Converting a String to Calendar

Question

I have a String which is actually a date in the format yyyyMMdd.
I need to take this String and convert it into a Calendar to do a before() check.
I want to delete dates prior to a certain date.
I am able to use this code to get a String to a Date but I need a String to a Calendar.
String sDateOfDir = null;
sDateOfDir = children;                              
Date dStringToDate = (Date)sdf.parse(sDateOfDir);      
Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
cal.setTime(dStringToDate); // this is still java.util.Date
I need a String to a Calendar
or
can this line of code
cal.setTime(dStringToDate); be formatted to yyyyMMdd
any suggestions thanks in advance

Answer 1

I dont know what I am having such a block today. I am not sure I understand. I have posted my code and I hope you can just point out how I can make this easier.
I am reading in a File Directory with its subfolders.
The subdirs are named with the Date the subdir is created (yyyyMMdd)
I want to delete the subdirs that are older than 30days
public class RemoveFileFolders
     public static String sDirDNE = "Either dir DNE or is not a dir";
     public static String sSuccessFalse = "!success false";
     public static String sNowDeleting = "Now deleting contents of ";
     public static String sForSub = " for subdir(s) prior to ";
     public static java.text.SimpleDateFormat sdf = new java.text.SimpleDateFormat("yyyyMMdd");
     public static void main(String[] args)
          File fDir = new File("\\C:\\Dates");
          Calendar cTodayMinusOneMonth = Calendar.getInstance(); //today
          cTodayMinusOneMonth.roll(Calendar.MONTH, false); //today minus one (1) month
          //I want to delete all subdir that are older than 20070821
          System.out.println(sNowDeleting + fDir + sForSub + sdf.format(cTodayMinusOneMonth.getTime()));
          //String sCalToString = null;
          //sCalToString = sdf.format(cTodayMinusOneMonth.getTime()).toString();
          if(fDir.isDirectory())
               String[] children = fDir.list();     
               if (children == null)
                    System.out.println(sDirDNE);
               else
                    try
                         for (int i = 0; i < children.length; i++)
                              String sDateOfDir = null;
                              sDateOfDir = children;
                              Date dStringToDate = (Date)sdf.parse(sDateOfDir);
                              System.out.println("sDateOfDir I am a string " + sDateOfDir);
                              Calendar cal = Calendar.getInstance();
                              //cal.setTime(dStringToDate);
                              cal.before(dStringToDate);
                              //if DateDir is before cTodayMinusOneMonth.roll(Calendar.MONTH, false); //today minus one (1) month
                              //delete that dir
                              if(children[i].equalsIgnoreCase(sDateOfDir))
                                   boolean success = deleteDir(new File(fDir, children[i]));
                                   if (!success)
                                        System.out.println(sSuccessFalse);
                    catch(ParseException pe)
                         System.out.println("ParseException " + pe);
     public static boolean deleteDir(File fDir)
          if (fDir.isDirectory())
               String[] children = fDir.list();
               for (int i = 0; i < children.length; i++)
                    boolean success = deleteDir(new File(fDir, children[i]));
                    if (!success)
                         return false;
          return fDir.delete();