How to pass blank String Date to output in tMap

[Anonymous]

Hello Talend Community,

I know there has been a few posts about this, but I still can't find the proper syntax in my tMap Output Column for a String Date Column having "" blank values. I've tried a lot of variations on this syntax and still no luck. I'm also formatting the string date into a new format after handling the NULL and blank values. The Java Run Time Error I'm getting is

java.lang.RuntimeException: java.text.ParseException: Unparseable date: ""

"".equals(row1.Mail_date) || row1.Mail_date == null ? "" : TalendDate.formatDate("yyyyMMdd",TalendDate.parseDate("MM/dd/yyyy",row1.Mail_date)) 

Can anyone in the community help me with this syntax

-Andrew

[fdenis]

your date have to be date type allowing null value.
(row1.Mail_date != null)?TalendDate.formatDate("yyyyMMdd",row1.Mail_date):""
if your date is on text format, you have to be sure of your format. did you have blank char into Your String?

[Anonymous]

@fdenis

So should I make a Variable TalendDate.parseDate("yyyyMMdd",row1.Mail_date) to change my Source Data to Date Type and then use your statement below as the output to the column?

(row1.Mail_date != null)?TalendDate.formatDate("yyyyMMdd",row1.Mail_date):"

I didn't understand your question did you have blank char into Your String?

I do have Blank Source Data that needs handled with a tMap Expression.

Let me know thanks!

[fdenis]

work by steps one tmap to remove blank.
one to change strign to date.
step by step:
test your first tmap output with no blank date format are all the same. (you can use tlog to show datas)
add your second tmap with formating.

after that you can optimise all in one tmap

[cmendels · Accepted solution]

Try row1.Mail_date==null || row1.Mail_date.length()==0 ? ""

[Anonymous]

Thanks @cmendels @fdenis for the assistance