How to convert string to date in NiFi

[#1]

Is there a simple way to convert a date string such as "Mar 16 2018 19:18:15 GMT" into date in NiFi?

[#2 · Accepted solution]

@Alex M

Use the below expression language to convert into date

${<attribute-name>:toDate("MMM dd yyyy hh:mm:ss","GMT"):format("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss")}

in the above expression language we are matching the input date by using toDate function and using format function we are formatting the date value to yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.

to get only the date then use format function until date i.e yyyy-MM-dd

${<attribute-name>:toDate("MMM dd yyyy hh:mm:ss","GMT"):format("yyyy-MM-dd")}

Example:-

I'm having generateflowfile processor with new property dr added as

UpdateAttribute Configs:-

Added two properties in update attribute processor as below

gmt

${dr:toDate("MMM dd yyyy hh:mm:ss","GMT"):format("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss")} 

not_gmt

${dr:toDate("MMM dd yyyy hh:mm:ss"):format("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss")} 

Output Flowfile attributes:-

In addition we can use timezone with format function also,For more details regarding date conversions refer to this link.

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[#3]

@Shu - Thanks for your detailed answer. That helps.

What if I have a timestamp and I need to convert it to a string?