static final SimpleDateFormat sdf = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm"); @InitBinder protected void initBinder(WebDataBinder binder) throws Exception { // bind empty strings as null binder.registerCustomEditor(String.class, new StringTrimmerEditor(true)); binder.registerCustomEditor(Date.class, new CustomDateEditor(sdf, true)); binder.registerCustomEditor(Integer.TYPE, new CustomNumberEditor(Integer.class, true) { public void setValue(Object o) { super.setValue((o == null) ? 0 : o); } }); }