pentaho/pentaho-kettle · error · JavaScriptException

Could not apply the given format

Error message

Could not apply the given format {sArg2} on the string for {sArg1} : {e.getMessage()}

What it means

Parsing failure in the 2-argument branch of str2date: the user-supplied format pattern (sArg2) could not be applied to the input string (sArg1). The generic catch rethrows with the pattern, the string, and the underlying exception message.

Solutions

1. Fix the SimpleDateFormat pattern so it matches the input string layout
2. Check for literal characters that need quoting in the pattern (e.g. "dd.MM.yyyy")
3. Use a 3- or 4-argument call to pin the locale/timezone if defaults interfere

When it happens

Trigger: Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/scriptvalues_mod/ScriptValuesAddedFunctions.java:1054 when the library encounters an invalid state.

Common situations: See trigger scenarios.

AI-assisted analysis of pentaho/pentaho-kettle@f3058517a1 (2026-09-13). Data as JSON: /api/errors/761ba8fb4f4b062f. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at engine/src/main/java/org/pentaho/di/trans/steps/scriptvalues_mod/ScriptValuesAddedFunctions.java:1054

          // DecimalFormat formatter = new DecimalFormat();
          // sRC= formatter.format(sArg1);
        } catch ( Exception e ) {
          throw Context.reportRuntimeError( "Could not apply local format for " + sArg1 + " : " + e.getMessage() );
        }
        break;
      case 2:
        try {
          if ( isNull( ArgList, new int[] { 0, 1 } ) ) {
            return null;
          } else if ( isUndefined( ArgList, new int[] { 0, 1 } ) ) {
            return Context.getUndefinedValue();
          }
          sArg1 = Context.toString( ArgList[0] );
          sArg2 = Context.toString( ArgList[1] );
          Format dfFormatter = new SimpleDateFormat( sArg2 );
          oRC = dfFormatter.parseObject( sArg1 );
        } catch ( Exception e ) {
          throw Context.reportRuntimeError( "Could not apply the given format "
            + sArg2 + " on the string for " + sArg1 + " : " + e.getMessage() );
        }
        break;
      case 3:
        try {
          if ( isNull( ArgList, new int[] { 0, 1, 2 } ) ) {
            return null;
          } else if ( isUndefined( ArgList, new int[] { 0, 1, 2 } ) ) {
            return Context.getUndefinedValue();
          }
          sArg1 = Context.toString( ArgList[0] );
          Format dfFormatter;
          sArg2 = Context.toString( ArgList[1] );
          sArg3 = Context.toString( ArgList[2] );
          if ( sArg3.length() == 2 ) {
            Locale dfLocale = EnvUtil.createLocale( sArg3 );
            dfFormatter = new SimpleDateFormat( sArg2, dfLocale );
            oRC = dfFormatter.parseObject( sArg1 );

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