A function to convert 12 hr time in string format to 24 hr time in string format and vice versa

Time12And24hrFormat.java

/**
     *
     * @param timeString A string value of time in 12 hr format
     * @return A string value of time in 24 hr format
     */
    private String getTimeIn24hrFormat(String timeString) {
        DateFormat inFormat = new SimpleDateFormat( "hh:mm a");
        /* This is a 24 hour date time format that we are using to convert all
         * input date and time formats to this format.
         */
        DateFormat outFormat = new SimpleDateFormat( "HH:mm");
        Date date = null;
        try
        {
            date = inFormat.parse(timeString);
        }
        catch ( ParseException e )
        {
            e.printStackTrace();
        }
        if( date != null )
        {
           return outFormat.format(date);
        } else {
            return "NULL";
        }
    }