacro = dataMacro.substring(1, dataMacro.length() - 1); if (dataMacro.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_ID)) { return "" + m_dataBean.getEntryId(); } else if (dataMacro.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_DATE)) { return "" + m_dataBean.getDateCreated(); } } else { String value = m_dataBean.getFieldValue(dataMacro); if (value != null) { return value; } } } else { ret = super.getMacroValue(macro); } return ret; } } /** Content type "text/html". */ public static final String CONTENT_TYPE_HTML = "text/html"; /** Content type "text/plain". */ public static final String CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT = "text/plain"; /** Constant to map to the feed entry author. */ public static final String FEED_AUTHOR = "Author"; /** Constant to map to the feed entry published date. */ public static final String FEED_DATE_PUBLISHED = "DatePublished"; /** Constant to map to the feed entry update date. */ public static final String FEED_DATE_UPDATED = "DateUpdated"; /** Constant to map to the feed entry description (also called value). */ public static final String FEED_DESCRIPTION = "Description"; /** Constant to map to the feed link. */ public static final String FEED_LINK = "Link"; /** Constant to map to the feed entry title. */ public static final String FEED_TITLE = "Title"; /** Constant array with all possible feed mappings. */ public static final String[] MAPPINGS = { FEED_TITLE, FEED_AUTHOR, FEED_DESCRIPTION, FEED_DATE_PUBLISHED, FEED_DATE_UPDATED, FEED_LINK}; /** Constant list with all possible feed mappings. */ public static final List MAPPINGS_LIST = Collections.unmodifiableList(Arrays.asList(MAPPINGS)); /** The data type id. */ private String m_dataType; /** The description format. */ private String m_descFormat; /** The map of mappings from the XML content to the feed. */ private Map m_feedMappings; /** The max number of data entries per file. */ private int m_maxEntries; /** * Creates a new feed content mapping.<p> */ public CmsFeedContentMapping() { m_feedMappings = new HashMap(); } /** * Constructor with additional parameters for data driven entries.<p> * * @param descFormat the description format * @param dataType the data type id * @param maxEntries the max number of data entries per file */ public CmsFeedContentMapping(String descFormat, String dataType, int maxEntries) { this(); m_descFormat = descFormat; m_dataType = dataType; m_maxEntries = maxEntries; } /** * Adds a new feed field mapping with default value and max length setting.<p> * * @param xmlFields the fields in the XML content to map * @param feedField the field in the feed to map the XML content to * @param maxLength the maximum length the field is allowed to have * @param defaultValue the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found */ public void addFeedFieldMapping(List xmlFields, String feedField, int maxLength, String defaultValue) { if (MAPPINGS_LIST.contains(feedField)) { CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = new CmsFeedFieldMapping(xmlFields, feedField, maxLength, defaultValue); m_feedMappings.put(feedField, mapping); } } /** * Adds a new feed field mapping with default value and max length setting.<p> * * @param xmlFields the fields in the XML content to map * @param feedField the field in the feed to map the XML content to * @param maxLength the maximum length the field is allowed to have (will be converted to an int) * @param defaultValue the default value for the feed field in case no XML content match is found */ public void addFeedFieldMapping(List xmlFields, String feedField, String maxLength, String defaultValue) { // store mappings as xpath to allow better control about what is mapped if (CmsStringUtil.isEmptyOrWhitespaceOnly(defaultValue)) { // we don't allow only whitespace defaults defaultValue = null; } int maxLengthInt = 0; if (CmsStringUtil.isNotEmptyOrWhitespaceOnly(maxLength)) { try { maxLengthInt = Integer.parseInt(maxLength); } catch (NumberFormatException e) { // should not happen as the XSD already checks this } } addFeedFieldMapping(xmlFields, feedField, maxLengthInt, defaultValue); } /** * Returns a feed entry created from the given macro resolver using the configured rules of this content mapping.