How to handle calendar TimeZones using Java?

Question

I have a Timestamp value that comes from my application. The user can be in any given local TimeZone.

Since this date is used for a WebService that assumes the time given is always in GMT, I have a need to convert the user's parameter from say (EST) to (GMT). Here's the kicker: The user is oblivious to his TZ. He enters the creation date that he wants to send to the WS, so what I need is:

User enters: 5/1/2008 6:12 PM (EST)
The parameter to the WS needs to be: 5/1/2008 6:12 PM (GMT)

I know TimeStamps are always supposed to be in GMT by default, but when sending the parameter, even though I created my Calendar from the TS (which is supposed to be in GMT), the hours are always off unless the user is in GMT. What am I missing?

Timestamp issuedDate = (Timestamp) getACPValue(inputs_, "issuedDate");
Calendar issueDate = convertTimestampToJavaCalendar(issuedDate);
...
private static java.util.Calendar convertTimestampToJavaCalendar(Timestamp ts_) {
  java.util.Calendar cal = java.util.Calendar.getInstance(
      GMT_TIMEZONE, EN_US_LOCALE);
  cal.setTimeInMillis(ts_.getTime());
  return cal;
}

With the previous Code, this is what I get as a result (Short Format for easy reading):

[May 1, 2008 11:12 PM]

Answer 1

public static Calendar convertToGmt(Calendar cal) {

    Date date = cal.getTime();
    TimeZone tz = cal.getTimeZone();

    log.debug("input calendar has date [" + date + "]");

    //Returns the number of milliseconds since January 1, 1970, 00:00:00 GMT 
    long msFromEpochGmt = date.getTime();

    //gives you the current offset in ms from GMT at the current date
    int offsetFromUTC = tz.getOffset(msFromEpochGmt);
    log.debug("offset is " + offsetFromUTC);

    //create a new calendar in GMT timezone, set to this date and add the offset
    Calendar gmtCal = Calendar.getInstance(TimeZone.getTimeZone("GMT"));
    gmtCal.setTime(date);
    gmtCal.add(Calendar.MILLISECOND, offsetFromUTC);

    log.debug("Created GMT cal with date [" + gmtCal.getTime() + "]");

    return gmtCal;
}

Here's the output if I pass the current time ("12:09:05 EDT" from Calendar.getInstance()) in:

DEBUG - input calendar has date [Thu Oct 23 12:09:05 EDT 2008]
DEBUG - offset is -14400000
DEBUG - Created GMT cal with date [Thu Oct 23 08:09:05 EDT 2008]

12:09:05 GMT is 8:09:05 EDT.

The confusing part here is that Calendar.getTime() returns you a Date in your current timezone, and also that there is no method to modify the timezone of a calendar and have the underlying date rolled also. Depending on what type of parameter your web service takes, your may just want to have the WS deal in terms of milliseconds from epoch.