Formatting pass

1 files changed, 542 insertions, 673 deletions

diff --git a/projects/net.wotonomy.foundation/src/main/java/net/wotonomy/foundation/internal/ValueConverter.java b/projects/net.wotonomy.foundation/src/main/java/net/wotonomy/foundation/internal/ValueConverter.java
index d6bc797..7f28e06 100644
--- a/projects/net.wotonomy.foundation/src/main/java/net/wotonomy/foundation/internal/ValueConverter.java
+++ b/projects/net.wotonomy.foundation/src/main/java/net/wotonomy/foundation/internal/ValueConverter.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ License along with this library; if not, see http://www.gnu.org
 */
 
 package net.wotonomy.foundation.internal;
+
 import java.lang.reflect.Array;
 import java.lang.reflect.Constructor;
 import java.util.Collection;
@@ -25,694 +26,562 @@ import java.util.LinkedList;
 import java.util.Map;
 
 /**
-* A utility class to convert objects to a desired class.
-*
-* @author michael@mpowers.net
-* @author $Author: cgruber $
-* @version $Revision: 893 $
-*/
-public class ValueConverter
-{
-    /**
-    * Returns the specified object as converted to an instance of the 
-    * specified class, or null if the conversion could not be performed.
-    */
-    static public Object convertObjectToClass( Object anObject, Class aClass )
-    { 
-    	if ( aClass == String.class )
-        {
-            return getString( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Short.class )
-        {
-            return getShort( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == short.class )
-        {
-            return getShort( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Integer.class )
-        {
-            return getInteger( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == int.class )
-        {
-            return getInteger( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Long.class )
-        {
-            return getLong( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == long.class )
-        {
-            return getLong( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Float.class )
-        {
-            return getFloat( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == float.class )
-        {
-            return getFloat( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Double.class )
-        {
-            return getDouble( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == double.class )
-        {
-            return getDouble( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == java.util.Date.class )
-        {
-            return getDate( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Boolean.class )
-        {
-            return getBoolean( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == boolean.class )
-        {
-            return getBoolean( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Character.class )
-        {
-            return getCharacter( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == char.class )
-        {
-            return getCharacter( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == Byte.class )
-        {
-            return getByte( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass == byte.class )
-        {
-            return getByte( anObject );
-        }
-    	if ( Collection.class.isAssignableFrom( aClass ) )
-        {
-            return getCollection( anObject, aClass );
-        }
-    	if ( aClass.isArray() )
-        {
-            return getArray( anObject, aClass );
-        }
-
-        return convert( anObject, aClass );
-    }
-    
-    /**
-    * Called by convertObjectToClass() when we need to 
-    * convert to an unrecognized type.
-    * This implementation scans the constructors of the 
-    * specified class for the best fit to the object.
-    * and returns a new instance with that constructor.
-    * Subclasses can override to directly support specific
-    * types.
-    */
-    static protected Object convert( Object anObject, Class aClass )
-    {
-        Constructor[] ctors = aClass.getConstructors();
-        
-        Class[] types;
-        for ( int i = 0; i < ctors.length; i++ )
-        {
-            types = ctors[i].getParameterTypes();
-            if ( types.length == 1 )
-            {
-                if ( types[0].equals( anObject.getClass() ) )
-                {
-                    try
-                    {
-                        return ctors[i].newInstance( new Object[] { anObject } );
-                    }
-                    catch ( Exception exc )
-                    {
-                        // fall through
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        
-        for ( int i = 0; i < ctors.length; i++ )
-        {
-            types = ctors[i].getParameterTypes();
-            if ( types.length == 1 )
-            {
-                if ( anObject.getClass().isAssignableFrom( types[0] ) )
-                {
-                    try
-                    {
-                        return ctors[i].newInstance( new Object[] { anObject } );
-                    }
-                    catch ( Exception exc )
-                    {
-                        // fall through
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        
-        return null;
-    }
-        
-    /**
-    * Tries to convert all objects to either Numbers or objects
-    * that will produce a parsable toString result.
