How can I use a custom number format with velocity's NumberTool without generating an error?

Question

I want to use a custom currency format with Velocity's NumberTool but I'm getting an error with a valid format. Here's my code:

... $numberTool.format("¤###,###", ${amount}) ...

This generates an org.apache.velocity.exception.ParseErrorException

Answer 1

What is happening here is that Velocity is attempting parse the number format and getting confused. Here are two solutions:

• Use a variable to define your format and put it in the model before hand. Then just refer to it from your template. For example, in your Java file:

   model.put("DEFAULT_CURRENCY_FORMAT", "¤###,###"); 

  and in your template:

   $number.format(${DEFAULT_CURRENCY_FORMAT}, ${amount}) 

• Or you can simply use a different delimiter to specify your format. Even though the documentation for NumberTool.currency suggests that you use double quotes when you use NumberTool.format, you can use single quotes instead:

   $number.format('¤###,###', ${amount}) 

I prefer the first option, because you'll likely use the same format in multiple places and because it will allow you to use the ' character in your format should you need it.