Thread: Using Date() to get Start Time and Finish Time of a copyFiles method

I have a single file copy that I want to record the start time and the finish time for. The code below indeed provide me with time, but the start and finish are the same. I know for a fact that it takes about 34 seconds for this particular file to copy from the source path to the destination path. I timed it with a stopwatch. If anything, my seconds under the start time should be different that the seconds for the finish time. Could another set of eyes tell what I am doing wrong?

private void jButton1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {                                        
            // Copy File and capture the start time and finish time then display
            String url1 = jTextField3.getText();
            String url2 = jTextField1.getText();
            Date dNow = new Date();
            SimpleDateFormat ft = new SimpleDateFormat("M/dd/yy   hh:mm:ss a");
 
            Path path1 = Paths.get(url1);
            Path path2 = Paths.get(url2);
 
            jLabel2.setText(ft.format(dNow)); //setting start time as label text
            try
            {       
                Files.copy(path1, path2);       
            }
            catch(IOException e)
            {
                JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "There was a problem");
                e.printStackTrace();
            }
            jLabel3.setText(ft.format(dNow)); //setting finish time as label text       
        }

dNow is never given a different value after it is initialised.

You could do away with the variable altogether and say

jLabel2.setText(ft.format(new Date()));
// some code
// and later...
jLabel3.setText(ft.format(new Date()));

Originally Posted by pbrockway2

dNow is never given a different value after it is initialised.

You could do away with the variable altogether and say

jLabel2.setText(ft.format(new Date()));
// some code
// and later...
jLabel3.setText(ft.format(new Date()));

I tried this and it was acting as if I didn't import Date class.

--- Update ---

I imported java.text.* and java.util.* and I get a red exclamation mark stating that it cannot find Date() method.

--- Update ---

I saw what I was doing wrong. I needed to type new Date() versus just Date(). Thanks for your help.

You're welcome.