-    */
-    static protected Object preprocess( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject instanceof Boolean )
-        {
-            if ( ((Boolean)anObject).booleanValue() )
-            {
-                return new Double( 1.0 );
-            }
-            return new Double( 0.0 );
-        }
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Character )
-        {
-            return anObject.toString();
-        }
-
-        return anObject;	
-    }
-    
-    static public short getShortValue( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Short result = getShort( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? (short) 0 : result.shortValue();
-    }
-    static public Short getShort( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Short( (short) 0 );
-        if ( "".equals( anObject ) ) return new Short( (short) 0 );
-		if ( anObject instanceof Short ) return (Short) anObject;
-
-		anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Short( ((Number)anObject).shortValue() );
-        }
-
-		try
-        {
-            return Short.valueOf( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }	
-    
-    static public int getIntValue( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Integer result = getInteger( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? 0 : result.intValue();
-    }
-    static public Integer getInteger( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Integer( 0 );
-        if ( "".equals( anObject ) ) return new Integer( 0 );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Integer ) return (Integer) anObject;
-    
-    	anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Integer( ((Number)anObject).intValue() );
-        }
-
-        try
-        {
-            return Integer.valueOf( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }	
-    
-    static public long getLongValue ( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Long result = getLong( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? (long) 0 : result.longValue();
-    }
-    static public Long getLong( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Long( 0 );
-        if ( "".equals( anObject ) ) return new Long( 0 );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Long ) return (Long) anObject;
-    
-    	anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Long( ((Number)anObject).longValue() );
-        }
-
-        try
-        {
-            return Long.valueOf( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }	
-    
-    static public double getDoubleValue ( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Double result = getDouble( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? 0.0f : result.doubleValue();
-    }
-    static public Double getDouble( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Double( 0.0 );
-        if ( "".equals( anObject ) ) return new Double( 0 );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Double ) return (Double) anObject;
-    
-    	anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Double( ((Number)anObject).doubleValue() );
-        }
-	
-        try
-        {
-            return Double.valueOf( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }	
-    
-    static public float getFloatValue( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Float result = getFloat( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? 0.0f : result.floatValue();
-    }
-    static public Float getFloat( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Float( 0.0 );
-        if ( "".equals( anObject ) ) return new Float( 0.0 );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Float ) return (Float) anObject;
-    
-    	anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Float( ((Number)anObject).floatValue() );
-        }
-	
-    	try
-        {
-            return Float.valueOf( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }	
-        
-    static public char getCharValue( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Character result = getCharacter( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? (char) 0 : result.charValue();
-    }
-    static public Character getCharacter( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Character( (char) 0 );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Character ) return (Character) anObject;
-    
-    	anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Character( (char) ((Number)anObject).byteValue() );
-        }
-
-        try
-        {
-            return new Character( anObject.toString().charAt( 0 ) );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }
-
-    static public byte getByteValue( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Byte result = getByte ( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? (byte) 0 : result.byteValue();
-    }
-    static public Byte getByte( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new Byte( Byte.MIN_VALUE );
-        if ( "".equals( anObject ) ) return new Byte( Byte.MIN_VALUE );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Byte ) return (Byte) anObject;
-    
-    	anObject = preprocess( anObject );
-
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Byte( ((Number)anObject).byteValue() );
-        }
-	
-    	try
-        {
-            return Byte.decode( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            // fall through
-        }
-    	
-        try
-        {
-            return Byte.valueOf( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }
+ * A utility class to convert objects to a desired class.
+ *
+ * @author michael@mpowers.net
+ * @author $Author: cgruber $
+ * @version $Revision: 893 $
+ */
+public class ValueConverter {
+	/**
+	 * Returns the specified object as converted to an instance of the specified
+	 * class, or null if the conversion could not be performed.