<p> * * @param cms the current users OpenCms context * @param macroResolver the macro resolver to use to create the rss entry * * @return a feed entry created from the given macro resolver using the configured rules of this content mapping */ public SyndEntry getEntry(CmsObject cms, CmsMacroResolver macroResolver) { // get all configured mappings Set mappings = m_feedMappings.entrySet(); // create the empty syndication entry SyndEntry result = new SyndEntryImpl(); boolean hasTitle = false; boolean hasDescription = false; // indicate we always want to use full links in the generated HTML output cms.getRequestContext().setAttribute(CmsRequestContext.ATTRIBUTE_FULLLINKS, Boolean.TRUE); Iterator i = mappings.iterator(); String link = null; Date publishedDate = null; while (i.hasNext()) { Map.Entry e = (Map.Entry)i.next(); String feedField = (String)e.getKey(); CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = (CmsFeedFieldMapping)e.getValue(); String macroValue = null; List xmlFields = mapping.getXmlFields(); for (int j = 0, size = xmlFields.size(); j < size; j++) { String xmlField = (String)xmlFields.get(j); if (CmsStringUtil.isNotEmptyOrWhitespaceOnly(xmlField)) { macroValue = macroResolver.resolveMacros(xmlField); if (macroValue.equals(xmlField)) { macroValue = macroResolver.getMacroValue(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_XML + xmlField); } if ((macroValue != null) && !macroValue.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_NULL)) { // found a matching XML content node break; } } } String value = null; String type = m_descFormat; if (type == null) { type = macroResolver.getMacroValue(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_DESC_FORMAT); } else if (type.equals("html")) { type = CONTENT_TYPE_HTML; } else { type = CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT; } if ((macroValue != null) && !macroValue.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_NULL)) { // value was found in the content value = macroValue; } else if (mapping.hasDefaultValue() && mapping.getDefaultValue().startsWith(I_CmsXmlContentHandler.MAPTO_PROPERTY)) { // value not found in content and default value defines a property. value = macroResolver.getMacroValue(mapping.getDefaultValue()); if (value.equals(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_NULL)) { // if property could not be read, populate the value with text from the default value field value = mapping.getDefaultValue(); } } else if (mapping.hasDefaultValue()) { // value not found in content, use default value value = macroResolver.resolveMacros(mapping.getDefaultValue()); } if (value != null) { if (mapping.hasMaxLenghtLimit()) { // apply length restriction if required value = applyLengthRestriction(cms, value, mapping.getMaxLenght()); type = CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT; } // a value to map was found int pos = MAPPINGS_LIST.indexOf(feedField); switch (pos) { case 0: // Title result.setTitle(value); hasTitle = true; break; case 1: // Author result.setAuthor(value); break; case 2: // Description SyndContent description = new SyndContentImpl(); description.setValue(value); description.setType(type); result.setDescription(description); hasDescription = true; break; case 3: // DatePublished publishedDate = convertToDate(value, macroResolver); if (publishedDate != null) { result.setPublishedDate(publishedDate); } break; case 4: // DateUpdated Date updatedDate = convertToDate(value, macroResolver); if (updatedDate != null) { result.setUpdatedDate(updatedDate); } break; case 5: // Link // use link as provided in content if (CmsStringUtil.isNotEmptyOrWhitespaceOnly(value)) { link = OpenCms.getLinkManager().getServerLink(cms, value); } break; default: // unknown, this cannot happen as all mappings are checked when created } } } // remove the link processing attribute cms.getRequestContext().removeAttribute(CmsRequestContext.ATTRIBUTE_FULLLINKS); if (hasTitle && hasDescription) { // we need at least an entry and an description if (publishedDate == null) { // no publish date given, so we use the date the content was created result.setPublishedDate(convertToDate("dateCreated", macroResolver)); } if (link == null) { // calculate the link with full server path link = OpenCms.getLinkManager().getServerLink( cms, macroResolver.getMacroValue(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_XML + "_" + CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_URI + "_")); } if (CmsStringUtil.isNotEmptyOrWhitespaceOnly(link)) { result.setLink(link); } } else { // required mappings are not available result = null; } return result; } /** * Returns the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed Author.<p> * * If no XML element has been mapped to the feed Author, <code>null</code> is returned.<p> * * @return the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed Author */ public String getMappingForAuthor() { CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = (CmsFeedFieldMapping)m_feedMappings.get(FEED_AUTHOR); return (mapping != null) ? (String)mapping.getXmlFields().get(0) : null; } /** * Returns the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed publish Date.<p> * * If no XML element has been mapped to the feed publish Date, <code>null</code> is returned.<p> * * @return the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed publish Date */ public String getMappingForDatePublished() { CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = (CmsFeedFieldMapping)m_feedMappings.get(FEED_DATE_PUBLISHED); return (mapping != null) ? (String)mapping.getXmlFields().get(0) : null; } /** * Returns the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed update Date.