Translating a date format in a filename string

Question

Hi,
Basically I have a property like:
filename=MyFile(yyyy-MM-dd@HHmmss).logWhen I create the file I want to translate the embedded date format string using the current date.
My solution is as follows:
   private static void createFile(String fName) {
      String[] fNameArray = new String[3];
      int openBracket = fName.indexOf("(");
      int closeBracket = fName.indexOf(")");
      // Split the file name into prefix, text inside brackets ie to be tranlated to a date and suffix
      fNameArray[0] = fName.substring(0, openBracket+1);
      fNameArray[1] = fName.substring(openBracket+1, closeBracket);
      fNameArray[2] = fName.substring(closeBracket);
      String dateFormat = fNameArray[1];
      DateFormat df = new SimpleDateFormat(dateFormat);
      String date = df.format(new Date());
      fNameArray[1] = date;
      fName = fNameArray[0].concat(fNameArray[1].concat(fNameArray[2]));
      ...This seems a little long winded to me (it works though). Does anyone know of a simpler way to code this?
Many Thanks

Answer 1

I've been looking around and came across String.format() which can be used to format strings using substitutions variables.
This works a treat but I must admit the property now looks a bit complex!
   String fName = "MyFile_%1$tY%1$tm%1$td%1$tH%1$tM%1$tS.log";
   fName = String.format(fName, Calendar.getInstance());
   // fName = MyFile_20060803132200.logThanks for your help.