+	 */
+	static public Object convertObjectToClass(Object anObject, Class aClass) {
+		if (aClass == String.class) {
+			return getString(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Short.class) {
+			return getShort(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == short.class) {
+			return getShort(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Integer.class) {
+			return getInteger(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == int.class) {
+			return getInteger(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Long.class) {
+			return getLong(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == long.class) {
+			return getLong(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Float.class) {
+			return getFloat(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == float.class) {
+			return getFloat(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Double.class) {
+			return getDouble(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == double.class) {
+			return getDouble(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == java.util.Date.class) {
+			return getDate(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Boolean.class) {
+			return getBoolean(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == boolean.class) {
+			return getBoolean(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Character.class) {
+			return getCharacter(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == char.class) {
+			return getCharacter(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == Byte.class) {
+			return getByte(anObject);
+		}
+		if (aClass == byte.class) {
+			return getByte(anObject);
+		}
+		if (Collection.class.isAssignableFrom(aClass)) {
+			return getCollection(anObject, aClass);
+		}
+		if (aClass.isArray()) {
+			return getArray(anObject, aClass);
+		}
+
+		return convert(anObject, aClass);
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Called by convertObjectToClass() when we need to convert to an unrecognized
+	 * type. This implementation scans the constructors of the specified class for
+	 * the best fit to the object. and returns a new instance with that constructor.
+	 * Subclasses can override to directly support specific types.
+	 */
+	static protected Object convert(Object anObject, Class aClass) {
+		Constructor[] ctors = aClass.getConstructors();
+
+		Class[] types;
+		for (int i = 0; i < ctors.length; i++) {
+			types = ctors[i].getParameterTypes();
+			if (types.length == 1) {
+				if (types[0].equals(anObject.getClass())) {
+					try {
+						return ctors[i].newInstance(new Object[] { anObject });
+					} catch (Exception exc) {
+						// fall through
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		for (int i = 0; i < ctors.length; i++) {
+			types = ctors[i].getParameterTypes();
+			if (types.length == 1) {
+				if (anObject.getClass().isAssignableFrom(types[0])) {
+					try {
+						return ctors[i].newInstance(new Object[] { anObject });
+					} catch (Exception exc) {
+						// fall through
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Tries to convert all objects to either Numbers or objects that will produce a
+	 * parsable toString result.
+	 */
+	static protected Object preprocess(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject instanceof Boolean) {
+			if (((Boolean) anObject).booleanValue()) {
+				return new Double(1.0);
+			}
+			return new Double(0.0);
+		}
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Character) {
+			return anObject.toString();
+		}
+
+		return anObject;
+	}
+
+	static public short getShortValue(Object anObject) {
+		Short result = getShort(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? (short) 0 : result.shortValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Short getShort(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Short((short) 0);
+		if ("".equals(anObject))
+			return new Short((short) 0);
+		if (anObject instanceof Short)
+			return (Short) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Short(((Number) anObject).shortValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Short.valueOf(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static public int getIntValue(Object anObject) {
+		Integer result = getInteger(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? 0 : result.intValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Integer getInteger(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Integer(0);
+		if ("".equals(anObject))
+			return new Integer(0);
+		if (anObject instanceof Integer)
+			return (Integer) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Integer(((Number) anObject).intValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Integer.valueOf(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static public long getLongValue(Object anObject) {
+		Long result = getLong(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? (long) 0 : result.longValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Long getLong(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Long(0);
+		if ("".equals(anObject))
+			return new Long(0);
+		if (anObject instanceof Long)
+			return (Long) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Long(((Number) anObject).longValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Long.valueOf(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static public double getDoubleValue(Object anObject) {
+		Double result = getDouble(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? 0.0f : result.doubleValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Double getDouble(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Double(0.0);
+		if ("".equals(anObject))
+			return new Double(0);
+		if (anObject instanceof Double)
+			return (Double) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Double(((Number) anObject).doubleValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Double.valueOf(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static public float getFloatValue(Object anObject) {
+		Float result = getFloat(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? 0.0f : result.floatValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Float getFloat(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Float(0.0);
+		if ("".equals(anObject))
+			return new Float(0.0);
+		if (anObject instanceof Float)
+			return (Float) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Float(((Number) anObject).floatValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Float.valueOf(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static public char getCharValue(Object anObject) {
+		Character result = getCharacter(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? (char) 0 : result.charValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Character getCharacter(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Character((char) 0);
+		if (anObject instanceof Character)
+			return (Character) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Character((char) ((Number) anObject).byteValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return new Character(anObject.toString().charAt(0));
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static public byte getByteValue(Object anObject) {
+		Byte result = getByte(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? (byte) 0 : result.byteValue();
+	}
+
+	static public Byte getByte(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new Byte(Byte.MIN_VALUE);
+		if ("".equals(anObject))
+			return new Byte(Byte.MIN_VALUE);
+		if (anObject instanceof Byte)
+			return (Byte) anObject;
+
+		anObject = preprocess(anObject);
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Byte(((Number) anObject).byteValue());
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Byte.decode(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			// fall through
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return Byte.valueOf(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
 
 	/**
-	* Calls getBoolean and converts result to primitive.