<p> * * If no XML element has been mapped to the feed update Date, <code>null</code> is returned.<p> * * @return the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed update Date */ public String getMappingForDateUpdated() { CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = (CmsFeedFieldMapping)m_feedMappings.get(FEED_DATE_UPDATED); return (mapping != null) ? (String)mapping.getXmlFields().get(0) : null; } /** * Returns the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed Description.<p> * * If no XML element has been mapped to the feed Description, <code>null</code> is returned.<p> * * @return the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed Description */ public String getMappingForDescription() { CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = (CmsFeedFieldMapping)m_feedMappings.get(FEED_DESCRIPTION); return (mapping != null) ? (String)mapping.getXmlFields().get(0) : null; } /** * Returns the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed Title.<p> * * If no XML element has been mapped to the feed Title, <code>null</code> is returned.<p> * * @return the path of the first XML element that is mapped to the feed Title */ public String getMappingForTitle() { CmsFeedFieldMapping mapping = (CmsFeedFieldMapping)m_feedMappings.get(FEED_TITLE); return (mapping != null) ? (String)mapping.getXmlFields().get(0) : null; } /** * Returns all rss entries from the given xml content in the given locale.<p> * * @param cms the cms context * @param content the xml content to generate the rss entries for * @param locale the locale * * @return a list of {@link SyndEntry} objects */ public List getRssEntries(CmsObject cms, CmsXmlContent content, Locale locale) { List entries = new ArrayList(); if ((content == null) || (locale == null) || !content.hasLocale(locale)) { // no entry can be created if input is silly return entries; } // indicate we always want to use full links in the generated HTML output cms.getRequestContext().setAttribute(CmsRequestContext.ATTRIBUTE_FULLLINKS, Boolean.TRUE); try { if (m_dataType == null) { CmsMacroResolver rssMacroResolver = new CmsFeedMacroResolver(cms, content, locale, null); SyndEntry entry = getEntry(cms, rssMacroResolver); if (entry != null) { entries.add(entry); } } else { CmsFormDatabaseFilter filter = CmsFormDatabaseFilter.DEFAULT.filterResourceId( content.getFile().getStructureId()).filterFormId(m_dataType).filterOrderDesc().filterIndex( 0, m_maxEntries); List dataBeans = CmsFormDataAccess.getInstance().readForms(filter); Iterator it = dataBeans.iterator(); while (it.hasNext()) { CmsFormDataBean dataBean = (CmsFormDataBean)it.next(); CmsMacroResolver rssMacroResolver = new CmsFeedMacroResolver(cms, content, locale, dataBean); SyndEntry entry = getEntry(cms, rssMacroResolver); if (entry != null) { entries.add(entry); } } } } catch (Exception e) { // something went really wrong e.printStackTrace(); } finally { // remove the link processing attribute cms.getRequestContext().removeAttribute(CmsRequestContext.ATTRIBUTE_FULLLINKS); } return entries; } /** * Applies the max length limitation of the current field to the given value.<p> * * @param cms the current users OpenCms context * @param value the String value generated form the XML content value * @param maxLength the max length setting of the current field * * @return the input with the max length limitation of the current field applied */ protected String applyLengthRestriction(CmsObject cms, String value, int maxLength) { if (value.length() <= maxLength) { return value; } String result; // value is too long, apply limitation try { // try to convert html to plain text result = CmsHtmlExtractor.extractText(value, cms.getRequestContext().getEncoding()); } catch (Exception e) { result = value; } if (result.length() > maxLength) { result = CmsStringUtil.trimToSize(result, maxLength); } return result; } /** * Converts a value to a Date.<p> * * In case the value itself can not be converted to a date, * the given value is used to access the given files attributes or properties * using {@link CmsDateResourceComparator#calculateDate(CmsObject, org.opencms.file.CmsResource, List, long)}.<p> * * @param stringValue the value * @param macroResolver the macro resolver * * @return the converted Date, or <code>null</code> if no convertible data was found */ protected Date convertToDate(String stringValue, CmsMacroResolver macroResolver) { String macroValue = macroResolver.getMacroValue(CmsFeedMacroResolver.MACRO_CONVERT_DATE + stringValue); Date result = null; try { // try to parse the date as long long date = Long.valueOf(macroValue).longValue(); if (date != -1) { result = new Date(date); } } catch (NumberFormatException e) { // no luck parsing, skip value } return result; } }