el - Format Date output in JSF

Question

If #{myBean.birthdate} is of java.util.Calendar or java.util.Date type, can I possibly format this inside the EL itself using an existing function perhaps, with the output of like the one produced by the DateFormat's SHORT, MEDIUM,LONG abd FULL output type?

Instead of outputting the complete form for the #{myBean.birthdate}: Wed Jan 19 19:01:42 WIT 2011, I just prefer a simple output of Jan 19, 2011.

Should I use #{formatBean.format(myBean.birthdate)} instead?

Answer 1

Use <f:convertDateTime>. You can nest this in any input and output component. Pattern rules are same as java.text.SimpleDateFormat.

<h:outputText value="#{someBean.dateField}" >
    <f:convertDateTime pattern="dd.MM.yyyy HH:mm" />
</h:outputText>