-	*/
-    static public boolean getBooleanValue( Object anObject )
-    {
-    	Boolean result = getBoolean( anObject );
-        return ( result == null ) ? false : result.booleanValue();
-    }
-	
+	 * Calls getBoolean and converts result to primitive.
+	 */
+	static public boolean getBooleanValue(Object anObject) {
+		Boolean result = getBoolean(anObject);
+		return (result == null) ? false : result.booleanValue();
+	}
+
 	/**
-	* Numbers equal to zero are true; Strings equal to "yes" are true;
-	* Strings are then passed to the Boolean constructor.
-	* Other values return null.
-	*/
-    static public Boolean getBoolean( Object anObject )
-    {		
-		if ( anObject instanceof Boolean )
-		{
+	 * Numbers equal to zero are true; Strings equal to "yes" are true; Strings are
+	 * then passed to the Boolean constructor. Other values return null.
+	 */
+	static public Boolean getBoolean(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject instanceof Boolean) {
 			return (Boolean) anObject;
 		}
-    	if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new Boolean( ((Number)anObject).doubleValue() == 0.0 );
-        }
-    
-    	if ( anObject instanceof String )
-        {
-			if ( anObject.toString().toLowerCase().equals( "yes" ) ) 
-			{
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new Boolean(((Number) anObject).doubleValue() == 0.0);
+		}
+
+		if (anObject instanceof String) {
+			if (anObject.toString().toLowerCase().equals("yes")) {
 				return Boolean.TRUE;
 			}
-            return new Boolean( (String) anObject );
-        }
-	
-        return null;
-    }
-    
-    /**
-    * Get an appropriate String representation for the 
-    * object.  Nulls are converted to "null".  Date are
-    * formatted according to the current date format.
-    * All else uses toString.
-    */
-    static public String getString( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return "null";
-        if ( anObject instanceof java.util.Date )
-        {
-            return dateFormat.format( (java.util.Date) anObject );
-        }
-        return anObject.toString();
-    }
-
-    /**
-    * Converts the object into the specified collection class.
-    * If unable to convert in any other way, resorts to creating
-    * a new collection of the specified type containing the
-    * specified object.
-    */
-    static public Collection getCollection( Object anObject, Class aCollectionClass )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return null;
-        if ( aCollectionClass.isAssignableFrom( anObject.getClass() ) )
-        {
-            return (Collection) anObject;
-        }
-        
-        Collection converted = null;
-        
-        // convert to collection class
-        if ( anObject instanceof Collection )
-        {
-            converted = (Collection) anObject;
-        }
-        else
-        // try to convert an array
-        if ( anObject.getClass().isArray() )
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                int length = Array.getLength( anObject );
-                converted = new LinkedList();
-                for ( int i = 0; i < length; i++ )
-                {
-                    converted.add( Array.get( anObject, i ) );
-                }
-            }
-            catch ( Exception exc )
-            {
-                // try another approach   
-            }
-        }
-        else
-        // convert map values to collection and pass through
-        if ( anObject instanceof Map )
-        {
-            converted = ((Map)anObject).values();
-        }
-
-        // fall back on list containing the object
-        if ( converted == null )
-        {
-            converted = new LinkedList();
-            converted.add( anObject );
-        }
-        
-        Collection result = null;
-        
-        if ( converted != null )
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                // collections required to have the copy constructor.
