Play Framework custom java extensions for template

Question

I am using Play Framework 1.2.5, and trying to use DateTime from Joda Time instead of the usual java.util.Date. I am trying to implement a format method for use in my views.

The Play documentation says I can create my own custom java extensions for use in templates, but it doesn't seem to be working for me. I have followed the example in the docs to no avail.

My custom extension:

package ext;

import org.joda.time.DateTime;
import play.templates.JavaExtensions;

public class DateTimeExtensions extends JavaExtensions {

    public static String format(DateTime datetime, String format) {
        return datetime==null ? "" : datetime.toString(format);
    }
}

My template code:

${subProject?.startDate?.format('yyyy-MM-dd')}

And the error I am receiving:

Exception raised was MissingMethodException : No signature of method: org.joda.time.DateTime.format() is applicable for argument types: (java.lang.String) values: [yyyy-MM-dd]

It looks like Play isn't detecting my custom extension as the documentation says it should. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make this work?

Your extension class looks good to me. Did you restart your application? Maybe a play clean helps? Does this also occur when you don't check for null values with the ?. operator? — Carsten
@Carsten play clean worked for me, thanks. Post this as an answer and I will accept it! — Peter Di Cecco

Carsten Carsten · Accepted Answer · 2013-08-06T14:12:57

Your extension class looks good to me. The documentation states that you have to restart your application for the extension to become active. If that doesn't work, try running play clean. Doing so deletes temporary files, including cached bytecode, which will hopefully resolve your issue.

Play Framework custom java extensions for template

1 Answers