How to format Milliseconds

Question

In my code I'm getting milliseconds using

// elaspsed time in milliseconds
    public long getElapsedTime() {
        if (running) {
            return System.currentTimeMillis() - startTime;
        }
        return stopTime - startTime;
    }

As long is a whole number Where as I want to get the milliseconds in 00.0000 format However I've tried this so far

return ((System.currentTimeMillis() - startTime) / 1000f);

but I am not getting to particular format

What do you mean "milliseconds in 00.0000 format"? Can you show an example of expected output? — Tunaki, Nov 26 '16 at 19:43
@Tunaki like the part before decimal for seconds and after decimal part the rest of milliseconds — Mehvish Ali, Nov 26 '16 at 19:46
You and `String.format()` will be new best friends! http://stackoverflow.com/a/50544/1429387 — naXa stands with Ukraine, Nov 26 '16 at 19:46
A much more specific duplicate is the poorly-titled "[Getting millisecond format](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/7049009)". — Kevin J. Chase, Nov 26 '16 at 20:31

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered Nov 26 '16 at 20:12

It is not possible for you to set the return type to long and return a double or String value.

However if you need to format a millisecond value to the provided format, you should be able to get it done using following code snippet.

String.format("%d.%d",  TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS.toSeconds(millies),millies%1000);

How to format Milliseconds

1 Answers1