-                Constructor ctor = aCollectionClass.getConstructor(
-                    new Class[] { Collection.class } );        
-                result = (Collection) ctor.newInstance( new Object[] { converted } );
-            }
-            catch ( Exception exc )
-            {
-                try
-                {
-                    result = new LinkedList();
-                    result.addAll( converted );
-                }
-                catch ( Exception exc2 )
-                {
-                    // all attempts failed
-                    result = null;
-                }
-            }
-        }
-        
-        return result;
-    }
-
-    /**
-    * Convert the object to the specified array type.
-    */
-    static public Object getArray( Object anObject, Class anArrayClass )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return null;
-        
-        // try to convert an array
-        if ( anObject.getClass().isArray() )
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                int length = Array.getLength( anObject );
-                Object result = Array.newInstance( 
-                    anArrayClass.getComponentType(), length );
-                for ( int i = 0; i < length; i++ )
-                {
-                    Array.set( result, i, Array.get( anObject, i ) );
-                }
-                return result;
-            }
-            catch ( Exception exc )
-            {
-                // try another approach   
-            }
-        }
-        // convert map values to collection and pass through
-        if ( anObject instanceof Map )
-        {
-            anObject = ((Map)anObject).values();
-        }
-        // try to convert a collection
-        if ( anObject instanceof Collection )
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                int length = ((Collection)anObject).size();
-                Object result = Array.newInstance( 
-                    anArrayClass.getComponentType(), length );
-                Iterator it = ((Collection)anObject).iterator();
-                for ( int i = 0; i < length; i++ )
-                {
-                    Array.set( result, i, it.next() ); 
-                }
-                return result;
-            }
-            catch ( Exception exc )
-            {
-                // try another approach   
-            }
-        }
-        // if appropriate type, put the object in a single element array
-        if ( anObject.getClass().equals( anArrayClass.getComponentType() ) )
-        {
-            try
-            {
-                Object result = Array.newInstance( 
-                    anArrayClass.getComponentType(), 1 );
-                Array.set( result, 0, anObject ); 
-                return result;
-            }
-            catch ( Exception exc )
-            {
-                // try another approach   
-            }
-        }
-        return null;
-    }
-
-    /**
-    * Get an appropriate Date from the given object.
-    */
-    static public java.util.Date getDate( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return new java.util.Date( 0 );
-    	if ( anObject instanceof java.util.Date ) 
-	    	return (java.util.Date) anObject;
-	
-        if ( anObject instanceof Number )
-        {
-            return new java.util.Date( getLongValue( anObject ) );
-        }
-
-        try
-        {
-            return dateFormat.parse( anObject.toString() );
-        }
-        catch ( Exception exc )
-        {
-            return null;
-        }
-    }
-
-    static private java.text.DateFormat dateFormat = 
-    	new java.text.SimpleDateFormat();
-    static public java.text.DateFormat getDateFormat()
-    {
-    	return dateFormat;
-    }
-    static public void setDateFormat( java.text.DateFormat aDateFormat )
-    {
-    	if ( aDateFormat != null )
-        {
-            dateFormat = aDateFormat;
-        }
-    }
-
-    /**
-    * Returns the "inverted" value of the specified object.
-    * Numbers except for chars and bytes are converted to 
-    * their negative representation.  Chars and bytes are
-    * treated as booleans.  String are converted to booleans.
-    * Booleans are converted to their opposite.
-    * All other types return null.
-    */    
-    public static Object invert( Object anObject )
-    {
-        if ( anObject == null ) return null;
-        Class aClass = anObject.getClass();
-        
-    	if ( ( ( anObject instanceof Number )
-           &&! ( anObject instanceof Byte )
-           &&! ( anObject instanceof Character ) )
-          || ( aClass == short.class )
-          || ( aClass == int.class )
-          || ( aClass == long.class )
-          || ( aClass == float.class )
-          || ( aClass == double.class ) )
-        {
-            return convertObjectToClass( 
-                new Double( getDoubleValue( anObject ) * -1 ), aClass );
-        }
-        
-        Boolean converted = getBoolean( anObject );
-        if ( converted != null )
-        {
-            if ( converted.booleanValue() )
-            {
-                return convertObjectToClass(
-                    Boolean.FALSE, anObject.getClass() );
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                return convertObjectToClass(
-                    Boolean.TRUE, anObject.getClass() );
-            }
-        }
-        
-        return null;
-    }
+			return new Boolean((String) anObject);
+		}
+
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Get an appropriate String representation for the object. Nulls are converted
+	 * to "null". Date are formatted according to the current date format. All else
+	 * uses toString.
+	 */
+	static public String getString(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return "null";
+		if (anObject instanceof java.util.Date) {
+			return dateFormat.format((java.util.Date) anObject);
+		}
+		return anObject.toString();
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Converts the object into the specified collection class. If unable to convert
+	 * in any other way, resorts to creating a new collection of the specified type
+	 * containing the specified object.
+	 */
+	static public Collection getCollection(Object anObject, Class aCollectionClass) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return null;
+		if (aCollectionClass.isAssignableFrom(anObject.getClass())) {
+			return (Collection) anObject;
+		}
+
+		Collection converted = null;
+
+		// convert to collection class
+		if (anObject instanceof Collection) {
+			converted = (Collection) anObject;
+		} else
+		// try to convert an array
+		if (anObject.getClass().isArray()) {
+			try {
+				int length = Array.getLength(anObject);
+				converted = new LinkedList();
+				for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
+					converted.add(Array.get(anObject, i));
+				}
+			} catch (Exception exc) {
+				// try another approach
+			}
+		} else
+		// convert map values to collection and pass through
+		if (anObject instanceof Map) {
+			converted = ((Map) anObject).values();
+		}
+
+		// fall back on list containing the object
+		if (converted == null) {
+			converted = new LinkedList();
+			converted.add(anObject);
+		}
+
+		Collection result = null;
+
+		if (converted != null) {
+			try {
+				// collections required to have the copy constructor.
+				Constructor ctor = aCollectionClass.getConstructor(new Class[] { Collection.class });
+				result = (Collection) ctor.newInstance(new Object[] { converted });
+			} catch (Exception exc) {
+				try {
+					result = new LinkedList();
+					result.addAll(converted);
+				} catch (Exception exc2) {
+					// all attempts failed
+					result = null;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		return result;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Convert the object to the specified array type.
+	 */
+	static public Object getArray(Object anObject, Class anArrayClass) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return null;
+
+		// try to convert an array
+		if (anObject.getClass().isArray()) {
+			try {
+				int length = Array.getLength(anObject);
+				Object result = Array.newInstance(anArrayClass.getComponentType(), length);
+				for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
+					Array.set(result, i, Array.get(anObject, i));
+				}
+				return result;
+			} catch (Exception exc) {
+				// try another approach
+			}
+		}
+		// convert map values to collection and pass through
+		if (anObject instanceof Map) {
+			anObject = ((Map) anObject).values();
+		}
+		// try to convert a collection
+		if (anObject instanceof Collection) {
+			try {
+				int length = ((Collection) anObject).size();
+				Object result = Array.newInstance(anArrayClass.getComponentType(), length);
+				Iterator it = ((Collection) anObject).iterator();
+				for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
+					Array.set(result, i, it.next());
+				}
+				return result;
+			} catch (Exception exc) {
+				// try another approach
+			}
+		}
+		// if appropriate type, put the object in a single element array
+		if (anObject.getClass().equals(anArrayClass.getComponentType())) {
+			try {
+				Object result = Array.newInstance(anArrayClass.getComponentType(), 1);
+				Array.set(result, 0, anObject);
+				return result;
+			} catch (Exception exc) {
+				// try another approach
+			}
+		}
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Get an appropriate Date from the given object.
+	 */
+	static public java.util.Date getDate(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return new java.util.Date(0);
+		if (anObject instanceof java.util.Date)
+			return (java.util.Date) anObject;
+
+		if (anObject instanceof Number) {
+			return new java.util.Date(getLongValue(anObject));
+		}
+
+		try {
+			return dateFormat.parse(anObject.toString());
+		} catch (Exception exc) {
+			return null;
+		}
+	}
+
+	static private java.text.DateFormat dateFormat = new java.text.SimpleDateFormat();
+
+	static public java.text.DateFormat getDateFormat() {
+		return dateFormat;
+	}
+
+	static public void setDateFormat(java.text.DateFormat aDateFormat) {
+		if (aDateFormat != null) {
+			dateFormat = aDateFormat;
+		}
+	}
+
+	/**
+	 * Returns the "inverted" value of the specified object. Numbers except for
+	 * chars and bytes are converted to their negative representation. Chars and
+	 * bytes are treated as booleans. String are converted to booleans. Booleans are
+	 * converted to their opposite. All other types return null.
+	 */
+	public static Object invert(Object anObject) {
+		if (anObject == null)
+			return null;
+		Class aClass = anObject.getClass();
+
+		if (((anObject instanceof Number) && !(anObject instanceof Byte) && !(anObject instanceof Character))
+				|| (aClass == short.class) || (aClass == int.class) || (aClass == long.class) || (aClass == float.class)
+				|| (aClass == double.class)) {
+			return convertObjectToClass(new Double(getDoubleValue(anObject) * -1), aClass);
+		}
+
+		Boolean converted = getBoolean(anObject);
+		if (converted != null) {
+			if (converted.booleanValue()) {
+				return convertObjectToClass(Boolean.FALSE, anObject.getClass());
+			} else {
+				return convertObjectToClass(Boolean.TRUE, anObject.getClass());
+			}
+		}
+
+		return null;
+	}
 }
 
 /*
- * $Log$
- * Revision 1.2  2006/02/16 13:11:47  cgruber
- * Check in all sources in eclipse-friendly maven-enabled packages.
+ * $Log$ Revision 1.2 2006/02/16 13:11:47 cgruber Check in all sources in
+ * eclipse-friendly maven-enabled packages.
  *
- * Revision 1.4  2002/10/11 15:33:53  mpowers
- * Now supporting "!" to invert the value of a string property.
+ * Revision 1.4 2002/10/11 15:33:53 mpowers Now supporting "!" to invert the
+ * value of a string property.
  *
- * Revision 1.3  2001/07/02 16:29:08  mpowers
- * XMLRPC decoder was relying on ValueConverter to convert LinkedLists into
- * the appropriate type.  This is now implemented in ValueConverter.
+ * Revision 1.3 2001/07/02 16:29:08 mpowers XMLRPC decoder was relying on
+ * ValueConverter to convert LinkedLists into the appropriate type. This is now
+ * implemented in ValueConverter.
  *
- * Revision 1.2  2001/03/01 20:36:35  mpowers
- * Better error handling and better handling of nulls.
+ * Revision 1.2 2001/03/01 20:36:35 mpowers Better error handling and better
+ * handling of nulls.
  *
- * Revision 1.1.1.1  2000/12/21 15:52:33  mpowers
- * Contributing wotonomy.
+ * Revision 1.1.1.1 2000/12/21 15:52:33 mpowers Contributing wotonomy.
  *
- * Revision 1.8  2000/12/20 16:25:48  michael
- * Added log to all files.
+ * Revision 1.8 2000/12/20 16:25:48 michael Added log to all files.
  *
  *
  */
-